Timetable: MCRR - DD&D Branch - Oakwood to Dearborn

The Detroit, Delray & Dearborn railroad was wholly owned by the Michigan Central for when it first opened. The DD&D was a cut off around the Detroit terminal for eastbound MC trains heading for downriver and Toledo. This branch was truncated when the Junction Yard branch next to the Ford Rouge complex was opened, and when the DT&I built the D&I branch across the DD&D in Allen Park.

The branch of the Michigan Central had several phases. It was first built from (West) Dearborn to Delray (crossing the Rouge River via the Wabash bridge). Under this arrangement, it was actually not a cut-off for southbound trains. In about 1906, an extension was built from near the Wabash bridge to Pleasant Street (YD tower). At this point the cut-off to Toledo was created. This timing may have moved traffic away from Junction Yard during grade separation time.

The line was later double tracked with directional automatic block signals, and then reverted to single track in the Conrail era.

Note: Most of the stations and mileage for this line were taken from a MCRR Station list before the double-track Junction Yard Branch was built between Melvindale and Junction Yard/Town Line. The reference to Town Line on this list is likely what is now known as Greenfield Road. The location is different than Town Line on the MC main line, also at Greenfield Road. In 1912, Fort Street crossed at grade.

According to old maps, this line was no longer used for through traffic once the MC's Junction Yard branch was completed along side the Rouge Works. When the D&I (DT&I) branch from Rouge to Flat Rock was built in a southwest direction, the DD&D branch was pulled up north of the crossing which was approximately near S. Dearborn Avenue. On it's original route, the DD&D passed through what is now the Ford Motor Engineering complex and Greenfield Village. (part of the engineering complex was the Ford Airport and the DD&D went through that for a short time).

Key: BB=Bascule Bridge | C=Coal | CS=Car Shop | D=Open > Day | DN=Open Day and night | DS=Dispatcher | DT=Double Main Track | EH=Engine house | F=Diesel Fuel | HI=Half Interlocked Crossing | I=Interlocked Crossing | J=Junction | LB=Lift bridge | N=Open at night | P=Passing Track w/40' car capacity | Q=Quarry | RH=Roundhouse # stalls | RT=Railroad Resort | S=Scales | SB=Swing bridge | T=Turntable | TC=Telegraph call | W=Water | X=Crossing | Y=Wye | Yard=Yard

Notes

Time Line

1906. From its inception until at least 1906, the MC DD&D branch used the Wabash drawbridge to cross the Rouge River, reconnecting with the MC near Delray. [DFP-1906-0817]

1906. Construction work as begun by the MC on a ¾ mile stretch of track in Oakwood, at the southern city limits, which will connect the DD&D railroad with the MC Toledo Division and Lake Shore, west of River Rouge (at what would become YD or Pleasant Street). The building of this connecting link in the MC system will make it possible for all freight from the south, bound west to go directly over the Dearborn branch instead of being transferred as formerly at West Detroit and will have the same effect on all southbound freight from the west. [DFP-1905-0617]

1906. The freight route of the MC from west to the south and vice versa will thus be shortened bout ten miles and in consequence a vast amount of track facilities of the MC within the city limits will be relieved from service for the making up of trains for the south and west and can be used for other purposes.

The Detroit, Delray & Dearborn railroad as it is called, but which is really a Michigan Central branch, was built a few years ago starting in at Oakwood subdivision at Fort Street and connecting with the MC main line at Dearborn. Up to the present the MC has been crossing the Rive Rouge over the Wabash bridge.

Opens Up Factory Sites. The construction of the connection between he Toledo branch and the Dearborn branch to he MC main line at Dearborn will open a great many factory sites on the River Rouge which will have the advantage of water front and MC railroad connections and will do wonders toward building up this section of lower Detroit, now known as Oakwood. It is not improbable that the building of this connecting branch will have the effect of reducing the number of tacks that the company will need at Junction avenue where grade separation is now in progress, as it will lessen to a great extent the number of freight trains to be made up with the city limits. [DFP-1906-0817]

1912. The DD&D/MC petitions the railroad commission to extend what would become their Junction Yard branch from Pleasant Street in River Rouge north connecting with their Chicago main line at the west end of Junction Yard in Springwells. Rights of way have been received except for the bridge over the Rouge River. The new line will be double-tracked. This will relieve the freight congestion in the West Detroit area, says the railroad. The improvement will cost $170,000. [DET-1912-0715]