Ann Arbor Railroad summary
The Ann Arbor Railroad (AA) is a Class III short line railroad in Ohio and Michigan. Watco provides freight operations on the line that is owned by the State of Michigan. A total of 86.5 miles of standard-gauge track from the first incarnation of the original Ann Arbor Railroad is used between Toledo, Ohio, and Ann Arbor, Mich.
History
The original Ann Arbor Railroad was organized by two companies in 1869 and 1872 to build a rail line from Toledo to Ann Arbor. At the turn of the 20th century, the railroad accomplished that and more when it expanded further to the eastern shores of Lake Michigan in Frankfort, Mich. The original Ann Arbor was owned by the Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Railroad or the Wabash Railroad throughout its lifespan, moving freight in car ferries across Lake Michigan to bypass Chicago.
In the aftermath of the 1973 bankruptcy, the State of Michigan purchased all assets of the railroad and contracted the newly formed Michigan Interstate Railway to take over operations in 1977. Michigan Interstate ceased operations north of Ann Arbor in 1982, forcing the state to split the lease of the line with the Tuscola & Saginaw Bay Railway and the Michigan Northern Railway. Michigan Interstate filed for bankruptcy in 1983, and the modern Ann Arbor was formed in 1987. The second incarnation remained independent until being acquired by Watco in December 2012.
Operations
Today’s Ann Arbor Railroad hauls auto parts and finished vehicles. The short line works with Chrysler’s Toledo North Assembly plant when shipping these primary commodities. Bulk materials make up the remaining freight traffic including flour, sugar, grain, plastics, sand, cement, recyclables, fertilizer, paper, lumber, and petroleum.
As part of one of the largest companies in shortline operations, the Ann Arbor uses Watco’s diesel locomotive pool. Many units on the railroad carry the company’s black-and-yellow color scheme.
Interchanges are made in Toledo with the Canadian National, CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern and the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway; Diann, Mich., with the Indiana & Ohio Railway; Milan, Mich., with NS; and Osmer, Mich., with the Great Lakes Central Railroad.
