Locals In Milwaukee

[METRO]

So now that it's getting warmer out (hopefully) the spring season of watching trains is about to begin. 

Last year I was out in Wauwatosa quite a bit, watching the CP/SOO main, but I'm getting a little sick of seeing only big 6-axel engines pulling long trains.  I'm looking for a few spots this year where I can watch more laid back action, particularly locals and switch jobs.

The only one I know of now is the UP operations in Harborview, now there is nothing at all wrong with these operations, it's actually really interesting to see the old UP GP38-2 running up and down rails that haven't been rebuilt in years.  It's also good railfanning, with plenty of public streets and areas to watch from, but I am partial to the CP.

So does anyone know of anywhere where I can see locals or switch jobs from a safe and public area here in or around Milwaukee?  Preferably I'd like to see CP, CN or WSORR.

Thanks!

~METRO 

[zardoz]

For CP action, I would suggest perusing the area around the casino just SW of downtown.  A nice view of the yard and the bridge can be had (if you can tolerate the local inhabitants) from 11th Street just north of Bruce Street. 

Canal Street between downtown and 35th Street can afford you some interesting views as well, although due to traffic levels, I would suggest weekends only.

If you go to Mapquest and use 53201 for a zip code, it will show you the area.

[dknelson]

Lots of public access to the WSOR in Horicon WI

Dave Nelson

[WSOR 3801]

The CP Watertown Patrol comes east to Duplainville, not sure if it comes farther east.  There is also yard switching around Mosquito Yard.  Most work seems to happen on the east end, by the Burnham Bridge.  Not sure of public access. 

Most UP trains come out of Butler these days.  There is a guy that runs to Granville, one to Waukesha, and probably a few other directions.  IIRC, most of the main lines around the Milwaukee area are track warrant territory, so listen on the scanner.

CN has a job that comes out of DBR Jct., goes to North Milwaukee, then up to Saukville.  All 10 mph these days, easy to catch.  He also heads to West Bend, from DBR on the old CNW-FRVR.

WSOR has switching in North Milwaukee, Ackerville (under the STH 164 overpass), transfers to Mosquito Yard, runs up to Plymouth, etc.  Slinger to North Mil is currently 10 mph, easy to catch. 

[Anonymous]

I know you're tired of CP/SOO, but Duplainville Crossing where the former Soo (then WC, now CN) crosses the old MILW main is a good spot.  You'll see CN and WSOR as well as CP/SOO and Amtrak.

[kschmidt]

Greetings,

The UP has two locals "Cudahy Job" and "Marsh Job" that originate in Butler Yard now, both head south towards Mitchell Yard and then the "Cudahy Job" switches the Car Shops in Cudahy and a couple of other industries along the way including Bucyrus Erie in South Milwaukee, 

The "Marsh Job" will switch the Green Line that runs from the mainline through a county park and down to a recycling plant at 20th and Morgan.  Then the Marsh Job heads to St Francis and down the National Ave spur to Jones Island, plus several industries on Water Street.  Some classic industrial switching.  Both of these locals run Mon-Fri during the day.

CP has a local that heads onto Jones Island in the early afternoon.  Also the "Canal Job" will come out on the mainline and head down to Oak Creek and switch some sidings around Drexel Ave and that area.  That is usually done in the early evening. 

WSOR has a job that comes down from North Milwaukee yard to the CP yard to switch cars.  I think this might be a daily job.  Not sure exactly when it runs. 

Keith Schmidt

[WSOR 3801]

WSOR usually goes to Mosquito twice a day Mon-Fri.  Weekends vary, sometimes they go, sometimes not. 

[rsovitzky]

Greetings,

The UP has two locals "Cudahy Job" and "Marsh Job" that originate in Butler Yard now, both head south towards Mitchell Yard and then the "Cudahy Job" switches the Car Shops in Cudahy and a couple of other industries along the way including Bucyrus Erie in South Milwaukee, 

The "Marsh Job" will switch the Green Line that runs from the mainline through a county park and down to a recycling plant at 20th and Morgan.  Then the Marsh Job heads to St Francis and down the National Ave spur to Jones Island, plus several industries on Water Street.  Some classic industrial switching.  Both of these locals run Mon-Fri during the day.

CP has a local that heads onto Jones Island in the early afternoon.  Also the "Canal Job" will come out on the mainline and head down to Oak Creek and switch some sidings around Drexel Ave and that area.  That is usually done in the early evening. 

WSOR has a job that comes down from North Milwaukee yard to the CP yard to switch cars.  I think this might be a daily job.  Not sure exactly when it runs. 

Keith Schmidt

Keith,

Can you be more specific on the geography for that Marsh job?  I hear those two jobs all the time on the scanner getting ready at Butler.

Do you know the route the Pleasant Prairie takes?

I see you're a HAM...

 

[kschmidt]

Sure I will try and help with the "geography" for the Marsh Job. 

The Green Line starts just east of Mitchell Yard and it heads south through Zablocki Park and crosses Oklahoma Ave and Morgan Ave and then dead ends at the recycling plant. 

When they get to St Francis the tracks head north I-794 Lake Parkway and head right onto Jones Island and the Milwaukee Harbor.  Some people have been approached about taking pictures on Jones Island, I've never had a problem. 

To get to the Water Street pretty much take National Ave until it dead ends almost at Lake Michigan.  Miller Compressing is south of National Ave.  More sidings are north of National Ave on Water Street.  Below is a photo of the Marsh Job switching a plant just north of Florida Ave just east of 1st street

The Marsh Job pulling a tank car out of a chemical plant along Water Street north of National Ave. 

Backing down off the mainline towards Miller compressing just south of National Ave.  Tracks run right along Water Street. 

Yes I have my ham license, however I currently don't have a rig.  I might use the supposed "economic stimulus" check to get a radio. 

Hope this helps. 

Keith

[rsovitzky]

Ah...excellent, Keith, thanks. You'll have saved me some hit and miss time :)

Do you mean Jackson Park instead of Zablocki? Google Maps shows a larger yard just south of Lincoln at the north end of Jackson Park. That's not Mitchell Yard, is it? I do see the trailing point spur down to recycling - kinda neat.

Near Water Street it looks like there's a track connecting the CP and the UP. Is this so? Would that ne an interchange?

It's nice to get a bird's eye view (Google) once one figures out where one should be.

[kschmidt]

Glad to help out.  I was going to try and put a Google link into the earlier message but things weren't working well. 

Actually the park would be the Kinnickinnic River Parkway.  The tracks run along the westside of 20th street from north of Oklahoma Ave. 

Yes there is an interchange with the CP and UP.  I believe it was called Washington Street.  At one time it was quite the place to watch trains in Milwaukee.  The Amtrak trains still usually call out Washington St as they arrive in Milwaukee.

Keith

[railfan619]

I have seen both the cudahy job and the marsh job. The cudahy job moves along south KK ave and you can get alot of photo opportunities as the train crosses over the grade crossings from clement ave up though cudahy into south milwaukee and beyond. The train moves only about 20 or 25 mph so there is always a good chance you can beet it to a crossing to get pictures. Also on some days the train stops just north of the Layton Ave crossing. right by the Cudahy depot. I just saw the train on Thursday right around 11:30 going south. Now on the marsh job the one that goes up to the recycling plant on.Morgan Ave sometimes runs with a caboose the old CNW bay window caboose. Your first picture opportunity is as it crosses over KK river parkway just west of 20th st. Then there's Oklahoma and then up to Morgan ave where it dead ends and does the switching. From the times that I have seen it the engine drops the new cars on the main line just before the switch. Then it runs up to the plant and picks up the loaded ones down hooks up the new cars pushes the new cars up the hill and unhooks and then leaves and continues on with it's duties. Another place to view this train is along HWY 794 and down by Jones Island.

[rsovitzky]

Yes there is an interchange with the CP and UP.  I believe it was called Washington Street.  At one time it was quite the place to watch trains in Milwaukee.  The Amtrak trains still usually call out Washington St as they arrive in Milwaukee.

Keith

Yes - now I understand what the CP dispatcher is referring to when he says 'the Wash'. I suppose nothing is exchanged on the interchange anymore.

Railfan: does the Marsh job switch more than the recycling plant?

[zardoz]

Do you mean Jackson Park instead of Zablocki? Google Maps shows a larger yard just south of Lincoln at the north end of Jackson Park. That's not Mitchell Yard, is it? I do see the trailing point spur down to recycling - kinda neat.

Near Water Street it looks like there's a track connecting the CP and the UP. Is this so? Would that ne an interchange?

Mitchell Yard is indeed located at the north end of Jackson Park (the KK River Parkway runs thru the park).

You can see the UP absolute signal for Washington Street by going east of 1st St on Greenfield--when you get to the tracks look north.

Trivia: did you know that the stretch of track from the UP Milwaukee Sub main line to Oklahoma Avenue (referenced above) is the steepest grade on the UP east of the Rockies.  IIRC, it is about 5%.

[Tom Burke]

How is Jones Island switched by both UP and CP?  What determination is made in terms of which industry will be switched by which railroad?  I believe the tracks are owned by the City of Milwaukee.  

[CMStPnP]

Tom Burke

How is Jones Island switched by both UP and CP?  What determination is made in terms of which industry will be switched by which railroad?  I believe the tracks are owned by the City of Milwaukee.  

I thought the CP stopped switching Jones Island and even yanked the switch that used to connect with the former C&NW Chicago to Milwaukee passenger connection off the Twin Cities Main that goes to Jones Island and used to connect ex-C&NW with the approach to the Amtrak Station South of the Amtrak station.

BTW folks it is Muskego Yard not Mosquito Yard.

Also, CP sends a geep on occassionally up the Twin Cities line to Oconomowoc to switch the Carnation Plant there or they used to.    You could probably get a schedule by calling the shipping department at Carnation.    Too bad they yanked out the Brookfield WI to Waukesha line, that junction used to be a switching point as well.    Heck  I am not even sure if Carnation is still there and in business.

[Tom Burke]

CMStPnP

 

 

Tom Burke

How is Jones Island switched by both UP and CP?  What determination is made in terms of which industry will be switched by which railroad?  I believe the tracks are owned by the City of Milwaukee.  

 

 

 

I thought the CP stopped switching Jones Island and even yanked the switch that used to connect with the former C&NW Chicago to Milwaukee passenger connection off the Twin Cities Main that goes to Jones Island and used to connect ex-C&NW with the approach to the Amtrak Station South of the Amtrak station.

BTW folks it is Muskego Yard not Mosquito Yard.

Also, CP sends a geep on occassionally up the Twin Cities line to Oconomowoc to switch the Carnation Plant there or they used to.    You could probably get a schedule by calling the shipping department at Carnation.    Too bad they yanked out the Brookfield WI to Waukesha line, that junction used to be a switching point as well.    Heck  I am not even sure if Carnation is still there and in business.

 

 

The switch is gone that allowed C&NW passenger trains to move onto the Milwaukee Road tracks.  That connection was put in place when the C&NW abandoned its lakefront station and its "Air Line" line north of the Third Ward and instead used the then new Milwaukee Road passenger station in the 1960s.  

A section of the "Air Line" was left in place to service remaining freight customers by backing down from the Butler Yard to around North Avenue.

But CP accesses Jones Island from its own track that veers off the C&M mainline at Becher Street just west of Kinnickkinnick Avenue.

[CMStPnP]

Thanks Tom.

[tree68]

CMStPnP

BTW folks it is Muskego Yard not Mosquito Yard.

That might depend on the time of the year...  

[mikeyuhas]

Tom Burke

How is Jones Island switched by both UP and CP?  What determination is made in terms of which industry will be switched by which railroad?  I believe the tracks are owned by the City of Milwaukee.  

 

Correct, the tracks on Jones Island are owned and maintained by the Port of Milwaukee. From what I understand, either railroad can switch any industry on the island. I guess the shipper/receiver picks the railroad based on rates, connections, responsiveness, etc.

Incidentally, I believe the CP gets down to the port on a less-than-daily basis now. Can someone verify? UP's Marsh Job (LPA55) is usually found on the island or environs midday every weekday.

A fascinating bit of concentrated railroading down there.