You asked "Did I leave anyone out?"

Yup... Probably the most important... Pere Marquette, which in 1948 was merged into the Chesapeake and Ohio, which owned
Rougemere yard right next to the Rouge Works.

Bill Daniels
Sent from my iPad

On Feb 17, 2013, at 7:05 PM, "Ellison LW" <elwefel@...> wrote:

Folks:

This is way before my time, but I worked for several railroads serving the Detroit area and I was involved in handling shipments of auto parts,finished vehicles and coiled steel from 1969 to 2003. Ford's Rouge Complex was served by Ford's own railroad. In my time I believe it was called the Rouge Railroad.

My understanding was that cars loaded or empty could be handled by any of the line haul rail carriers that could physically connect to the Rouge Railroad, by paying a switching allowance to the Rouge Railroad. Some carriers that didn't have a direct physical connection with the Rouge Railroad, could still handle cars by paying another carrier who had a direct connection and intermediate switch charge in addition to paying the Ford Railroad's switching allowance.

So from a practical standpoint I believe that almost every class 1 railroad that served Detroit could in practical effect originate or terminate shipments to and from the Rouge Railroad. In 1930, I believe that would have included (PRR, MC, NYC, GTW, DT&I, Wabash and maybe even the CN, CP and DTS).

Did I leave anyone out?

Shippers routings are driven by rates, service and equipment. My best guess would be shipments from Dearborn, MI, moving over the Chicago Gateway to the Pacific Northwest, where rates and equipment would be competitive the best service would have been via: MC-Chicago, IL-CB&Q-Minneapolis/St Paul, MN-NP.

Comments.

E Wefel

Retired Rail

--- In STMFC@yahoogroups.com, Guy Wilber wrote:

Tony asked:




Guy, do you know the periods of operation of these various plants? I know some were closed before World War II, some much later.

Thus far...here is what I have come up with:

1) Seattle; First facility opened in 1913, closed upon opening of new facility in 1932 which closed in 1940. Closing date not conclusive.
2) Portland; 1914 thru 1939
3) San Francisco; 1913 until opening of Richmond plant in 1931.
4) Richmond; 1931 thru 1956
5) Long Beach; 1930 thru 1958
6) Los Angeles; First facility at 12th and Olive opened in 1911, second facility at E. Seventh and Santa Fe opened in 1914 and closed in 1930.


Guy Wilber
Reno, Nevada