A pleasant Sunday afternoon finds a rather short TF-5 making a quick stop to set out two “hot” cars of moderately-priced (read: cheap) wine for thirsty University of Michigan students and other Ann Arborites in need of a cheap buzz. On Monday morning, an old Alco switcher will pick up these two cars off Number 2 track and spot them on the new Thompson Beverage track. The photographer spent his formative years “hanging around” this yard and inside that prefab metal yard office where I received an unofficial degree in Railroading 101. Sadly, this scene has changed significantly over the past 35 years. The mainline remains and still sees regular use; however, the yard has been disconnected from the main line for at least 25 years and is now overgrown and decrepit. The prefab metal yard office still exists, too, but in an effort to discourage vagrants from making it a “home,” the railroad had no choice but to cover all the windows with sheet metal and weld everything shut. As sobering as it appears today, I take solace in remembering all the wonderful friendships I made in this small terminal and how thoroughly this place prepared me for my railroad career.
