Crescent Springs narrow gauge logging RR in NW Wisconsin?

[Boyd]

Reading on abandonedrails.com I see mentioned the Crescent Springs narrow gauge RR. This is the only place I have found of any mention of this RR. Is there more info out there on it?

[dknelson]

Actually a Google search comes up with a fair amount of info.

Here is a lengthly article on a website devoted to Wisconsin logging railroads

 http://members.tripod.com/~sassmaster/wbrn.html

There are two mentions on this website devoted to the C&NW's Omaha Road subisidiary

http://kohlin.com/soo/omahahis.htm

1883 The village of Shell Lake is incorporated, reportedly containing 1,200 people at the original town site ... Shell Lake Lumber Company, the largest lumber mill along the Omaha Road, reportedly cuts 30 million board feet of lumber and ships 2,300 railroad carloads. The company's Crescent Springs Railroad, a narrow-guage line into the timber, is running strong, two engines making three trips each per day."

 

1901

Shell Lake Lumber Company's Crescent Springs Railroad hauls its last load on September 17; company sawmill shuts down ...

Wikipedia has an article about David Joyce the lumber baron who owned the railroad (among others)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Joyce

If I find more in my (modest) book collection on Wisconsin logging I'll try to post it

I hope this helps.

Dave Nelson

 

[dknelson]

Well I was surprised that the book Ghosts of the Forest by Randall Rohe had nothing.  But it is only Vol 1 and maybe subsequent volumes will get to this railroad.  You might try the Forest History Association of Wisconsin, PO Box 1001, Marinette WI  54143-1001.

I did find a mention in Don Anderson's 2001 book "19th Century Railroading in Wisconsin."  In 1900 the Railroad Commissioner quizzed the lumber companies because some were operating lumber railroads just like common carriers but were escaping regulation, data gathering, and taxes.

The Shell Lake Lumber Co (owner and operator of the Crescent Springs) replied that they had 12 to 14 miles of track, 2 locomotives, and 60 logging cars.  They said the track only stayed in place for 2 to 3 weeks at a time and then would be moved to where the trees were (this was common in logging).  In fact they said that of their 12 to 14 miles, 8 miles would be moved in the next 5 weeks.  They said that as tracks were removed, the graded right of way would be turned over to the town for highway purposes.  So maybe some country roads up that way are the old RoW!.

This old map shows Shell Lake

http://www.jlindquist.com/OM2images/1887A.jpg

 

Sorry I couldn't find more for you on this.

Dave Nelson