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branch line ends in a loop

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  • Member since
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branch line ends in a loop
Posted by rws1225 on Monday, February 6, 2012 1:31 PM

Way back along time ago MR had an article about Fox Lake WI that had a balloon loop with industries, etc. inside it.  Can anyone help with a month  and year?  Thanks in advance.

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Posted by DSchmitt on Monday, February 6, 2012 1:34 PM

February 1976, page 48

I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.

I don't have a leg to stand on.

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Posted by rws1225 on Monday, February 6, 2012 4:02 PM

Thanks.  I remember stuff just not in a linear way.

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Posted by desertdog on Tuesday, February 7, 2012 5:38 PM

I don't recall if the cited article mentions it, but there was a similar loop in Beaver Dam, a few miles to the east.

John Timm

 

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Posted by gabeusmc on Tuesday, February 7, 2012 6:46 PM

It is also in "101 More Track Plans"

"Mess with the best, die like the rest" -U.S. Marine Corp

MINRail (Minessota Rail Transportaion Corp.) - "If they got rid of the weeds what would hold the rails down?"

And yes I am 17.

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Posted by Jamis on Wednesday, February 8, 2012 6:59 PM

There was also one published in the April 2007 issue called the Glass Rock & Eastern RR.  It was based on the Ohio Southern RR and had a branch line that ended in  turn back loop.  It had two industries inside the loop, but at a higher elevation on another branch line.  It was HO scale and fit in a 10' x 12' room.

Jim -  Preserving the history of the NKP Cloverleaf first subdivision.

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Posted by billslake on Wednesday, February 8, 2012 8:31 PM

February, 1976.

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Posted by dknelson on Thursday, February 9, 2012 8:35 AM

The Fox Lake loop is still partly in place although I think it is disconnected from the actual spur.  if you go to Google sattelite view you can pretty clearly see the loop, and trace it down to the Wisconsin & Southern "main."  The depot is there too, or was last time I was there.

Dave Nelson

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Posted by billslake on Thursday, February 9, 2012 1:26 PM

Depot is still there.  It is maintained by the Fox Lake Historical Society.

We lived for years in Beaver Dam, about ten miles southeast of Fox Lake.  Beaver Dam had a similar loop, which was in use until the mid to late 80s.  This also was on The Milwaukee Road, now the Wisconsin and Southern.  Beaver Dam had two stations, the older one on the "main" (torn down about 20 years ago) and one built in the 20s or so on the lead to the loop.  That "newer"station still stands, is on the National Register, and is the home of the local Chamber of Commerce.  If you get a chance, visit it . . . much of the interior is unchanged from when it was an operating deport.

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Posted by WSOR 3801 on Thursday, February 16, 2012 1:33 AM

The MRHA magazine had a recent article on the Horicon-Portage line, including both loops.  The narrative follows the patrol on a normal day's operation.  Diagrams and aerial photographs help complete the scene. 

Copies should be available: http://www.mrha.com/item-detail.cfm?ID=4Q2010 

Both loops were fed by wyes coming off the main line.  The wye at Fox Lake Jct is still in place, used for car storage lately.  The Beaver Dam wye and downtown loop are long gone. 

Fox Lake overview.

Downtown Fox Lake.

Beaver Dam.

 

The main line around the wye has since been realigned.

 

 

Mike WSOR engineer | HO scale since 1988 | Visit our club www.WCGandyDancers.com

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Posted by rws1225 on Thursday, February 16, 2012 7:30 AM

WOW, ask and your will recieve!!!! Thanks a lot.

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Posted by dknelson on Thursday, February 16, 2012 8:17 AM

That's great stuff Mike, thanks.

Dave Nelson

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Posted by pajrr on Wednesday, February 22, 2012 6:30 AM

How about a high speed, heavily used mainline ending in a loop? The old New York & Long Branch (NY&LB), jointly owned by PRR and CNJ? This line is still used as New Jersey Transit's North Jersey Coast Line. All commuter trains upon reaching Bayhead, NJ (the southern end of the line) go around the loop and either back onto the double track main or into one of several storage tracks that are located inside the loop. During steam days, steam service facilities (coal tower, water tanks) were located around the loop.Train ends its' run, navigates the loop, stopping for coal and water along the way, and then pulls into the station or yard track, pointed North ready to head back to New York City. If you Google Earth Bay Head, NJ, you will see the loop, all of the yard tracks, offices, station, etc. The steam facilities are gone. I was lucky enough to be on a excursion that went around the loop. The loop is not normally traversed by trains carrying passengers.

 

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