Sepia-toned photograph showing several men who are standing or seated on the tops of a line of refrigerated railroad cars, taken facing to the west near the Michigan Central Railroad's Junction Yard

Description:

Sepia-toned photograph showing several men who are standing or seated on the tops of a line of refrigerated railroad cars, taken facing to the west near the Michigan Central Railroad's Junction Yard. Two ice hatches are visible on the top of the car in the foreground. The line of cars may be backing up slowly to a summit/hump. Cars or groups of cars were uncoupled after reaching the summit. The downward slope on the other side of the summit caused the cars to roll by gravity where they were then sorted by switches onto different tracks according to car destination. Brakemen on the car or group of cars had to control the speed as they rolled to their intended track location. The view shows earth embankments and other track lines on each side of the railroad cars as well as lines of utility poles, overhead wires, and the base of a moonlight tower. The concrete overpass over Lonyo Road is in the background on the right.

Date Issued:

1920-01-01T00:00:00Z

Data Provider:

Detroit Historical Society

Collection:

Municipal Services

Subject Topic:

Railroads

Subject Name:

James, Warren B.

Rights:

No Copyright - United States

URL:

http://detroithistorical.pastperfectonline.com/photo/51D42A70-8041-4DDD-9FBB-380644253500