I was in Appleton, WI this past weekend for a basketball tournament. There seems to be no shortage of tracks and a small yard west of the downtown (under College Avenue), however, I never saw any trains or rolling stock parked on sidings. None. The rails were polished showing signs of usage but it was surprising to me to not see any trains or cars. I did see a few parked cars in Oshkosh on sidings to factories and a paper mill. Anyone have any insights? Thanks.
Bruce
It's CN and not Wisconsin Central anymore?
Hi,
Wisconsin Central was sold to CN back in early 2000s - maybe WC trackage which would mean originally Soo Line. I believe CNW and Milwaukee Road also served the area. I am guessing CN or the Fox Valley and Lake Superior (a Watco line), or maybe the WSOR (also a Watco line I believe). Maybe someone from that neck of the woods could respond. Thanks.
It is all CN in Appleton now, I think. There are maybe no more than four trains a day total on the mainline between Nenah and Green Bay. There are occasional locals on the New London and Shawano branch lines. The CN mainline entering Neenah from the west and then heading south toward Fond du Lac is much busier, maybe 20-30 per day.
CN has a busy yard in Neenah astride the main line between Superior, WI and Chicago, IL.
It can be reached by exiting off of I-41 and following the tracks north into Neenah.
The former Wisconsin Central mainline that splits off to the north from Neenah to Appleton, Kaukauna, Green Bay, and Marinette heads into the Upper Peninsula.
Near and at Escanaba it splits with lines to Phillips, WI, Iron Mountain, MI, Baraga, MI, and Sault Ste. Marie, MI.
The lines to Phillips and Sault Ste. Marie are remnants of the original Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste Marie mainline from Minneapolis to Sault Ste. Marie, which was the original Soo Line.
Purportedly the original Soo Line was conceived as the original Chicago Bypass for traffic from Minneapolis to Detroit, Southern Ontario, and the large population centers of the Northeast.)
https://cnebusiness.geomapguide.ca/
The Watco-owned Fox Valley & Lake Superior (FOXY) operates one line from Appleton to New London and Manawa, and one line from Appleton to Shawano.
At Green Bay, FOXY operates a line from Green Bay to Denmark and a line from Green Bay to Luxemburg.
https://www.watco.com/system-map/
GP38-2 models are the locomotive of choice for FOXY.
https://www.railpictures.net/photo/794232/
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