Any suggestions on railfanning the Wisconsin & Southern line from Prairie du Chien to Madison? Do they run trains during the day on Fridays and if yes about what time of day? I have not chased this line before but think it could be a scenic drive. Thanks
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Darren (BLHS & CRRM Lifetime Member)
Delaware and Hudson Virtual Museum (DHVM), Railroad Adventures (RRAdventures)
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Scenic for sure, and lightly used, It might be that if you call the Madison yardmaster (phone number is on the WSOR website) he might be helpful. But I do not believe there is a schedule per se on that line.
Dave Nelson
Last I was informed (a few months ago) normal operating pattern was for a the train to be two day turn from Madison to Prairie Du Chien and back that runs three times per week. Sun-Tues-Thurs out to PDC, with the crew on duty in Madison in the early afternoon (it was 1400). The crew runs to PDC doing any work, and ties up in PDC for the night. After the crew has rested they return on Mon-Wed-Fri, most commonly leaving Prairie Du Chien in the early to late afternoon.
Note this this is just a "normal" operating pattern - not guaranteed by any means, and subject to change at any time.
On a Friday your best bet might be to go to Prairie in the morning and see if you can find the train. If they are there they'll be tied up out on St. Ferroile Island out by Villa Louis. If the train is there you can wait for it to leave and follow it west. If it's not there, well, then there's always plenty of scenic BNSF locations near by to keep you from being skunked on trains for the day.
Noah
Thanks guys!
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