The Wisconsin Central Limited (WC) was a regional that began operations on ex-Soo Line (and ex-Milwaukee Road trackage) on October 11, 1987.  From its rocky start-up, the WC went from a pesky regional to a leader in the railroad industry by providing superior service on what once was thought as "low density and secondary" lines. 

Over its 14 year history, the WC improved track and operations.  In addition, the WC acquired several regional railroads including the Fox Valley and Western, Green Bay and Western and Algoma Central.  The WC also purchased the "Duck Creek North" lines from the UP (ex-CN&W) and purchased the ex-Soo line from Ladysmith to Superior and ex-UP line from Rice Lake to Superior.

The Canadian National (CN) completed its acquisition of the WC on October 9, 2001.  The CN has made changes to operations and track since the acquisition (i.e., building a high-speed bypass track in Stevens Point Yard in 2003).  Time will tell how the old WC lines change in the future

The purpose of this site is to showcase the WC's operations in Central and Western Wisconsin.  My primary focus over the years as a railfan has been the WC, but I do take pictures of other railroads.  I might sneak some other photos on this site. 

This site has been running since 2002; however, I recently rebuilt the site in order to update some of the features and pictures.  I intend to update this periodically, so keep checking back. 

PLEASE NOTE: THIS SITE IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE WISCONSIN CENTRAL OR CANADIAN NATIONAL RAILROAD.

New Shortlines - Old WC

May 27, 2004 - NEWSFLASH

Progressive Rail of Lakeville, Minn., has formed a subsidiary company, Wisconsin Northern Railroad, that is in the process of leasing and purchasing rail lines from Chetek to Cameron.  The railroad will also take over the line from Cameron into Rice Lake, as well as from Cameron into Barron, with intentions of continuing service in the future from Barron to Almena.  The lines are a combination of CN (ex-WC) and UP lines. 

I see this as the first of many shortlines or regionals that will start up on the ex-WC lines in Wisconsin and Michigan.

Got News or Pictures?

Feel free to send short articles (or links) and/or pictures of the WC, and I will post your information.

Send information to:

westwc@hotmail.com

Working with the railroads, you just never know where you might end up.  I am in BNSF's Corwith Yard in November of 2003 working on a construction project.  Now a bad view from this "office"!  This is outside the Corwith "roundhouse," which is essentially three tracks where power piles up on a given day.