April 29, 2021

Roundhouse Asbestos Exposure in Michigan

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Asbestos
Lung Cancer
Mesothelioma
Unions & Trades

Published: April 29, 2021 · Last Updated: May 11, 2026

Michigan Railroad Roundhouses: Sites of Extensive Asbestos Exposure

Railroad workers across Michigan faced significant asbestos exposure at roundhouses—specialized facilities where trains were serviced, maintained, and repaired from the late 19th century through much of the 20th century. These industrial sites became hotspots for asbestos exposure, leading to devastating health consequences including mesothelioma and lung cancer for countless Michigan railroad employees and their families.

Understanding Asbestos Exposure in Railroad Roundhouses

Throughout Michigan, roundhouses served as central hubs for railroad operations, where workers encountered dangerous asbestos-containing materials daily. The transition from steam to diesel engines in the mid-20th century changed the types of asbestos products used, but did not eliminate the health risks. Many roundhouses continued operations well into the modern era, with some facilities remaining active today.

Common Asbestos Products in Railroad Operations

Railroad workers at Michigan roundhouses encountered numerous asbestos-containing materials, including:

  • Asbestos rope and cloth used for track maintenance
  • Boiler and pipe covering materials
  • Insulated electrical and plumbing products
  • Brake linings and friction materials
  • Gaskets, seals, and other engine components
  • Insulation materials throughout train cars and facilities

At-Risk Railroad Workers and Occupations

Multiple trades within Michigan’s railroad industry faced dangerous asbestos exposure, particularly those working in and around roundhouses. Detroit railroad worker injury cases often involve employees from these high-risk positions:

  • Track maintenance workers and section hands (gandy dancers)
  • Train engineers and conductors
  • Equipment operators and yardmasters
  • Brakemen and mechanical staff
  • Boiler workers and blacksmiths
  • Machinists and pipefitters
  • Maintenance and repair technicians

Notably, section hands were commonly called “gandy dancers”—a term immortalized by the famous Gandy Dancer restaurant in Ann Arbor, which occupies a historic 100-year-old train station that was replaced in 1983.

Michigan Roundhouse Locations and Asbestos Exposure Sites

Across Michigan, numerous roundhouses exposed workers to dangerous asbestos materials. Many of our clients who developed mesothelioma or lung cancer worked at these facilities:

Complete List of Michigan Railroad Roundhouses

  • Adrian – Lake Shore & Michigan Southern
  • Alpena – Detroit & Mackinac
  • Battle Creek – Grand Trunk Battle Creek asbestos exposure
  • Bay City – Michigan Central
  • Calumet – Calumet & Hecla Calumet asbestos exposure
  • Champion – Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific
  • Detroit – Michigan Central Detroit railroad workers
  • Detroit – Grand Trunk
  • Durand – Grand Trunk
  • Elberta – Ann Arbor
  • Escanaba – Chicago & Northwestern
  • Flatrock – Detroit, Toledo, and Ironton
  • Gladstone – Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie
  • Grand Rapids – Michigan Central
  • Grand Rapids – Pere Marquette
  • Hancock – Quincy & Torch Lake
  • Holland – Pere Marquette
  • Iron Mountain – Chicago & Northwestern
  • Ishpeming – Chicago & Northwestern
  • Jackson – Michigan Central
  • Kalamazoo – Michigan Central
  • Kalamazoo – Kalamazoo & South Haven Railroad
  • Ludington – Pere Marquette
  • Manistee – Manistee & Northeastern
  • Marshall – Detroit, Toledo & Milwaukee Road
  • New Buffalo – Pere Marquette
  • Niles – Missouri Central
  • Owosso – Ann Arbor
  • Plymouth – Pere Marquette
  • Pontiac – Grand Trunk Western
  • Port Huron – Grand Trunk
  • Port Huron – Port Huron & Detroit
  • River Rouge – Michigan Central Railroad
  • Saginaw – Pere Marquette
  • Wells – Escanaba & Lake Superior

Historic Preservation: The Marshall Roundhouse

The Henry Ford Museum acquired the historic Marshall, Michigan roundhouse in 1991, reconstructing it at Greenfield Village in Dearborn by 2000. This preserved roundhouse serves as a reminder of Michigan’s railroad heritage and the workers who faced dangerous asbestos exposure at these facilities.

Historic roundhouse at Greenfield Village showing typical railroad facility where workers faced asbestos exposure

Legal Help for Michigan Railroad Workers

If you or a loved one worked at any of these Michigan railroad roundhouses and developed mesothelioma, lung cancer, or other asbestos-related diseases, you may be entitled to compensation. Our experienced legal team understands the complex history of asbestos exposure in Michigan’s railroad industry.

Contact Serling & Abramson, P.C. for a free consultation regarding asbestos exposure and the resulting development of mesothelioma or lung cancer. We have successfully represented railroad workers and their families across Michigan and nationwide.