The Detroit Connecting Railroad

The Detroit Connecting Railroad (DCON) is a 2.5-mile-long Class III operation that is owned by the Adrian & Blissfield Railroad Company. It serves Detroit's Eastern Market and the Milwaukee Junction District. It serves as a crucial link, interchanging with Canadian National for seamless transportation for its customers. The services provided by the shortline include transload capabilities, allowing for the efficient transfer of goods from truck to rail and vice versa. Additionally, there is a team track available for various operations. Railcar storage is also offered to accommodate the needs of businesses. Moreover, the Detroit Connecting Railroad provides convenient access to major highways such as I-75, I-94, and downtown Detroit, enabling convenient transportation connections for transload customers.
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.
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[@Offthbadan]

I was born and raised near this line. It’s what gave me my interest in trains. This is what I’d hear every single weekday of my childhood. Watching and waving at the Grand Trunk crew. The yard switcher really brings back memories.

[@arthurschipper8906]

Thanks Drayton for covering these little unsung operations that provide an invaluable service to American transportation infrastructure.

[@MazichMusic]

I taught at Plymouth Educational Center from 2007 and 2012. When doing outside duty the end of the day, I often caught the train servicing Boomer Construction Materials. I learned a lot about this line from the video. Nicely done!

[@MichiganRailfanEnthusiast]

Watched the whole video and it never disappoints. As a Michigan railfan, it's cool that we have these many shortlines across Michigan

[@MenwithHill]

Literally nothing more scenic than waterfront rail, it's a delight 🍷

[@mitchmatthews6713]

I was fortunate enough to watch the GE 65 Tonner once on this line.

[@ThundercatDarklion]

WOW!!!! There are still an lot of old green BN covered hoppers on the rails that missed being painted for BNSF.

[@PharaohDeathMask]

Thank you for this fabulous video. The drone footage was awesome.

[@DelayInBlockProductions]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@cjcompton9410]

@@DelayInBlockProductionsgreat video

[@andrewpalm2103]

Thanks for covering this small industrial railroad. It's inspirational for those of us who model this kind of operation. Cheers from Wisconsin!

[@TheYardLimit]

Nice operation. Friendly crews. I saw them operate about this time 2 years ago. I was delivering a 40 foot container to a customer in Detroit from Chicago. I chased them in a beat up pos Freightliner Classic. They slowed down coming up the grade to the CN yard, as they saw me climbing the embankment to get a shot, and it was my best shot of the run. My friends told me the crews would be mean, but I realized that they meant the Delray Connecting steel mill rr

[@ericcriteser4001]

Very cool. Thanks for sharing. I'd like to know more about CSX in Western Wayne County. Particularly Plymouth Yard.

[@Sheaun]

As a railfan, I've learned so much. I used to live on Dubois, right behind the switching operations. I never knew until I turned 38 what the operations were. I thank you so much for educating me !!!

[@andrewstrains5717]

ah, good ole ken borg, hes a great guy to talk to!

[@silurian9420]

Thanks for an interesting and very well produced video.

[@TheMNrailfan227]

I am so glad that Drayton is back to narrating the videos himself, the other dude did not know what he was talking about

[@DelayInBlockProductions]

But I wrote the scripts that he read? LOL. Thanks. -Drayton

[@TheMNrailfan227]

@@DelayInBlockProductions Haha, I’m just glad you replied. Big fan of your channel man

[@fishwithsj]

That looked like some perilous drone flight. Nice video.

[@torr7824]

we use the same locimotive for use as a yard switcher in a aluminum smelter in Kitimat BC Canada to this day.Loci 899

[@scottwalters6031]

Love this local content. Looking forward to more

[@johnnycaps1]

Nice videography. Nice drone work. Nice commentary.

[@CCM2361-]

Very informative. Driven by these tracks many times in the course of my job. Didn't know they were run by Adrian & Blissfield. I have a fondness for ADBF as my grandparents lived in Blissfield for rmany years & their house was close to the tracks. I used to walk on the ADBF tracks with my cousins as a kid. Thanks

[@dalelinton7716]

Great video. The Adrian-Blissfield railroad is one of my favorite shorelines in Michigan.

[@DelayInBlockProductions]

Mine too!

[@John-wd5om]

This video is absolutely amazing, thank you so much Drayton 🙏

[@markfortin421]

I really enjoyed this video....shot about 20 miles from where I live. (Warren) Its exactly what I model in my basement....lots of short industrial spurs and runarounds. Thanks for the inspiration....the good stuff really DOES exist!!

[@DelayInBlockProductions]

Thank you for watching! That really means a lot.

[@danielfantino1714]

That´s a cuty shortline, perfect for shelf layout. That SW900 looks in great shape with Rock Island spark arrester and no ditch lights. Excellent report you did not to mention the drone view.

[@tfs4499]

Great video, very informative, THANKS!

[@S1CKTR1CKY]

Dang! Bangers coming back to back!

[@thomasmackowiak]

I enjoyed watching this video on the Detroit Connecting Railroad and its history and the information on the customers that it serves, Drayton! I was fascinated while watching the switching moves of the Detroit Connecting Railroad at its customers. I was surprised at the size of that westbound CPKC manifest toward the end of the video and the fact that it did not have a DPU on it.

[@cncpgreatlakesdiv4896]

Awesome thx for the post.😊😊👍👍

[@asullivan4047]

Interesting/informative/entertaining -!!!😉. Excellent photography job/maps enabling viewers to better understand what the orator is describing.

[@Frost212]

:o! I heard my local yard mentioned (Oakwood yard) Brightened my day up a little.

[@pennymartin3821]

I love ❤️ your videos, please send more. AWESOME FOOTAGE ❣️

[@oliverharman2256]

I really enjoyed the drone footage

[@bradfordthompson8326]

So cool you Showcasing this line to futures Customers..many god prayers😅😊😊😊❤❤❤❤❤

[@ldk59]

Another entertaining & informative Video Drayton... Thanks for all the hard work!

[@DelayInBlockProductions]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@billclements3879]

Cool video, thanks for sharing ❤

[@trapdriver7006]

Excellent informative video which I enjoyed watching

[@DelayInBlockProductions]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@howardhuebler5681]

Another excellent video!

[@AllenWorshiperofJesus]

God bless yall! Love your videos :)

[@user-vh1uc6in7b]

this is awesome I love Trains Back to Back!

[@tylerrose5232]

Ok foamer calm down

[@johnfisherjr.5911]

Really love this video!

[@Estolcles]

Dang... didn't know DCON was actually real. Thought it was just a Trainz route.

[@iankirvan1986]

Excellent , informative and entertaining...Keep up the great work 🙂

[@DelayInBlockProductions]

Thank you! Will do!

[@chrisszollos1543]

I dont know what it is but there something about these shunt locos that i really like. But also, the hosebag on the front of the SW really should be dummied up so its not dragging around and whacking itslef on everything.

[@mikelockhart1827]

Jason I live in Odessa Missouri we're having temperatures like - 2 below zero right now.

[@bobertbobert6442]

Excellent, informative, and exceptionally well done video and dialog! Really enjoyed it. Didn't know the red and white paint job is refered to as QD paint scheme. Made me chuckle.

[@DelayInBlockProductions]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@joedelusso1415]

That's a familiar name on the long hood of that SW900, Drayton..🤔

[@rickdee67]

Great format and production! This is my favorite channel for narrated shortline videos! Liked and subbed! Thanks for another great video!

[@DelayInBlockProductions]

Welcome aboard! Thanks.

[@GerryB-kn5et]

Like the informative contents

[@Eastmichiganfilms]

Hey man! I’m glad to see you visit our state!

[@DelayInBlockProductions]

Thanks! I grew up in Jackson, ya know?

[@Eastmichiganfilms]

@@DelayInBlockProductions I didn’t know. That’s good to know

[@erie910]

Good stuff! Thank you. All of the movements appear to be slow for good reason: It is likely that this engine has no speedometer. Engines without ditch lights may not cross roads at grade faster than 20 mph. The track doesn't appear to be in the best shape, either.

[@JohnR.1968]

Great vid, office is a 20 ft container not 40ft.

[@GreenRC24]

This is a fantastic video!

[@dominicfrizzi2563]

Not sure how you guys choose railroads, but I would love to see a video on the union railroad in Pittsburgh

[@karlscribner3838]

NOT a big fan of train videos, but you guys have done a fine job. Highlighted by the excellent visit and information from Ken Borg.

[@John2Tex]

The Detroit Connecting is a remnant of the Detroit Terminal. Once I lived not too far from their Mound Street Yard. I photographed every diesel they had including a GTW 4-8-4 stored in the roundhouse and a Detroit Edison 0-6-0 parked outside the roundhouse. Good times.

[@bkayganich]

Actually it's not. This is the remaining portion of the old GTW line, that ran through the Dequindre Cut to Brush St. Station. What's left of the Detroit Terminal is operated by Conrail Shared Assets. Some of the Highland Park Lead, and the Detroit Lead to Conners Creek.

[@michaelengland4793]

I love short lines, ever heard of the Lucas oil railroad shortline in Corydon Indiana?

[@AgentSpockAgentSpock]

I remember that railroad in trainz 2010 oh I miss that game

[@taslimchoudhary1253]

🍁🌻🇮🇳🍁🍁 Nice Capture!

[@bwan13]

836 is not in CN's 1950s passenger colors. It's in something approximating CN's 1950s freight colors. The passenger colors had a black strip down the side of the units, which none of CN's roadswitcher SWs ever had.

[@WarrenVanRoss]

Delay in Block is still the best.

[@fostrailphotos]

Have u seen the Delray Connecting before?

[@Barefoot_Railfanning]

It’d be cool if he did a vid on it

[@railfancolbyproductions9071]

if you go to minnesota almost every cpkc train has a kcs or kcs de mexico unit on it somewhere

[@tomroise9426]

Great job with the drone. I wish we could have seen the Vesco trackage?? There is more to the switcher too! I thought all SW900 had two stacks. The one stack belonged to the SW8. When did they upgrade it? Thank you for sharing this video

[@dogyerf21]

Pretty cool. Some VERY questionable safety/railroading violations. Conductor Walked right between the switcher and train to uncouple while the whole thing was still moving. The train was never tied-down with a brake and started rolling backward.😮

[@tomboone201]

Answer my question.. i was working at Boomer lumber and they came by .. surprised me to see them running

[@hellcatbigrude8890]

I just started working on the railways a few months ago I’ve been blogging my days and how everything goes if you want some videos just let me know we can work out something.. am at union pacific in Baker California

[@tomstarcevich1147]

🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃👍

[@nahthatswild36]

not hearing to many positive reviews about that us ecology place i guess people have either moved or died there or have really bad asthma from the smell and the fumes they produce wow

[@planca3430]

lots of squeeking and creaking on this job.