I think both Iowa and State of Wisconsin should fund a Mississippi River Rail Bridge at Prarie Du Chien and allow a connection to CP as well as link up with shortlines on the Iowa side of the river. It would build more bridge traffic on the W&S across Southern Wisconsin and make Iowa rates to the East more competitive.
CMStPnP I think both Iowa and State of Wisconsin should fund a Mississippi River Rail Bridge at Prarie Du Chien and allow a connection to CP as well as link up with shortlines on the Iowa side of the river. It would build more bridge traffic on the W&S across Southern Wisconsin and make Iowa rates to the East more competitive.
Intriguing because of the old pontoon bridge that connected Marquette and Prairie Du Chien that was ultimately dismantled in 1961. But the costs associated with such a proposal would greatly outweigh the economic benefits.
For the Iowa Northern? How much traffic would that be?
This sounds like a glorious opportunity for CP to shorthaul itself. Also, Wisconsin & Southern would be a slow and roundabout way to get to Chicago from Iowa.
Los Angeles Rams GuyIntriguing because of the old pontoon bridge that connected Marquette and Prairie Du Chien that was ultimately dismantled in 1961. But the costs associated with such a proposal would greatly outweigh the economic benefits.
You would think that money matters but hell, Wisconsin is paying $17 million to fix the Merrimac River Bridge of the W&S, with an additional $3.4 million from W&S........$20.3 million to preserve a line with light traffic.
http://www.wiscnews.com/baraboonewsrepublic/news/local/article_50c49d7d-6f9a-58b6-b265-c922dceab0f1.html
The Pontoon Bridge at Marquette
http://ir.uiowa.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=7739&context=annals-of-iowa
$20 million for the repairs of that Wisconsin River Bridge. A new Mississippi River Bridge will cost a lot more.
Iowa Northern? They run from Manley to Cedar Rapids - not too many connections there(over CP to Marquette?).
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
One thought - W&S would be much more likely to someday pick up operation of more CN branch lines in northeastern and northern WI before they would "jump the Mississippi". There could come a time when CN can't operate some of those lines at 60 OR and may decide to spin them off to the State of WI for operation by a shortline such as W&S.
jrbernier$20 million for the repairs of that Wisconsin River Bridge. A new Mississippi River Bridge will cost a lot more. Iowa Northern? They run from Manley to Cedar Rapids - not too many connections there(over CP to Marquette?).
I was thinking operational flexibility as well as connections. It's not a W&S owned rail line, it is state owned........W&S just operates over it. Thats one thing to keep in the back of our minds here.
With a bridge across the river some more doors open for Wisconsin and transportation. I think W&S is pretty good at landing business a second cross river connection to CP would allow W&S to offer competition between BNSF and CP on shipping rates to the West. Specifically with it's new Unit Trains it delivers to BNSF.
Maybe a W&S purchase of Iowa Northern? Or at least an expansion into Iowa and possibly the Dakotas using state owned lines.
CP Connection at Prarie Du Chien gives it access to a second main across Wisconsin to Milwaukee, it could use it to divert some freights to free up capacity for future Amtrak Milwaukee to Twin Cities Passenger Trains instead of forcing Wisconsin to pay to upgrade it's own line further North, why not take advantage of this secondary line? Would that not be cheaper?
Could also serve as a detour route for both BNSF and CP.
Also if Iowa Northern wasn't acquired it would add connections to BNSF and W&S to the East for freight routing.
Potential future State of WI track ownership:
Shawano branch
New London branch
Denmark branch
Luxemburg branch
Medford branch
Ashland branch above Bradley
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