Comments on: Gordon Lightfoot sang it best, saying “there was a time in our fair land when the railroad did not run…”. Of course I am referencing his song titled ‘Canadian Railroad Trilogy’, and for some reason when I see the CSX Transportation’s depot at Ridgetown, ‘Gord’s Gold’ comes to mind in the form of that one song. There was a time in Ridgetown, where the railroads did not run. Just as quickly as Ridgetown had two major roads, both were removed, and their stations were re-purposed. The Michigan Central (CASO) station was relocated, and is now a private residence on Palmer Street still quite recognizable by it’s green paint and in similar design to the station that still exists as ‘Quilt Junction’ in Waterford. But, the CSX depot was transformed into a maintenance building, still used by crews despite being trackless for some time. My first shots of this station came in December 2003, and just those 17 years ago the station was in good condition. However, upon revisiting the town in the spring of 2018, I found the station showing its age. The roof had tarps placed all over it, and the paint was peeling. Recently photos were posted through other group sites that the windows are now boarded up, and in fact this little gem is slated for removal. To measure such a difference in time, I encourage you to also view Arnold Mooney’s photo captured in 1976. Guess it is a submission for a time machine, and it was quite difficult to reproduce since all of the trackside signals, grain operations, siding(s) and obviously the tracks themselves are all gone. Sadly, just a matter of time before the depot joins this growing list and only the concrete mile marker will remain in place to remind those who traverse the rail trail of it’s once, important prominence.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Sun, 24 May 2020 17:02:17 +0000

Added both to time machine lads. Let me know if i forgot anything please. Sometimes i fall behind

Stephen C. Host — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 16:59:07 +0000

in 2013 (from the other side)

Someone ough’t to liberate those signs..

Noe — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 15:45:52 +0000

Oh my, that looks in rough shape compared when I last saw it in 2005. Looked still pretty mint then as you say. Nice work documenting it Todd.

Stephen C. Host — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 13:36:45 +0000

Eeek. Removal. Guess the signal maintainer that lived in town must have retired.

awmooney — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 12:28:18 +0000

Great job, Lad!!

Larry Parks — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 06:45:41 +0000

Quite the before and after with Arnold’s photo. Interesting that the mile marker was left but signals and everything else was removed.