RRHX
Station: Rochester, MI
Michigan's Internet Railroad History Museum
Michigan Central Railroad
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The restored Michigan Central Depot in Rochester. 2003. [Alan Loftis photo]. |
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Above, the Michigan Central depot at Rochester. The depot has a dual direction train order mast, and what appear to be older block signals in the background. [Alan Loftis Collection]. |
| Below, the Rochester Flood of 1950-51 causes the river in Rochester to go over its banks, which makes the passing track disappear into the water. The station semaphores, signaling "stop", are just past the flooded location. [Robert Bellairs Collection] |
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Rochester was also the crossing of the Michigan Central Railroad and the DUR interurban railroad. The interlocking tower at that location, also known as Main Street Tower, was built in 1917 according to Railway Signaling Magazine. The interlocker was a mechanical machine with a 24-lever frame and 17 working levers. It was probably closed when the DUR Flint division was abandoned in April, 1931. Main St. stayed open for a while after the DUR closed down as a Western Union office. It also provided crossing protection at M-150.
The Diamonds were in the middle of the street here. The Michigan Central had three tracks across Main St. and the DUR also had three. It must have made a lot of noise in downtown Rochester. The Main Street tower was a brick and wooden structure and there are several photos of this building in existence.
Contribution from Charlie Whipp.