SEMTA: Detroit's Short-Lived Commuter Train

Рет қаралды 39,643

Жыл бұрын

Detroit has always been known as the Motor City, home of the automobile. However, the city once was a prominent destination for people traveling and shipping goods on the railroad. Big names like Grand Trunk Western, New York Central, Pennsylvania, and other roads populated the area. The city had an expansive interurban network too, complimented by the several larger railroads providing intercity and long-distance trains. After the disappearance of Detroit's interurban network in the 1950s, a commuter train eventually sprouted up in the 70s. The Southeastern Michigan Transportation Authority took over commuter operations from the GTW in 1974, and created SEMTA Commuter Rail. But why isn't it around today?
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Пікірлер: 151

@nathancorcoran5347 Жыл бұрын

That’s a pretty good story of this SEMTA commuter rail train system. It is a big shame that this commuter railroad system has been forced to close operations. Rest In Peace to a few of those locomotives that were scrapped.

@AverytheCubanAmerican Жыл бұрын

Ah yes, the Detroit People Mover...I had the opportunity to ride it when I was there in Spring Break 2019 for the First Robotics World Championship. More of a tourist thing than a local transit thing. The Vancouver SkyTrain has the same rolling stock as the DPM, but the difference it is it's a big success as it brings people INTO the city from the suburbs. Miami's Metromover also goes around downtown just like the DPM does (with different rolling stock), but that TOO is a success because it has different loops and a metro system to supplement it and takes people where they want to go. The thing most people forget is that it was never intended to be a standalone system. Because the city and suburbs could not agree on how to utilize federal money to build a subway system, the only thing that got built was the downtown circulator. But really it was supposed to connect different feeder rail lines along Fort, Grand River (Times Sq), Gratiot (Cadillac Center), Woodward (Grand Circus) & Michigan. The QLine built in 2017 is probably the closest thing they'll get to that old vision.

@michigandon Жыл бұрын

I rode it once, and once was enough. A three mile loop that goes from Nowhere to Nowhere.

@jonahkamoo1346 8 ай бұрын

What happened to the federal funds?

@hawkeyetherailfan Жыл бұрын

Wonderful history recap. Such a shame the service wasn't kept and expanded, but Detroit being car culture central made that a difficult fight for anyone.

@alexanderip1003 Жыл бұрын

and all that is left is that one way people mover (*Glasgow's ugly cousin) *Glasgow has something similar to Detroit only it travels both Clockwise and Anticlockwise

@NiceNToasty768 Жыл бұрын

People thought "Nooooo! Let's use the thing that pollutes the planet!"

@conorreynolds9739 Ай бұрын

My dad was from Royal Oak, and his dad commuted on the Grand Trunk Western/SEMTA commuter trains. When we moved to Connecticut in the mid-80s, my dad was shocked to see that the train cars from his childhood- with names based on the different cities along the route like Royal Oak, Birmingham, etc- were being used on the Metro North Danbury line.

@Pensyfan19 Жыл бұрын

Great video and good editing as always. I never knew that SEMTA considered using Keystone coaches, of which only 10 were ever built (and I believe are currently owned by Ferromex as part of a hospital train).

@buildintotrains Жыл бұрын

I believe just the HEP unit went to ferromex for the hospital train

@stitchstudios2404 Жыл бұрын

@@buildintotrains hey BIT, So after further studying the PRR Keystone when I sent you the schedule it actually had info on what happened to the cars some cars was scraped but 4 went to ferromex along with the HEP car

@wavesnbikes Жыл бұрын

@@stitchstudios2404I've only seen the HEP Power car on the FXE Hopsital Train, the rest are regular former VIA cars... You sure more ex keystone cars went to FXE?

@stitchstudios2404 Жыл бұрын

@@wavesnbikes From wheat it said on the site yeah, unless maybe they got information mixed up??

@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un Жыл бұрын

You know the person you're watching is based when they use clips from the Yakuza series! You know how Detroit is called the Motor City? Well, its car industry is why Detroit style pizzas are shaped rectangular! It was invented in 1946 at a place called Buddy's by Gus Guerra. Gus was searching for a high-end pizza pan to create the perfect pizza until he realized something. Detroit's auto assembly plants used blue steel utility trays used to hold parts (i.e nuts, bolts etc). For these plants, they were just a thing to hold parts...to Gus, it was a Sicilian-like deep dish pizza.

@geesek5776 Жыл бұрын

Dude you are embarrassing

@Offthbadan 4 ай бұрын

I remember the SEMTA and Grand Trunk making 3 runs downtown in the morning and 3 runs to Pontiac in the evening through my neighborhood. Will never get that horn sound out of my head. 😊

@ThatoneTset Жыл бұрын

good to know that there are still 3 engines left (with 2 being stored, 1 preserved and the rest scrapped)

@jwrailve3615 Жыл бұрын

Your channel and history in the dark have my favorite mini rail docs. Really has heightened my interest to railroads beyond where I’ve seen or lived.

@chessiereid Жыл бұрын

Never knew Detroit ever had a commuter road (other than Amtrak short-distance or intercity passenger service).

@TrinityShoji Жыл бұрын

YOU NEED TO GO OVER ORIGINAL 1974 PEOPLE MOVER PLAN It was supposed to be a wider-scale subway network, like the Chicago L or Washington DC Metro, with connections between downtown, the suburbs and both DMA and City Airports. The final result was the People Mover itself...

@tyedollasign4034 Жыл бұрын

Glad they didn't go forward with it tbh、could you imagine if we had a subway system with tunnels. I don't think id be alive if that were the case damn near almost got killed twice in my life both times at a damn bus stop😂

@armandoperez7967 Жыл бұрын

The SEMTA logo was like the FEC Railway hurricane logo but spinning counter clockwise instead of clockwise.

@summer_bummers7252 Жыл бұрын

Detroit deserves commuter/regional rail, it’s unacceptable a city that big doesn’t have any

@kristoffermangila Жыл бұрын

Well, blame the city's dominant industry... You get the drift.

@evanperdue7222 Жыл бұрын

It’s cool to see a commuter train with high hoods

@matthewfoster1307 Жыл бұрын

I pass by MBTA 904 at work every day, I had no idea it came from here. Awesome video, keep up the good work!

@TriegaDN Жыл бұрын

It's crazy seeing what we easily recognize as SMART's logo on trains! I never knew about SEMTA running trains. I wish we had light rail all over the metro area in combination with intercity transit to take you up north as well, that would be a dream I would love to be able to jump on a train and visit any number of beaches, state parks, or even get some fudge

@arthuridis 10 ай бұрын

Time will tell if it can be possible. But with the railroads selling off abandoned railways and turning them into walking/biking paths. Connecting rails to help alleviate traffic issues around is not gonna happen, at least not in my remainder of my lifetime. Trust me...I can come up with nifty ways of eliminating rush hour traffic, but this area is too automobile oriented for that to happen.

@arthuridis 10 ай бұрын

You can tell where a railroad used to be in the past by looking at one of the many bike paths in the area as of late. Look at old maps...you can see.

@J.M828 Жыл бұрын

Ya Know What They Say, *”Cant Have S**t In Detroit.”*

@Lucius_Chiaraviglio Жыл бұрын

I'm sure the automakers that are so dominant in Michigan (also oil companies) wouldn't have liked for SEMTA to succeed -- might get people to start using the competition to their products.

@Tri-StateGuy Жыл бұрын

Bro has some of the most interesting videos to watch in your down time, keep it up.

@boston_and_maine Жыл бұрын

i only knew about this commuter rail existing mainly because they had something to do with the mbta and its ex-geep locomotives from its roster

@michigandon Жыл бұрын

My Mom and I rode a Bluwater Chapter trip that used SEMTA equipment back in '82?/'83? We got on in either Royal Oak or Birmingham, can't remember which. Three Geeps hauled us to Detroit where we got on the old Wabash and the Geeps were replaced by the 765.

@johndaniels4623 Жыл бұрын

I didn’t know Semta or an equivalent existed…… being that Detroit is the city of the automobile. One is inclined to think it would be as vehicle dominant as LA

@GenericUrbanism Жыл бұрын

It is more vehicle dominant than LA to an extent.

@magnusaugust8489 Жыл бұрын

It saddens me how so many fruitful transit plans never came to be.

@alexanderip1003 Жыл бұрын

More like Fruitful transit plans suppressed by politics

@bungieman2810 Жыл бұрын

Can't have anything in Detroit.

@bub-e2592 Жыл бұрын

Then MI Train: Southeast Michigan's stillborn Commuter rail

@lawrencelewis2592 Жыл бұрын

I rode on the Semta cars on the Metro-North Hudson line in the mid 1980s. They were very comfortable and gave a good ride. I wonder what happened to them after the Metro-North.

@STHSIndustries2K6 Жыл бұрын

Clear explaining of SEMTA the short lived commuter rail. Grand Trunk Western gave up their commuter train to SEMTA. SEMTA cancelled their commuter train and their equipment was sold. It lasted until 1983. At least we have SEMTA #902 remaining with us. A2TC commuter trains could be becoming a reality.

@WesternOhioInterurbanHistory Жыл бұрын

I think I actually have a picture of me and some of my friends standing on it at IRM

@syeet1234 Жыл бұрын

904 has plans to be rebuilt soon

@STHSIndustries2K6 Жыл бұрын

@@syeet1234 are you sure about that?

@Transporter_Not_Statham Жыл бұрын

I saw those cars on New York’s Metro North when I was little. Even still had SEMTA on the train cars

@wabash_railfan Жыл бұрын

I’m constantly impressed by your graphics and overall video presentation, it’s very clear and well thought out.

@killerbees177 Жыл бұрын

It's sad Amtrak isn't bringing back Union Station. Glad Ford is refurbishing it

@michigandon Жыл бұрын

It's sad that they ever left to begin with. I had written the place off as a lost cause over ten years ago. I'm happy to be proven wrong in this particular case.

@clonecommando-cn6bo Жыл бұрын

I want to pass a by-law for this country to have a standard gauge commuter train service for city populations above 500,000-750,000. There is no excuse not to have one even if it is one line

@trainglen22 Жыл бұрын

Great video.

@seamusmckeon9109 Жыл бұрын

Hopefully the MiTrain can still come to be

@catinthehat6719 5 ай бұрын

I have a feeling SEMTA will come back

@stuew6 Жыл бұрын

Should do a Video about Toronto GO Train Commuters System.

@Knightmessenger 5 ай бұрын

What I don't understand is why the federal earmark that was supposed to build way more than just the people mover wasn't used to improve the existing commuter rail service too. Any upgrade should have included ways to keep the existing service going.

@RailsofLosAngeles Жыл бұрын

It was a lot like the Pacific Electric Railway in LA. They started service in 1901 and later ended in 1960 (I think) due to problems with the system soon after, buses replaced trams afterwards.

@BnuuyBoi2005 Жыл бұрын

True

@paulcastillo1310 Жыл бұрын

April 9th 1969 after the red cars were gone scrtd and on April 1st 1983 became la metro I was employed as a bus operator

@paulcastillo1310 Жыл бұрын

Thank you

@indisciipline Жыл бұрын

@@paulcastillo1310 thats sick what was it like as a bus driver back then

@paulcastillo1310 Жыл бұрын

@@indisciipline 2006

@standish1michigan Жыл бұрын

Great work! Thank you.

@greaterHoustonrailfan Жыл бұрын

Always a good day when this guy uploads

@chrisjamesr77 Жыл бұрын

SEMTA still exists today, renamed as SMART in 1989, and still using that logo and the orange color on their buses. (I think)

@arthuridis 10 ай бұрын

Correct.

@jimmypetrock Жыл бұрын

Thank you

@LIMPGUITAR Жыл бұрын

Great job dude!

@syeet1234 Жыл бұрын

As Far as i know, MBTA has plasn to rebuild 904 and use it as the Rochester shops switcher. nobody knows the fate of 905.

@ussnautilusss-1687 Жыл бұрын

904 in "storage" - on a siding somewhere lol

@RaisedLetter Жыл бұрын

I continue to question how it hasn't gotten any easier for a service between Ann Arbor to Detroit. Especially now that Amtrak has ownership for most of the line between Porter, IN and Dearborn. How much planning needs to go into a set of stations and equipment for a line like that?

@JeffFrmJoisey Жыл бұрын

Briefly lived/worked in Detroit 1978-79. Rode the Semta train once from Birmingham to Chrysler Center, where I worked. Took the train because it was snowing and I didn’t want to drive. SEMTA had some funny radio ads for the train back then. One featured a tourist family with Russian accents who revealed their accent was because they were from New Jersey. Go figure.

@Transit-Gaming Жыл бұрын

Of course the government would rather fund for car travel than commuter trains! It's just sad that even today, Detroit looks like it has pretty lack luster transit, and I do live across the water from it now...

@moregltfirephotography4857 Жыл бұрын

Ya know what's cooler? PA Train, Pittsburgh's commuter train.

@paulcastillo1310 Жыл бұрын

Before I was born April 1969 scrtd April 1st on April 1st 1993 between LA Metro and was a bus operator

@Glaggle Жыл бұрын

"BY OLD FRIEND" lol

@F40M07 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for uploading this!! You are literally a god. I’ve been tired and bored at school today + had my Chapter 6 Math Test as well. Thanks for helping me chill-out!! :)

@bukasb Жыл бұрын

905 is on the chopping block anytime now 💀

@MissShark8383 Жыл бұрын

smart had trains too

@harrisonofcolorado8886 Жыл бұрын

I saw SEMTA mentioned in the GTW in 9 minutes video.

@paulcastillo1310 Жыл бұрын

Yes just in LA

@thetrainhopper8992 Жыл бұрын

I’m always surprised direct trips to Lansing, Port Huron and Flint are never in plans for Michigan. As someone who doesn’t live there, they seem as obvious as a corridor in Ohio.

@paulcastillo1310 Жыл бұрын

I have a book on the cars of Detroit

@centredoorplugsthornton4112 Жыл бұрын

Two types of former long distance cars ran on SEMTA commuter rail. Former Union Pacific coaches and former Pennsylvania RR cars rebuilt from sleeping cars to high capacity coaches in 1963-64. The ex UP cars went to Metro North in New York and the ex PRR cars to MARC in Maryland after a stint at Metro North.

@paulcastillo1310 Жыл бұрын

Just like Los Angeles back in 1960 before I was born April 1969

@devvydoesstuff Жыл бұрын

Can't even have commuter rail in detroit

@Goofyahhampster65 Жыл бұрын

Hes back

@KendallTNRailfans15 Жыл бұрын

Nice

@trainanimator8150 Жыл бұрын

cool!

@superjesse645 Жыл бұрын

I'd like to see a video just about why passenger trains keep bombing.

@GTWDude Жыл бұрын

My Grandfather who was a member and later president of the Bluewater NRHS was tasked with removing the brake shoes off of the PRR Keystone set while they were stored in Pontiac during the early 80’s. Back then, Bluewater worked in cooperation with SEMTA to create the first excursions Bluewater hosted and a space to house equipment. At the time the shops were known as “Ojista Yard” named after the entrance road to Pontiac Yard. SEMTA would lease their equipment to Bluewater for excursions before the group had a fleet of equipment to run which led to a chunk of the SEMTA fleet going to Mackinac City on the D&M on one of the first Bluewater excursions and also included some runs from Pontiac to Durand. Excellent video! Definitely liked the digital graphics.

@michigandon Жыл бұрын

I rode the one that was pulled by SEMTA Geeps from Royal Oak to Detroit, and then the 765 from Detroit to Montpelier, OH. Was your Grandfather Harold Fry?

@GTWDude Жыл бұрын

@@michigandon My grandfather is John Dabelstein.

@michigandon Жыл бұрын

@@GTWDude Gotcha. I didn't know him.

@adensrailfanningproductions Жыл бұрын

Interesting.

@3bydacreekside Жыл бұрын

Havnt they been talking about a2tc for years now?

@NiceNToasty768 Жыл бұрын

What an interesting and sad story of a Southern Detroit commuter company

@DalekPratt1963 Жыл бұрын

Can't have trains in Detroit. Heh. Get it.

@paulcastillo1310 Жыл бұрын

I have a book on the history of cars in Detroit

@anindrapratama Жыл бұрын

i like passenger trains hauled by geeps

@overly7997 Жыл бұрын

Wait wait, the coaches were sold to the MTA? Was it the LIRR or MN? Sure as hell wasn’t the subway

@AmtrakGuy365 Жыл бұрын

Metro-North, I should've found a better logo to represent that lol.

@paulsblocks8441 Жыл бұрын

Awesome video! I've lived in the detroit metro area my whole life. I never knew there was a trolley that was there before the people mover

@Railfan166 Жыл бұрын

Neat

@cooliotrainlover1213 6 ай бұрын

cant even have a railroad in Detroit maaaan

@paulcastillo1310 Жыл бұрын

Iam 53 of this year and I'm going to be 54

@IndianaNorthWestern Жыл бұрын

What a way to go, your farewell train's banner is spelled incorrectly.

@WesternOhioInterurbanHistory Жыл бұрын

can't have shit in detroit

@armandoperez7967 Жыл бұрын

I wonder if this commuter service will ever get a do over?

@arthuridis 10 ай бұрын

It's possible. All depends on how much of a demand is there... if there is any. The problem is the areas between Pontiac and Durand. You may not have enough people willing to ride or subsidize it.

@adventuresofamtrakcascades301 Жыл бұрын

The name of the service is very similar to SEPTA except its M instead of P

@themidochannel Ай бұрын

I live in Dearborn

@harrisonallen651 Жыл бұрын

Why was one of Amtraks locomotives known as Wolverine again?

@amtraklover Жыл бұрын

Probably due to the University of Michigan using as there mascot. That or maybe because its the states animal I dunno 🤷🏾‍♂️

@michigandon Жыл бұрын

@@amtraklover That, plus the fact that the New York Central also ran a passenger train called the Wolverine.

@ethanarmitage5611 Жыл бұрын

My name is Uncle Ariel Ethan Mermaid. HI there.

@historybuff1812 Жыл бұрын

Feel like shit, just want her back

@coastaku1954 Жыл бұрын

Maybe this shows that trains should never be seen as businesses, since they cancelled service because of money, not ridership

@gloryannbatista6211 Жыл бұрын

Bro semta Really had a life But if expansion plans went through It would still be around today right but also If the steam heated equipment Was replaced with HEP Cars and If Amtrak's Older locomotives like the genesis P42 and P40 DC'S It would use the HEP cars AKA the amfleet 1 and 2 And the horizon cars that will be replaced in 2026 with the ALC42E The south eastern Michigan transportation Authority could use them

@tyreesignil2971 Жыл бұрын

This pissed me off. It don't gotta be this hard yo

@i_like_trains1923 Жыл бұрын

it didnt go out of business the trains were stolen instead lol

@Token_Nerd Жыл бұрын

The better SEPTA

@Vermontrailfanproduction Жыл бұрын

Could you make me a graphic design of southern pacific 4449 or a cowl body sp locomotive

@Cupertinorail Жыл бұрын

Rats all that Mi-train testing for nothing. Man that makes me mad.

@theexcaliburone5933 Жыл бұрын

thumbnail has gp9 so i click.

@dalekling7303 Жыл бұрын

Sounds like WALLY is still possible if the counties vote yes

@geraldoreynoso2480 Жыл бұрын

Why, so long for your content, :(

@Bureaucromancer Жыл бұрын

It really is striking how closely the Pontiac line parallels Woodward, and does so in a better right of way than any kind of surface light rail. I’m deeply convinced that Detroit could get incredibly good use out of a frequent service regional rail system, with the Qline extended to Michigan central. ANYTHING is politically difficult there, but pushing it as a true rapid transit, quasi metro, service that just happens to have commuter rail costs seems a lot more viable than another go at the same old peak only, premium fare, nonsense or Woodward light rail, let alone a true metro system.