BNSF Expansion into Wisconsin

[CMStPnP]

Noticed via youtube videos at first and also on WSOR facebook page.    Seems BNSF is using the Wisconsin and Southern Prarie Du Chien line to access grain elevators or a grain company in Wisconsin as far East as Avalon, WI (just SE of Janesville, WI), looks like they interchange West of Madison in Crawford, WI (just outside Prarie Du Chien city limits) with BNSF.

BNSF Train leaving Madison on Wisconsin and Southern:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDS8UIJSrM4

Another one running rear unit forward heading towards Madison:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mBGwuW8vd8

Have to say that the Wisconsin and Southern really has fixed up that line substantially.  

I remember back in the early 1980's under Milwaukee Road ownership it looked like the below link.   The most you would see on it were SD7's or SD9's moving at 5-10 mph.    Now it is almost a Class I mainline with long trains and SD-40-2's moving at 40 mph........recently added BNSF grain unit trains now.

How the line used to look in the 1980's:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlzG81V8p6o

 

[kgbw49]

That is very welcome to see indeed!

I am not 100% sure but from all the information I've read most of Wisconsin & Southern track is FRA Class II good for 25 mph. They also had a bridge and track strengthening project over several years to get their key lines to 286,000 lb status.

The Wisconsin River valley through that area from Mazomanie to Prairie du Chien is very scenic.

Here is a WSOR system map noting lines capable of handling 286,000-pound cars:

https://watcocompanies.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/WSOR_OL1.pdf

Then here is a WSOR system map noting interchange points a bit more concisely:

https://watcocompanies.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/WSOR1.pdf

It indicates Crawford, WI south of Prairie du Chien is "restricted interchange". Based on the information noted above it perhaps might be limited to unit trains, I am guessing.

But still a very good and positive development for Wisconsin & Southern and the Wisconsin Valley line.

CMStPnP, thanks for pointing that activity out for the forum!

 

[jrbernier]

  I suspect these are WSOR crews running the trains to the interchange at Crawford?

Jim

[CMStPnP]

jrbernier

  I suspect these are WSOR crews running the trains to the interchange at Crawford?

Jim

I have no clue but see last item in WSOR newsletter below.     I would expect they are WSOR crews based on the comments of following a strict schedule on WSOR which implies meeting a BNSF crew at Crawford and that BNSF wanted to keep dedicated cars at a minimum.    

First item in newsletter...........looks like WSOR has a new Frac Sand loading Facility at Prarie Du Chien as well generating more unit trains for BNSF.    Crawford, might become a busy unit train interchange, if these new business developments keep up.

https://watcocompanies.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Making-Tracks-July-2015.pdf

 Then there is the new lumber yard distriubtion center for Home Depot and Lowes, WSOR seems to be doing really well with business development, must be the former Milwaukee Road marketing folks.

Kind of surprised some of this new traffic is not flowing East to CP....but then it has to go via Chicago and I wonder if that is the hesitation.     The grain trains are headed South on BNSF to Gulf of Mexico ports........not sure if that means Houston, Galveston or some points East?

[greyhounds]

CMStPnP

The grain trains are headed South on BNSF to Gulf of Mexico ports........not sure if that means Houston, Galveston or some points East?

This is a huge improvement.  In the past there is no way the railroad could have been competitive with barge movement to the gulf.

If nothing else, the government would have order the rail rates increased to a level that put the grain on the river.

[CMStPnP]

greyhounds

This is a huge improvement.  In the past there is no way the railroad could have been competitive with barge movement to the gulf. If nothing else, the government would have order the rail rates increased to a level that put the grain on the river.

And it is 12 -  100 car unit trains a growing season...........which is a lot of grain.

Also Frac Sand facility is producing 100 car unit trains for Texas and points West.

That's a lot of traffic for BNSF as well....unless that is delivered to CP - Milwaukee.   I see a lot of frac sand cars in the CP - Milwaukee yard but no idea whats going on there (are they sorting for Wisconsin sand mines or sorting for points South).

CP has de-emphasized Muskego yard in Milwaukee in favor of Bensenville but it serves as a collector for Milwaukee customers as well as 2-3 tracks dedicated to Frac Sand trains it looks like based on visual observation.   CP also handles the switching of private cars at the Amtrak Depot in Milwaukee.

[kgbw49]

Interchanging at Crawford allows any grain or frac sand trains to go south through Galesburg and get right on the Southern Transcon to KC and then further south to Oklahoma - no Chicago interchange needed! Or frac sand can head straight north to the Bakken, of course.

As for CP hauling frac sand, there are a couple of huge plants just east of La Crosse that can be seen from I-90. These can also go north to the Bakken, or down the river on the former IC&E to KC, but I would suspect that any going frac sand trains through Milwaukee might be heading east to the Utica Shale in eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania.

It is always great to see a scrappy short line take some underutilized or unwanted piece of railroad and turn it in to a productive and profitable route.

[CMStPnP]

kgbw49

It is always great to see a scrappy short line take some underutilized or unwanted piece of railroad and turn it in to a productive and profitable route.

They have had two route expansions as well, former C&NW to Oregon Wi from Madison.........this one I can understand as you can see on youtube they are hauling a lot of aggregate to cement plant.   Economically the extension made sense there.

The second one from Plymouth, WI to Kohler, WI.....look on the videos on youtube........they extended to Kohler for BEMIS.    BEMIS used to be a client of my Father's firm, so I am familar with them.    Injection Plastic firm that makes plastic toilet seats, bed pans and other medical supplies in plastic.     So those hopper cars are carrying in plastic pellets in the video but all I ever see in the videos are 2-3 hopper cars led by two geeps.    So it's like you rebuilt all that track for just that???