Two railways came together here. The West Bloomfield Trail follows the path of the Grand Trunk Railroad, built through the region in the 1880s. If you were standing here in 1900, you also would see a light rail trolley line that ran along Orchard Lake Road and turned to run beside this part of the Grand Trunk line. Built in 1899, it was one of many trolley systems in southeast Michigan that were bought by the Detroit United Railway (DUR) in 1901 to carry people and freight within Detroit and between surrounding towns.
Wayside Sign – Remembering Historic Railways on the West Bloomfield Trail

Object ID: 2013-070-014
Date: 2013
Collection: Orchard Lake, TransportationSubjects: Wayside Sign
Wayside Sign – Sharing the Ride on the Westacres Community Bus

Object ID: 2013-070-013
Date: 2013
Collection: Transportation, West BloomfieldSubjects: Wayside Sign
They turned on their porchlights to signal the bus to pick them up for the ride to work at the Chrysler plant in Highland Park. In 1939 nine Westacres residents bought a used bus to share the cost of commuting to work. They formed the Westacres Chrysler Employee Transportation Association (WACETA) which grew to 25 workers paying dues for the purchase and operation of a series of buses over the years. They issued stock, elected officials, and shared maintenance and driving duties. Over its 50 years, this program gained national attention as America’s longest-running, privately-funded ride share program.
Wayside Sign – Remembering Historic Railways on the West Bloomfield Trail

Object ID: 2013-070-012
Date: 2013
Collection: Transportation, West BloomfieldSubjects: Wayside Sign
The West Bloomfield Trail was once a railbed of the Grand Trunk Railroad, built through the region in the 1880s to serve far-flung agriculture and industry. A mile down from here, where the trail passes Cass Lake Road, the trail meets the trace of a light rail electric trolley track that was built in 1899. It served communities from Pontiac through Farmington to Detroit, and later became part of the larger Detroit United Railway (DUR). Your journey through history on the trail follows the route of the trolley track and the Grand Trunk rail, running side-by-side, as far as Orchard Lake Road.