Wisconsin Railfanning suggestions (Help from the Trains staff welcomed)

[techguy57]

Heyeveryone,
The weather around here is nice (70's today), I have some light workdays in the next couple of weeks and some vacation time due so I think I'm going head north for some time trackside. So now I'm asking for some help from all of you. Please let me know what are your favorite places in Wisconsin for trackside photos. I'm torn between stsying relatively close to home (Janesville or Milwaukee) or travelling a bit (Stevens Point) Please feel free to reply and be as specific as you can with locations. Also good eats and points of interest in the area are especially welcomed. Thanks everyone!

Mike

[dknelson]

Don't overlook LaCrosse -- the photo opportunities from Grandad Bluff looking down on the BNSF main are hard to equal or exceed. And there are good eats in town on the old railroad depot which is a restaurant and has railroad cars outside to look at and all sorts of railroad stuff on the walls
There are also great views of the BNSF in Wyaluesing State park in the SW corner of the state. Maybe even some eagle watching.
Stevens Point is interesting but I suspect the CN won't let you near the roundhouse.
Dave Nelson

[eolafan]

Follow the old SOO/WC main from Chicago up through Slinger (where it runs within sight of the WSO branch there), up through Fon duLac and on up to Appleton and on to Stevens Point and beyond. Stevens Point has always been one of my favorites from my days living in Wausau and going to "The Point" to see the SOO Line roundhouse there. Even now you can see lots of power typically and there is a little residential cul-de-sac near the roundhouse you can park where you can see all the power and many power movements. Have fun.

[kschmidt]

Greetings,

Well I can suggest the Racine/Kenosha area. Check out Bain Station Road just south of Hwy 50 in Kenosha. Both the CP and UP mainlines have grade crossing on Bain Station Road about 50 yards apart. The CP tracks have a nice curve just south of the crossing. With the UP you might be able to see the "Rock Train" that comes that line that runs into Kenosha and connects up with the other UP line at the METRA depot in Kenosha. Plus the Pleasant Prairie power plant is right there. Quite often there is coal train power parked on the wye. Also if the action gets slow run into Kenosha and ride the streetcars.

Keith

[Anonymous]

Janesville has UP and Wisc&Sou. UP works the GM Plant on the south side of town. UP delivers supplies up from Chicago. I do think they also carry the finished product back down. I think the Plant is shut down for a few weeks so I don't know how much action is going on. Wisc&Sou has a Shed and turntable on the west side of town, just at the top of a hill. You can follow a Wisc&Sou north to Milton (few miles) until it hits Milton Jct. I think this is an old Milw Road line, but I new to the area and not sure.

[dknelson]

Tom
If you have not already done so I suggest tracking down David S. Fellow's self published book "The Cut Off and Fellows Station" (a local rail history of Rock County) about the 16 mile cut off that the C&NW built in 1886 to connect Janesville with Evansville - it put Janesville on the CNW main from Chicago to the Twin Cities.
Dave Nelson

[techguy57]

Thanks to everyone for their input! Very good suggestions all-around. Please keep 'em coming!

talbanese-UP does run finished products from the GM plant in Janesville back down to Chicago. I live off the UP Harvard Sub (or to METRA riders the UP-NW) which runs out to Janesville and I often see the loaded auto trains running on the line.

Keith- I've heard of Bain Station (actually a friend of mine was talking about it just today) and the power plant. What is the "Rock train" though? Just curious. Kenosha/Racine area is high on the list as well!

Dave- I totally forgot about LaCrosse. I've ridden through on the Empire builder before but it didn't even cross my mind until you mentioned it. Thanks for the mention about it as well as the book info.

Jim- I love "the Point"! It's great to see WC livery still in action and it never fails that everytime I'm up that way I get to see lots! Get to have a Point beer as well! Do you know if the old SOO roundhouse is still there?

Thanks again and let me know if you think of anywhere else!

Mike

[kschmidt]

Mike,

The Rock Train is a ballast train that originates somewhere in northern Illinois and makes its way to a transloading facitilty at Bain Station Road. The train runs I believe at least once a day, below are some shots from the area.


Here is the CP southbound at the Bain Station Road crossing.


Here is one of the Kenosha PCC Cars


The METRA Station at Kenosha, WI


Here is the "Rock Train" coming off the wye at the METRA depot.

Keith

[Anonymous]

dknelson and techguy57 thanks for the info. I will look for that book.

Question: Just east of the GM plant is a GM truck depot. Across the street is the UP line, I guess heading SE. There is a small structure that looks like it was once a station platform any ideas on what it is. I will try to get a photo.

[AlcoRS11Nut]

Steven's Point is nice a public road goes along the Diesel fueling area, easy close up shots of locomotive without the RR police on your but.
I was just there last week, and I would go back again.......I am going to Fond Du Lac/Byron Hill Tommarrow.

[techguy57]

Thanks again for the great input everyone!

Keith- Thanks for explaining about the "rock train". Also I liked your website, especially the hotspot link.

Does here anyone get out to Duplainville often?

Mike

[kschmidt]

Thanks for the nice comments. I have been out at Duplainville several times in the last couple of months. Here is some photos of what you might see at Duplainville.

On the Canadian Pacific


On the CN/WC





At the diamond



Sometimes a bit "artsy-fartsy" Sunset Meet on the CP



Keith

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kschmidt

Thanks for the nice comments. I have been out at Duplainville several times in the last couple of months. Here is some photos of what you might see at Duplainville.

On the Canadian Pacific


On the CN/WC
Keith

Nice shots!! Where is Duplainville?

[Noah Hofrichter]

Near Milwaukee, Northwest side of the city if I remember right. I've never been there though, so Keith can give you better directions.

Noah

[UP_North]

The rock train actually loads just north of racine at Ives and in the summer there are 2 rock trains. One goes to Pleasant Prairie and the other goes to Upton (North Chicago).

[kschmidt]

Greetings,

Duplainville, WI is located west of Waukesha, WI (Milwaukee's western suburb).. The best way to give directions would be to say that if you are on I-94 west of Milwaukee/Waukesha exit at Hwy 164 and go north. About 2 miles north of I-94 a road angles off to the right, it just happens to be Duplainville Road and it takes you right to the CP tracks. To get to the CN/WC tracks cross the CP tracks on Duplainville Road to the next cross road and turn right and go about a block to the CN tracks.

DO NOT go down by the diamond. I have heard railfans are routinely asked to leave that area. But on a weekend several railfans can be seen at Duplainville.

Hopefully that helps a little bit.

Keith

[fuzzybroken]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kschmidt

Greetings,

Duplainville, WI is located west of Waukesha, WI (Milwaukee's western suburb).. The best way to give directions would be to say that if you are on I-94 west of Milwaukee/Waukesha exit at Hwy F and go north. About 2 miles north of I-94 a road angles off to the right, it just happens to be Duplainville Road and it takes you right to the CP tracks. To get to the CN/WC tracks cross the CP tracks on Duplainville Road to the next cross road (Green Road) and turn right and go about a block to the CN tracks.

DO NOT go down by the diamond. I have heard railfans are routinely asked to leave that area. But on a weekend several railfans can be seen at Duplainville.

Hopefully that helps a little bit.

Keith

Hey Keith, others,

I have corrected your directions above (changes in red), WisDOT has re-routed 164, and the old alignment is now CTH-F. Also, for more Duplainville info, check out the Unofficial Duplainville Website, http://my.execpc.com/~amueller/ (I see Andy needs to update his directions as well.)

I usually catch CN trains just north of Duplainville, along Duplainville Road. Afternoon is usually a good time to do this, although the old telegraph wires can be a problem.

Another place to catch Wisconsin & Southern (WSOR) is at North Milwaukee, just north and west of 32nd and Hampton. CN comes through early in the morning with their Saukville train, and WSOR's Milwaukee local usually gets to work right after the CN leaves. Or go further up the WSOR to Granville (107th and Brown Deer -- Main St exit off US41/45), where the WSOR interchanges with UP and drops off cars for the Milwaukee Local, usually around mid-day.

Janesville would definitely be the heart of WSOR operations, and you can usually see quite a bit of the motive power gathered around the roundhouse and the yards. Also check out the WSOR Yahoo group for more info on the railroad, as well as the best times to see a train actually moving!

-Mark
http://www.geocities.com/fuzzybroken

[Bergie]

Hi Mike:

Read this installment of Trackside with Erik and Mike: http://www.trains.com/Content/Dynamic/Articles/000/000/005/123pzjkx.asp

I'd highly recommend the Inn on the River in Trempealeau, Wisconsin. If you need R&R, it doesn't get much better than this place. The owners are great... when you book your room tell them you want a second floor room because you're a railfan (while you're at it, mention I sent you there way).

Their location is great. Your room will be about 40 yards from the BNSF mainline between Savannah, Il and Minneapolis. Plenty of traffic. You can also catch breif glimpses of the CP on the other side of the Mississippi.

Have fun!

Erik

[techguy57]

Many thanks to all, especially Keith, Mark and Bergie for their great comments! I'm planning on heading out this Saturday so keep your fingers crossed that the weather is as nice as it is here today!

Thanks again!

Mike