Wisconsin Northern Railroad

Wisconsin Northern Railroad
Reporting mark WN
Locale Northern Wisconsin
Dates of operation 2004–Present
Track gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) (standard gauge)
Length 62.3 mi (100.3 km)
Headquarters Lakeville, Minnesota

The Wisconsin Northern Railroad (reporting mark WN) is the trade name employed by Progressive Rail Inc. to operate 62.3 miles (100.3 km) of railroad in northern Wisconsin.

Contents

Overview

The railroad began operations on November 29, 2004,[1] leasing its trackage from the Union Pacific Railroad (UP) and Wisconsin Central Ltd. (WC). The UP trackage extends north from Norma, a junction with the UP in northern Chippewa Falls, to Cameron.[2] It was completed by the Chippewa Falls and Northern Railway, a predecessor of the Chicago and North Western Transportation Company, in 1883.[3] At Cameron, the Wisconsin Northern splits, with WC trackage continuing north to Rice Lake and west to Almena.[4] The Rice Lake line was opened by the Rice Lake, Dallas and Menominee Railway in 1894, and the Almena line by the Minneapolis, Sault Ste. Marie and Atlantic Railway in 1884. Both became part of the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad (Soo Line),[5] and were spun off to the WC in 1987.

Major commodities handled include: resins, scrap materials, lumber, logs, fertilizer, steel, feed grade grains, and tallow.

Equipment

The railroad's locomotive roster is on loan from parent Progressive Rail Inc. and includes one SW1500 and two GP15-1 units operating along the system.[6]

Model[6] Number Lettered
EMD SW1500 34 None
EMD GP15-1 1500 City of Barron
EMD GP15-1 1501 City of Bloomer

See also

References

  1. ^ Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation, Progressive Rail Begins Operations, accessed February 2009
  2. ^ STB Finance Docket No. 34597, October 29, 2004
  3. ^ Interstate Commerce Commission, 137 I.C.C. 1 (1928): Valuation Docket No. 549, Chicago, Saint Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway Company
  4. ^ STB Finance Docket No. 34600, November 12, 2004
  5. ^ Interstate Commerce Commission, 143 I.C.C. 547 (1928): Valuation Docket No. 370, Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railway Company et al.
  6. ^ a b "The Diesel Shop". http://www.thedieselshop.us/WiscNor.HTML.  Wisconsin Northern Locomotive Roster

External links

Common carriers
Passenger carriers
Former carriers
See also: List of United States railroads by political division