Trains.com

CNW Milwaukee to Madison

2160 views
4 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: Dallas, TX
  • 6,952 posts
Posted by CMStPnP on Sunday, August 29, 2021 10:36 AM

mudchicken
The line abandoned in January 1984. Add

Kind of off topic but two interesting items......

#1.   The line crossed under Highway 83 in North Wales / Wales south of Delafield, which was pretty close to the Milwaukee Electric line interurban that crossed the same Highway just north at the top of the hill of the Highway 83 and I-94 exit.    For the Interurban, Highway 83 was a stop called Lapham Peak Road......after the fire watch Ranger station at Lapham Peak.    TMER&L had a small 4-5 person wood shanty for passengers at their stop on the West side of 83 rail crossing next to highway 83. 

#2.   When Hollywood Movie Stars came to visit the Fontanne Residence in Genesee Depot (Ten Chimneys - see link below) they would use the C&NW station way the hell to the north on the C&NW mainline.  I believe it was in North Lake.     If you take the tour of the Residence they mention that Paul Lynde was a frequent visitor and would get off the C&NW passenger train in North Lake......travel the long road South along Highway 83.    The guy had to wonder after crossing the Interurban Tracks.......then the Tracks in Wales belonging to C&NW, probably the Milwaukee Road as well in Genesee Depot......why he could not get a closer stop to Genesse Depot.    The answer is I think he probably could have but it would not have been to the high standards or had a first class section or maybe it was a long layover between trains otherwise in Milwaukee.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Chimneys

 

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Denver / La Junta
  • 10,820 posts
Posted by mudchicken on Sunday, August 29, 2021 10:08 AM

The line abandoned in January 1984.

Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: Dallas, TX
  • 6,952 posts
Posted by CMStPnP on Friday, August 27, 2021 8:54 PM

Bruce Frierdich
Sometime in the '60s or '70s the CNW abandoned its track between Milwaukee and Madison - anyone have details? Thanks. Bruce 

Last Milwaukee to Madison C&NW passenger train ran in 1954.

  • Member since
    January 2015
  • 2,678 posts
Posted by kgbw49 on Thursday, August 26, 2021 10:29 PM

It is now the Glacial-Drumlin bike trail. There are actually original steel bridges on the trail on curves that are canted at a relatively steep angle, a reminder of the high speed passenger trains operated on the line.

The line used to have passenger trains pulled by the CNW's 81-inch high-drivered rigid-frame Class D 4-4-2 Atlantics.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=4891483

On the west end a stub remnant of the line is operated by Wisconsin & Southern from Madison east to Cottage Grove.

On the east end a stub remnant is operated by Union Pacific west from Milwaukee to the east side of Waukesha.

  • Member since
    September 2017
  • 70 posts
CNW Milwaukee to Madison
Posted by Bruce Frierdich on Thursday, August 26, 2021 9:23 PM

Sometime in the '60s or '70s the CNW abandoned its track between Milwaukee and Madison - anyone have details?

Thanks. Bruce 

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy