This link goes back to last October, but I talked with a friend this weekend who works at the Oshkosh ethanol plant. He loves working there because everything about the operation is about using resources well. Even some of the "leftovers" are containerized, and trucked to UP at Rochelle for shipment to China.
He said he's hoping to transfer to the monster ethanol plant going up at Jefferson Jct in conjunction with the old Ladish Malt plant there. That and the thread about bringing a dead branchline back to life spurred me to search for info about Jeff Jct., and I found this link describing Wisconsin's funding of rail projects...
http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/news/2006/opa-177.htm
I think it's neat what WSOR is doing to invigorate spurned branches in Wisconsin. I hope now that they're going to go into Sheboygan that they get the idea of assuming and restoring the line north into Green Bay.
http://www.wsorrailroad.com/
Who knows? Maybe these fears about global warming, man-made or not, will make branch lines more economically attractive.
Bill Gardner has been absolutely essential to the success of the WSOR.
Hopefully when he retires a man will be able to fill his shoes.
WSOR has done a terriffic job of taking lines nobody wants and finding ways to attract business to them. He also has been able to work with the state of WI to operate lines that would otherwise have been pulled up. It is one of the few government projects in the state that actually provides tangible benefits to many people, not just the select few. Gardner has also had to deal with some complete idiots, like the state railroad guy. I forget his name at the moment, but Gardner and he have had some pretty vocal disagreements in the media. Gov. Doyle, to his credit (if you know me you know how incredibly hard it is to admit this), has actually supported the WSOR in upgrading track on some of these lines in an effort to help the railroad obtain 286K status. It is a project that I am happy to throw my tax dollars behind. Not only does it keep the railroad running (nostalgia, I know) but it also helps Wisconsin keep a leg up in manufacturing and industry, something I need in order to keep working. Any government program designed to KEEP industry in this state instead of driving it away is a good idea in my book.
cpprfld wrote:Wow Doyle did something to help business in the state.
I think Gov. Doyle has been a positive for the railroads in Wisconsin. If you look back 30 years, Wisconsin has been more pro-railroad than it's neighboring states. The state bought how many miles of Milwaukee Road and Illinois Central trackage in the early 80's. Some of these lines didn't pan out but at least an attempt was made to preserve service. Money was spent on re-habbing the lines that had traffic. It seems like the WSOR is able to get funds when they need them. Probably not all they need or want.The state continues to invest in lines that are cast off. The Saukville line from CN, the Sheboygan Falls line from the UP and they are working to help secure the tracks that the Wisconsin Northern is operating north of Chippewa Falls. I realize the railroads don't get a fraction of what the trucks and road builders get right now but if the WSOR gets the funding to re-lay the Mineral Point/Shullsburg branches that would speak volumes.
MTB wrote: I realize the railroads don't get a fraction of what the trucks and road builders get right now but if the WSOR gets the funding to re-lay the Mineral Point/Shullsburg branches that would speak volumes.
I realize the railroads don't get a fraction of what the trucks and road builders get right now but if the WSOR gets the funding to re-lay the Mineral Point/Shullsburg branches that would speak volumes.
Is there a plan in the works to re-lay that track?
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