Remembering SEMTA

The Southeastern Michigan Transportation Authority (SEMTA) was formed in the Summer of 1967 to create a regional transit system that would serve the seven county Detroit area. In 1974, SEMTA contracted with the Grand Trunk Western Railroad to provide commuter train service between downtown Detroit and Pontiac. In 1976 SEMTA took ownership of the commuter line's locomotives and rolling stock and ultimately repainted them in SEMTA's red and orange paint scheme. Unfortunately, because of a bad economy and falling employment in downtown, SEMTA operated it's last train out of Detroit in 1983. At that time, Amtrak also ran a commuter line to and from Ann Arbor. This service ended in 1988. Much of SEMTA's coaches of which were originally of Union Pacific Heritage were sold to Metro North to be used on their New Haven Division. These cars would spend their final years still sporting their SEMTA logo and paint scheme being pulled by Metro North's famous FL-9 dual mode locomotives in and out of Grand Central Station until they were replaced by brand new Bombardier built Horizon /Shoreliner Cars. Some of the locomotives were sold to Massechssetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) to perform switching duties around the property. They never saw mainline service again. SEMTA as a whole was reorganized in 1989 and was renamed Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART). SEMTA as we knew it was no more. In this picture, a SEMTA commuter train led by former Grand Trunk Western GP18 # 904 leaves the Brush Street Terminal in downtown Detroit en route to Pontiac, Michigan. The cars are former Union Pacific coaches.

This was hand drawn completely from common office ball point pens and highlighters.