SHORT LINE RAILROADS - WISCONSIN

Smaller companies operating former main line trackage, no longer wanted by the large railroads. In 1976, the bankruptcy of Penn Central and other northeast railroads led to the formation of Conrail, which was free to abandon routes with limited traffic potential. Thus began a new trend of forming short line railroads, which could operate certain routes more successfully than the large railroads.

WISCONSIN & SOUTHERN

Former Milwaukee Road and Chicago & North Western lines in southern Wisconsin.

Milwaukee Subdivision (Milwaukee-Horicon)
Cambria Subdivision (Horicon-Cambria-Portage)
Oshkosh Subdivision (Horicon-Oshkosh)
Markesan Subdivision (Brandon-Markesan)
Mayville Spur (Iron Ridge-Mayville-Fond Du Lac)

Plymouth Subdivision (Saukville-Kiel)
Kohler Spur (Kohler Jct.-Plymouth)

Fox Lake Subdivision (Fox Lake-Janesville)
Elkhorn Subdivision (Elkhorn-Bardwell-Clinton Jct.)

Monroe Subdivision (Janesville-Monroe-Mineral Point)
Madison Subdivision (Janesville-Madison)
Prairie Subdivision (Madison-Prairie Du Chien-Marquette)
Sauk Subdivision (Mazomanie-Prairie Du Sac)

Waukesha Subdivision (Waukesha-Madison)
Watertown Subdivision (Watertown-Madison)

Cottage Grove Subdivision (Cottage Grove-Madison)
Reedsburg Subdivision (Evansville-Reedsburg-Elroy)

ESCANABA & LAKE SUPERIOR

Former Milwaukee Road lines north of Green Bay.

Main Line (Green Bay-Channing)
Menominee Branch (Crivitz-Marinette)
Oconto Falls Branch (Oconto Falls-Stiles Jct.)

WISCONSIN NORTHERN RAILROAD

Former Chicago & North Western line.

Chippewa Falls-Cameron

WISCONSIN GREAT NORTHERN RAILROAD

Former Chicago & North Western line.

Spooner-Hayward