List of Wisconsin railroads

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The following railroads operate in the U.S. state of Wisconsin.

Current railroads[]

Common freight carriers[]

A Wisconsin and Southern Railroad train passes the Middleton depot eastbound toward Madison

Passenger carriers[]

The Lumberjack Steam Train on the Laona and Northern Railway, circa 1937

Industrial/private carriers[]

Proposed[]

Defunct railroads[]

Name Mark System[nb 1] From To Successor Notes
Abbotsford and Northeastern Railroad A&NE CP 1889 1910 Wisconsin Central Railway
Ahnapee and Western Railway AW, AHW GB&W 1890 1993
AEL 1899 1906
GN 1903 1913 Great Northern Railway
CNW 1866 1875 , Milwaukee, Lake Shore and Western Railway
Ashland Railway CNW 1882 1885 Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway
AO&M 1902 1921 N/A
Baraboo Air Line Railroad CNW 1870 1871 Chicago and North Western Railway
1883 1933 N/A
1898
MILW 1855 1856
CNW 1852 1871 Chicago and North Western Railway
CNW 1878 1880 Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway
Burlington Northern Inc. BN 1970 1981 Burlington Northern Railroad
Burlington Northern Railroad BN 1981 1996 Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway
1896 1897
1909 1913
1913 1937 N/A
CNW 1881 1883
1920 1926 Fairchild and Northeastern Railroad
CWRC 1980 1985 Wisconsin and Calumet Railroad
CB&Q 1885 1899 Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad CB&Q CB&Q 1899 1970 Burlington Northern Inc.
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railway CB&Q 1901 1907 N/A Leased the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
CF&EC 1882 1897 Fairchild and Northeastern Railroad
1897 1909 Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway
1897
1980 1982
IC 1886 1903 Illinois Central Railroad
Chicago and Milwaukee Railway CNW 1863 1881
CNW 1881 1883 Chicago and North Western Railway
Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway MILW 1874 1928 Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad MILW MILW 1928 1985 The Milwaukee Road, Inc.
Chicago and North Western Railway CNW CNW 1859 1972 Chicago and North Western Transportation Company
Chicago and North Western Transportation Company CNW CNW 1972 1995 Union Pacific Railroad
CNW 1855 1859 Chicago and North Western Railway
Chicago, St. Paul and Minneapolis Railway CNW 1878 1880 Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway
Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway CMO CNW 1880 1972 Chicago and North Western Transportation Company
MILW 1873 1880 Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
Chicago and Tomah Railroad CNW 1872 1880
CP 1885 1899 Wisconsin Central Railway
CP 1884 1888
CNW 1881 1883 Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway
Chippewa Falls and Western Railway CP 1873 1888
CVSR
1883 1902
1902
1900
CNW 1901 1904 Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway
MILW 1881 1882 Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
1927 1932 N/A
NP 1912 1915 Northern Pacific Railway
1936 1947 N/A
CNW 1864 1864 Chicago and North Western Railway
D&SW 1895 1912
MILW 1867 1880
Duluth, Missabe and Northern Railway DM&N 1915 1937 Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway
Duluth Short Line Railway NP 1886 1898 St. Paul and Duluth Railroad
Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Railroad CP 1949 1961 Soo Line Railroad
Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Railway DS&A, DSS&A, DSA CP 1887 1949 Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Railroad
1894
CP 1886 1887 Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Railway
GN 1897 1908 , Great Northern Railway
GN 1892 1897
D&W 1892 1918
Eastern Railway of Minnesota GN 1888 1907 Great Northern Railway
MILW 1871 1880 Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
CNW 1879 1893 Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway
CNW 1881 1883 Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway
CNW 1902 1904 Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway
Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway 1909 1913 N/A Leased the
CNW 1880 1883 Chicago and North Western Railway
1982 1985 Wisconsin and Calumet Railroad
1929 1937 N/A
1915 1929
CNW 1886 1887
Fairchild and North-Eastern Railway F&NE 1898 1920
Fairchild and Northeastern Railroad F&NE 1926 1929 N/A
MILW 1875 1883 Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
MILW 1874 1875
MILW 1859 1904 Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
MILW 1857 1859
Fox River Valley Railroad FRVR 1988 1993
FVW 1993 2002 Wisconsin Central Ltd.
IC 1887 1888
Galena and Southern Wisconsin Railroad CNW 1857 1879
CNW 1879 1880 Chicago and Tomah Railroad
CNW 1882 1883 Chicago and North Western Railway
1902
1919 1927 N/A
1909 1919 N/A
1889 1895 N/A
Great Northern Railway GN GN 1902 1970 Burlington Northern Inc.
1851 1866 Paper railroad. Never built due to lack of funds. Charter succeeded by GB&LP RR.[1]
GB&W 1866 1873
Green Bay, Milwaukee and Chicago Railroad CNW 1851 1857 Milwaukee and Chicago Railroad
GB&W 1873 1881
CP 1903 1906
GB&W 1881 1896 Green Bay and Western Railroad
Green Bay and Western Railroad GB&W, GBW GB&W 1896 1993
GB&W 1881 1896 Green Bay and Western Railroad
HN&S 1898 1907 N/A
1896
1905 1906
Hillsboro and Northeastern Railway HLNE 1901 1985 Chicago and North Western Railway
CNW 1878 1880 North Wisconsin Railway
Illinois Central Railroad IC IC 1888 1972 Illinois Central Gulf Railroad
Illinois Central Gulf Railroad ICG 1972 1980
I&M Rail Link IMRL 1997 2002 Iowa, Chicago and Eastern Railroad
1907 1938 Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway
GB&W 1893 1914 Green Bay and Western Railroad
Iowa, Chicago and Eastern Railroad ICE 2002 2008 Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad
MILW 1865 1878
MILW 1880 1882 Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
CNW 1886 1887 Chicago and North Western Railway
MILW 1900 1901 Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
CNW 1853 1857 Kenosha and Rockford Railroad
Kenosha and Rockford Railroad CNW 1857 1857
CNW 1864 1864
CNW 1857 1857
CNW 1857 1864
Kettle Moraine Scenic Railway KMRY MILW 1971 2001 N/A
Kewaunee, Green Bay and Western Railroad KGB GB&W 1890 1969 Green Bay and Western Railroad
MILW 1889 1899
MILW 1852 1867 Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
MILW 1888 1903 Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
MILW 1904 1933 Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad
CNW 1857 1877 Chicago and North Western Railway
CNW 1887 1889 Chicago and North Western Railway
CP 1904 1908 Wisconsin Central Railway
Lake Superior and South Western Railway GN 1885 1888 Eastern Railway of Minnesota
Lake Superior Terminal and Transfer Railway LSTT CNW/ CP/ GN/ NP 1884 1987 Burlington Northern Railroad
Laona and Northern Railway LNO 1902 1983 Nicolet Badger Northern Railroad
MILW 1889 1891 Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
1904 1907
CNW 1848 1850
MILW 1855 1858
CNW 1864 1870 Baraboo Air Line Railroad
MILW 1870 1873
MILW 1852 1853 Milwaukee and Mississippi Railroad
CNW 1904 1909 Chicago and North Western Railway
CP 1851[2] 1868
CP 1868[2] 1871 Wisconsin Central Railroad
CP 1895 1895
WC 1881 1908 N/A
1903 1928 N/A
MTW 1912 1992 Tomahawk Railway
1894 1912
MILW 1882 1903 Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
CP 1896 1901 Wisconsin Central Railway
1895
MILW 1880 1886 Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
MILW 1879 1880
CNW 1879 1880
CNW 1880 1882 Chicago and North Western Railway
CNW 1879 1893 Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway
1889 1913 Illinois Steel Company
Milwaukee and Chicago Railroad CNW 1857 1863 Chicago and Milwaukee Railway
MILW 1884 1891 Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
MILW 1851 1853
MILW 1853 1854
MILW 1852 1863 Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
CNW 1872 1875 Milwaukee, Lake Shore and Western Railway
Milwaukee, Lake Shore and Western Railway CNW 1875 1893 Chicago and North Western Railway
CP 1882 1899 Wisconsin Central Railway
CNW 1880 1881
CNW 1870 1872
MILW 1885 1891
Milwaukee and Mississippi Railroad MILW 1850 1861 Milwaukee and Prairie du Chien Railway
MILW 1880 1893 Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
Milwaukee and Northern Railway MILW 1870 1880
CNW 1871 1872
Milwaukee and Prairie du Chien Railway MILW 1861 1867 Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
The Milwaukee Road, Inc. MILW MILW 1985 1986 Soo Line Railroad
Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway MILW 1863 1874 Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
CNW 1909 1912 Chicago and North Western Railway
CNW 1905 1909 Chicago and North Western Railway
MILW 1856 1859
MILW 1891 1900 Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
MILW 1851 1856
MILW 1858 1861
Milwaukee and Waukesha Railroad MILW 1847 1850 Milwaukee and Mississippi Railroad
MILW 1861 1863 Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
MILW 1852 1880 Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
MP&N 1899 1930 N/A
1894 1906 N/A
Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad SOO CP 1944 1961 Soo Line Railroad
Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway SOO CP 1888 1944 Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad
Minneapolis, Sault Ste. Marie and Atlantic Railway CP 1883 1888 Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway
CP 1884 1888 Wisconsin Central Company
CNW 1896 1902 Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway
CNW 1892 1896
1905 1905
MILW 1874 1878 Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
CNW 1881 1884 Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway
Nicolet Badger Northern Railroad NBNR 1980 1994 N/A
North Wisconsin Railway CNW 1871 1880 Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway
Northern Pacific Railroad NP 1864 1896 Northern Pacific Railway
Northern Pacific Railway NP NP 1896 1970 Burlington Northern Inc.
GN 1892 1953 Great Northern Railway
CNW 1872 1881 Chicago and Milwaukee Railway
MILW 1889 1890
MILW 1866 1893 Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
CNW 1867 1984 Chicago and North Western Transportation Company
CP 1904 1908 Wisconsin Central Railway
CP 1881 1899 Wisconsin Central Railway
CP 1886 1888 Wisconsin Central Company
1862 1895
MILW 1872 1880 Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
MILW 1861 1867
CP 1890 1896
CP 1870 1870
CP 1866 1869
CP 1869 1871 Wisconsin Central Railroad
MILW 1872 1894 Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
CNW 1900 1901 Chicago and North Western Railway
CNW 1883 1912
MILW 1852 1855
MILW 1855 1868
Rice Lake, Dallas and Menomonie Railway CP 1893 1900 Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway
CP 1901 1902 Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway
MILW 1856 1863 Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
1898
CNW 1880 1883 Chicago and North Western Railway
CNW 1850 1855
1894 1895
NP 1878 1899 St. Paul and Duluth Railroad
CP 1884 1884
1899 1908
MILW 1853 1857
St. Paul and Duluth Railroad NP 1884 1900 Northern Pacific Railway
CNW 1879 1913 Chicago and North Western Railway
CNW 1887 1893 Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway
Sheboygan and Fond du Lac Railroad CNW 1861 1880
CNW 1852 1861 Sheboygan and Fond du Lac Railroad
CNW 1880 1881
MILW 1852 1856 Milwaukee and Mississippi Railroad
SRNG 1891 1896 N/A
1894 1899 N/A
CNW 1871 1880
MILW 1855 1880 Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
CP 1900 1901 Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway
GN 1891 1900 , Eastern Railway of Minnesota
Superior and St. Croix Railroad NP 1870 1896 Northern Pacific Railway
CNW 1884 1895 Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway
1920 1930
GN 1890 1891
1909 1927 N/A
CNW 1863 1867 West Wisconsin Railway
1907 1919 N/A
1902 1903 Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway
1893 1897 N/A
MILW 1878 1880 Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
WOLE 1905 1930 N/A
Washburn, Bayfield and Iron River Railway NP 1895 1902 Northern Pacific Railway
W&NW 1887 1905
W&NW 1902 1910 N/A
MILW 1853 1858
GB&W 1907 1921 Green Bay and Western Railroad
1889 1897
West Wisconsin Railway CNW 1867 1878 Chicago, St. Paul and Minneapolis Railway
MILW 1863 1900 Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
1896
WRRR 1905 1914 N/A
MILW 1853 1866
CP 1866 1869
CB&Q 1883 1885
CB&Q/ GB&W 1890 1985 N/A
Wisconsin and Calumet Railroad WICT 1985 1997 Wisconsin and Southern Railroad
Wisconsin Central Company CP 1887 1899 Wisconsin Central Railway
Wisconsin Central Railroad CP 1954 1961 Soo Line Railroad
Wisconsin Central Railroad CP 1871 1899 Wisconsin Central Railway
Wisconsin Central Railway CP 1897 1954 Wisconsin Central Railroad
1891 1898
MILW 1881 1887
1918 1938 N/A
WAND 1992 1995 N/A
1894 1918
MILW 1887 1897 Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
CP 1879 1888 Wisconsin Central Company
W&N CP 1906 1921 Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway
CNW 1896 1897 Chicago and North Western Railway

W&NW 1906 1921 N/A
MILW 1882 1891 Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
WRS 1907 1912 N/A
CNW 1856 1857
MILW 1866 1872 Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
MILW 1871 1880 Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
WIWR 1982 1985 Wisconsin and Calumet Railroad
MILW 1899 1909 Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
CNW 1906 1920 Chicago and North Western Railway
CNW 1885 1889 Milwaukee, Lake Shore and Western Railway
MILW 1883 1891 Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
CNW 1889 1892

Private freight carriers[]

[3]

Electric[]

Not completed[]

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ This is one or more of the Class I railroads that the railroad became part of, if any.

References[]

  1. ^ Hauptman, Laurence M.; McLester, L. Gordon (2006-01-01). The Oneida Indians in the Age of Allotment, 1860-1920. University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 9780806137520.
  2. ^ a b "Ralph Plumb book chapter 07 : Manitowoc County, Wisconsin Genealogy". www.2manitowoc.com. Retrieved 2016-02-15.
  3. ^ http://sassmaster.tripod.com
  • Association of American Railroads (2002), "Railroad service in Wisconsin" (PDF). (215 KB). Retrieved January 25, 2005.
  • Lanz, Daniel J. (October 1985). Railroads of southern and southwestern Wisconsin. Wells, Print & Digital Services, Madison, Wi. LOC 85-90976.
  • Rosholt, Malcolm (1992). Trains of Wisconsin. National Railroad Museum, Green Bay, WI. ISBN 0-9635065-0-1.
  • Wisconsin Department of Transportation. "Travel by rail". Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  • Railway and Locomotive Historical Society (1937). The Railroads of Wisconsin, 1827-1937. Boston, MA: Baker Library, Harvard Business School.
  • "2018 Wisconsin Railroad Map" (PDF). from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation
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