The wife and I journeyed up to Ann Arbor, Michigan this past weekend, to attend the University of Michigan December commencement ceremonies where one of our granddaughters received her well-earned diploma. We stayed at the local Sheraton Hotel, where I was surprised to find the attached rendering, hanging on one wall of our room. This is where you usually find scenery pictures, or flowers, or perhaps modern art. I was rather shocked to see this collage of the "Big House" (the Universities football stadium) on one side and what perhaps is a campus building on the opposite side, but highlighted in the middle by this truss bridge, with a single railroad track going through the middle. Impossible to see in my photo, but the track curves slightly to the right, and what appears to be a small dark "blob" down the line, on close inspection is obviously a water tank (probably wooden) with a spout hanging at the ready! I have two questions. First, can anyone give me an explanation as to why this bridge would appear with other imortant University of Michigan artifacts? And second, if anyone has seen other photos in non-railroad locations, with some type of railroad picture hanging on the guest room walls? Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

Les

What's your definition of "non-railroad" locations? Do you mean not being trackside or right by the rails? I've been to quite a few locations, not just hotels, that have railroad artwork, which aren't trackside, but are in a town served by the railroad at one point or another.

Jim -

On a visit to Strasburg or Steamtown or some other location where a "railroad connection" is at least a good part of their economy, I would not be surprised to see photos of railroad themes hanging on the walls of the local hotel/motel/B&B. I hardly expected to see a railroad motif collage in a hotel in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Hope that answers your question.

Les

P.S. "Go Blue!"

I have definitely seen railroad photos used "incidentally" in a number of motel chains as well.

I forget which one, but there's one that uses black and white photos along side room numbers and I remember seeing one that had a Chessie GP40-2 on it.

Les,
I have stayed at the Red Caboose Motel in Strasburg which maybe the ultimate railroad themed overnight location. They have or had a lobby with all kinds of railroad pictures in it; even including an Interurban scene.

Ted Miles

PS Congrats to your grand daughter!
TM

Several posts later and no one has provided details about the location of the bridge and how it relates to the University buildings.

Wesley

Wesley -

Yes, that certainly is the $64 question! I'd really like to know the answer. Hopefully there is one out there.

Les

Wesley -

Did some searching on the internet this afternoon, and think I may have found it! Here is the reference from the Bridgehunter site:

https://bridgehunter.com/photos/48/87/488756-L.jpg

The bridge is on the Ann Arbor Railroad at Dundee, Michigan over the Raisin River. This section of the AA is now operated by Watco from Toledo, Ohio up to Ann Arbor. It's described as a Pratt Through Truss, originally built in 1922 and still in use, although "beefed up" since its original construction. Note in the photo of the slight curve to the right and the water tank off in the distance. Hopefully, this is the subject bridge, but perhaps others might think otherwise. Anyway, the "connection" to the Ann Arbor items in the authors collage (buildings/stadium) is apparently the fact that the bridge is on the Ann Arbor Railroad.

Les

Railways are generally still attractive subjects. Think about all the problems with people posing for their family/wedding/graduation photo on live tracks.

Not surprising at all to find railway pictures in hotel rooms.

The hotel we use at one of our AFHTs (the Nova Inn in Edson, Alberta) has old pictures throughout the hallways and in every room, including a bunch of railroad ones. They must have got them from the local archives as they are all available to view online, these two stand out to me.

https://albertaonrecord.ca/is-edson-553

https://albertaonrecord.ca/is-edson-195

SD70dude -

Nice to know that the Nova Inn in Edson, Alberta, has some railroad photos. The two you chose were of the first passenger train to arrive in Edson (1910) and the destruction of the roundhouse and turntable there (mid-1950's). Hope there are more displayed photos of the former type (upbeat) than the later (downer) at the Nova Inn. That there are railroad photos of any type however, is a good thing.

Les

I don't know if it still exists, but for a long time one of the fast food places in Yreka, CA sported a huge b&w print on a wall in the dining area. The photo was of double-heading Shays running in reverse with a loaded log train. The operation was the Fruit Growers Supply Co. at nearby Hilt, CA. The Shay in the lead, No. 5, went on to become No. 7 (2nd) on the Pickering Lumber Corp. at Standard, CA. The locomotive is a personal favorite.