Adrian and Blissfield EMD SW900 No. 836.
(W. Lenheim Collection)
DETROIT CONNECTING RAILROAD
The Detroit Connecting Railroad Company (reporting mark DCON) is a Class III shortline railroad owned by the Adrian and Blissfield Rail Road Company. Its freight operations began in December 1998 with 2.25 miles (3.62 km) of track.
Company information
Parent: Adrian & Blissfield Rail Road Company
President: Chris Bagwell
Headquarters: 38235 North Executive Drive, Westland, Michigan 48185-1971, USA
Services
Transload
Team Track
Railcar Storage Available
Access to highway connection via I-75, I-94, and downtown Detroit
Trackage
Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA
Mileage: 2.25 miles (3.62 km)
Connection with: Canadian National Shore Line and Mt. Clemens subdivisions
Commodities transported
Finished Metal Products
Scrap Metal
Vegetables
Chemicals
The Detroit Connecting Railroad
The railroad uses a GE 44-Tonner and an SW900 to pull and switch cars on the industrial spur. No. 836 was built in November of 1953 for the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific which it served for 27 years. It was later acquired by Checker Motors as their No. 1. If you're not familiar, Checker was known as the manufacturer of the iconic Taxi Cab for just shy of 90 years. In 2007, the ADBF acquired the No. 1 and repainted the butthead switcher into CN passenger colors with New York Central style lettering and stripes. It has served on the DCON for 14 years and still looks great - even though the paint is beginning to fade. Time will tell if this little engine will be repainted into the A&B's new paint scheme... a livery that has been affectionately nicknamed the "Quality Dairy Scheme" after a local convenience store chain around Lansing.
Overview
Headquarters: Westland, Michigan, United States
Reporting mark: DCON
Locale: Detroit, Michigan
Dates of operation: December 1998–present
Technical
Track gauge: 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Other
Website: https://abrailroad.com/