Wisconsin Central Transportation
Encyclopedia
Wisconsin Central Ltd. is a railroad subsidiary of the Canadian National Railway
. At one time, its parent Wisconsin Central Transportation Corporation owned or operated railroads in the United States
, Canada
(Algoma Central Railway
), the United Kingdom
(English, Welsh and Scottish Railway), New Zealand
(Tranz Rail
), and Australia
(Australian Transport Network).
Wisconsin Central Ltd. (WC) started in the mid 1980s using most of the original Wisconsin Central Railway
's rights of way and some former Milwaukee Road rights of way after the Soo Line Railroad
acquired the Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and Minnesota holdings of the bankrupt Milwaukee Road and divested its older railway trackage in Wisconsin. In 1993 the Wisconsin Central also acquired the Green Bay and Western Railroad and the Fox River Valley Railroad
.
In 1995, the Wisconsin Central acquired the 322 miles (518.2 km) Canadian Algoma Central Railway
whose tracks ran north of Sault Saint Marie to Hearst, Ontario. The Algoma Central is best known for its popular tourist passenger train through the Agawa Canyon
and Agawa Canyon Wilderness Park near Lake Superior Provincial Park.
In 2001 the Wisconsin Central was purchased by a second Canadian railroad, the Canadian National Railway
. Along with the former Illinois Central Railroad
, the former Wisconsin Central became part of Canadian National's United States holdings and its property integrated into the CN system.
At the time of its sale to Canadian National, Wisconsin Central operated over 2850 miles (4,586.6 km) of track
in the Great Lakes
region. The railroad extended from Chicago into and through Wisconsin
to Minneapolis/St. Paul and Duluth, Minnesota
, to Sault Ste Marie, Michigan, and north (through the Algoma Central Railway
) to Hearst, Ontario
.
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
. At one time, its parent Wisconsin Central Transportation Corporation owned or operated railroads in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
(Algoma Central Railway
Algoma Central Railway
The Algoma Central Railway is a railway in Northern Ontario that operates between Sault Ste. Marie and Hearst, with a branch line to Michipicoten. The area served by the railway is sparsely populated, with few roads...
), the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
(English, Welsh and Scottish Railway), New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
(Tranz Rail
Tranz Rail
Tranz Rail, formally Tranz Rail Holdings Ltd , was the main rail operator in New Zealand from 1991 until it was purchased by Toll Holdings in 2003.- Formation :...
), and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
(Australian Transport Network).
Overview
Wisconsin Central Railway
The original Wisconsin Central Railroad Company was established by an act of the Wisconsin State Legislature and incorporated in February 1871. It built track throughout Wisconsin, connecting to neighboring states, before being leased to Northern Pacific Railway between 1889–1893...
's rights of way and some former Milwaukee Road rights of way after the Soo Line Railroad
Soo Line Railroad
The Soo Line Railroad is the primary United States railroad subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway , controlled through the Soo Line Corporation, and one of seven U.S. Class I railroads. Although it is named for the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste...
acquired the Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and Minnesota holdings of the bankrupt Milwaukee Road and divested its older railway trackage in Wisconsin. In 1993 the Wisconsin Central also acquired the Green Bay and Western Railroad and the Fox River Valley Railroad
Fox River Valley Railroad
The Fox River Valley Railroad was a short-lived railroad in eastern Wisconsin from 1988 to 1993 with about 214 miles of track, all of which was former Chicago and North Western Railway trackage. The line ran from Green Bay, Wisconsin to the north side of Milwaukee. Owned by the Itel Rail...
.
In 1995, the Wisconsin Central acquired the 322 miles (518.2 km) Canadian Algoma Central Railway
Algoma Central Railway
The Algoma Central Railway is a railway in Northern Ontario that operates between Sault Ste. Marie and Hearst, with a branch line to Michipicoten. The area served by the railway is sparsely populated, with few roads...
whose tracks ran north of Sault Saint Marie to Hearst, Ontario. The Algoma Central is best known for its popular tourist passenger train through the Agawa Canyon
Agawa Canyon
The Agawa Canyon is a shallow canyon located deep in the sparsely populated Algoma District in the Canadian province of Ontario. It was created 1.2 billion years ago by faulting along the Canadian Shield and then enlarged by the erosive action of the Agawa River...
and Agawa Canyon Wilderness Park near Lake Superior Provincial Park.
In 2001 the Wisconsin Central was purchased by a second Canadian railroad, the Canadian National Railway
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
. Along with the former Illinois Central Railroad
Illinois Central Railroad
The Illinois Central Railroad , sometimes called the Main Line of Mid-America, is a railroad in the central United States, with its primary routes connecting Chicago, Illinois with New Orleans, Louisiana and Birmingham, Alabama. A line also connected Chicago with Sioux City, Iowa...
, the former Wisconsin Central became part of Canadian National's United States holdings and its property integrated into the CN system.
At the time of its sale to Canadian National, Wisconsin Central operated over 2850 miles (4,586.6 km) of track
Rail tracks
The track on a railway or railroad, also known as the permanent way, is the structure consisting of the rails, fasteners, sleepers and ballast , plus the underlying subgrade...
in the Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
region. The railroad extended from Chicago into and through Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
to Minneapolis/St. Paul and Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
, to Sault Ste Marie, Michigan, and north (through the Algoma Central Railway
Algoma Central Railway
The Algoma Central Railway is a railway in Northern Ontario that operates between Sault Ste. Marie and Hearst, with a branch line to Michipicoten. The area served by the railway is sparsely populated, with few roads...
) to Hearst, Ontario
Hearst, Ontario
Hearst is a town in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is located in Northern Ontario, approximately west of Kapuskasing, approximately north of Toronto and east of Thunder Bay on Highway 11...
.
Timeline
- April 3, 1987: The Soo Line RailroadSoo Line RailroadThe Soo Line Railroad is the primary United States railroad subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway , controlled through the Soo Line Corporation, and one of seven U.S. Class I railroads. Although it is named for the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste...
announces the sale of its Lake States Transportation DivisionLake States Transportation DivisionLake States Transportation Division was a wholly owned division of the Soo Line Railroad that existed from 1986-1987.The bankruptcy of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad saw the Canadian Pacific Railway's subsidiary Soo Line Railroad acquire its routes to add trackage between...
to private investors, forming the new Wisconsin Central Transportation Corporation. - October 11, 1987: The first WC train runs, from Stevens PointStevens Point, WisconsinStevens Point is the county seat of Portage County, Wisconsin, United States. Located in the central part of the state, it is the largest city in the county, with a population of 24,551 at the 2000 census...
to North Fond du Lac, WisconsinNorth Fond du Lac, WisconsinNorth Fond du Lac is a village in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 4,557 at the 2000 census.Despite the name, North Fond du Lac is actually located northwest of Fond du Lac, as Lake Winnebago is directly north of Fond du Lac....
. - May 1991: WC shares begin trading under the ticker symbol WCTC, raising $36.2 million.
- 1992: Railway AgeRailway AgeRailway Age is an American trade journal for the rail transport industry. It was founded in 1856 in Chicago and is published monthly by Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation. The magazine's original title was the Western Railroad Gazette, and was renamed the Railroad Gazette in 1870...
Magazine names WC "Regional Railroad of the YearRegional Railroad of the YearThe Regional Railroad of the Year is an annual award given to exemplary North American regional railroads by rail transport industry publication Railway Age...
". - 1993: WC acquires the Fox River Valley RailroadFox River Valley RailroadThe Fox River Valley Railroad was a short-lived railroad in eastern Wisconsin from 1988 to 1993 with about 214 miles of track, all of which was former Chicago and North Western Railway trackage. The line ran from Green Bay, Wisconsin to the north side of Milwaukee. Owned by the Itel Rail...
and Green Bay and WesternGreen Bay and Western RailroadThe Green Bay and Western Railroad served the transportation and freight haulage needs of northern Wisconsin for almost 100 years before it was absorbed into the Wisconsin Central in 1993...
railroads through a new subsidiary, Fox Valley & Western Ltd. - 1993: A WC-led consortium acquires New Zealand Rail LtdTranz RailTranz Rail, formally Tranz Rail Holdings Ltd , was the main rail operator in New Zealand from 1991 until it was purchased by Toll Holdings in 2003.- Formation :...
through a new subsidiary, Wisconsin Central International, and renames it Tranz RailTranz RailTranz Rail, formally Tranz Rail Holdings Ltd , was the main rail operator in New Zealand from 1991 until it was purchased by Toll Holdings in 2003.- Formation :...
in 1995. - 1995: WC acquires the Algoma Central RailwayAlgoma Central RailwayThe Algoma Central Railway is a railway in Northern Ontario that operates between Sault Ste. Marie and Hearst, with a branch line to Michipicoten. The area served by the railway is sparsely populated, with few roads...
through a new subsidiary, Wisconsin Central Canada Holdings. - 1995: A WC-led consortium acquires Rail Express Systems Ltd in the United KingdomUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. - 1996: WC partners with Canadian National RailwayCanadian National RailwayThe Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
(CN) and CSXCSX TransportationCSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
, inaugurating a new intermodal shipping corridor between the west and east coasts of North AmericaNorth AmericaNorth America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. - 1996: Three trainload rail freight operators in the UK are united into a new WC subsidiary, English Welsh and Scottish Railway Holdings Ltd (EWS).
- March 4, 1996: A Wisconsin Central freight train derails in Weyauwega, WisconsinWeyauwega, WisconsinWeyauwega is a city in Waupaca County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,806 at the 2000 census. The city is located mostly within the Town of Weyauwega, though it is politically independent. Small portions extend north into the adjacent Town of Royalton...
; the derailment results in a 16 day evacuation. - 1997: EWS acquires two more freight railways in the UK.
- 1997: Another WC subsidiary, the Sault Ste. Marie Bridge CompanySault Ste. Marie Bridge CompanySault Ste. Marie Bridge Company is a subsidiary of the Wisconsin Central Ltd. It operates a railroad bridge over the St. Marys River between Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.-References:HAER MI-324...
, acquires 207 miles (333.1 km) of track from Union Pacific RailroadUnion Pacific RailroadThe Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
forming a WC connection between Green Bay, WisconsinGreen Bay, WisconsinGreen Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located at the head of Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It has an elevation of above sea level and is located north of Milwaukee. As of the 2010 United States Census,...
, and Ishpeming, MichiganIshpeming, MichiganIshpeming is a city in Marquette County in the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 6,686 at the 2000 census. This is down from a higher population in the 1950s and 1960s when the economically supportive iron ore mines had a much higher employment level...
. - 1997: A new WC subsidiary, Australian Transport Network (ATN), acquires a one-third ownership and an operating interest TasRail (1978–2004) in TasmaniaTasmaniaTasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
. - 1997: Six months later, ATN acquires the Emu Bay RailwayEmu Bay RailwayThe Melba Line is a narrow gauge railway on the west coast of Tasmania. The line was originally constructed as a private railway line named the Emu Bay Railway and was one of the longest lasting and successful private railway companies in Australia...
in TasmaniaTasmaniaTasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
. - 1999: Railroad industry trade journal Railway AgeRailway AgeRailway Age is an American trade journal for the rail transport industry. It was founded in 1856 in Chicago and is published monthly by Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation. The magazine's original title was the Western Railroad Gazette, and was renamed the Railroad Gazette in 1870...
magazine names WC president Edward A. Burkhardt its Railroader of the YearRailroader of the YearRailroader of the Year is an annual award presented to a North American railroad industry worker by trade journal Railway Age. The award was first presented in 1964 by trade journal Modern Railroads and has continued through the magazine acquisition in 1992 to the present.Past recipients of this...
. - January 30, 2001: WC and CN announce plans for CN to purchase WC for $United States dollarThe United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
800 million and the assumption of $400 million of WC's debt. - September 7, 2001: The Surface Transportation BoardSurface Transportation BoardThe Surface Transportation Board of the United States is a bipartisan, decisionally-independent adjudicatory body organizationally housed within the U.S. Department of Transportation. The STB was established in 1996 to assume some of the regulatory functions that had been administered by the...
approves the sale of WC to CN. - October 9, 2001: WC is acquired by CN.
External links
- Soo Line Historical and Technical Society
- WC2scale - Wisconsin Central Motive Power Photo Gallery #1 (extensive online photo source of WC Ltd. equipment)
- RailPictures.Net – Photographs of the Wisconsin Central