Rich Karding's post taught me about this CN sale to Watco. A comment on the post provided the FOXY reporting mark for the new railroad, Fox Valley & Lake Superior Rail System, created by Watco to operate these assets. Several of the comments give insight about which customers CN was unable to drive off of their branch lines by providing bad service. The red+blue lines for joint operation must not show up properly on the map because I could not find any. And because FOXY surely has connections between its various blue segments. Of note, WSOR is also a Watco railroad.
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| Watco via Trains |
I was surprised that the map did not show a route to Chicago. I'm sure that CN does not use WSOR to gain access to Chicago. So I found a CN map to show a more complete network. A capacity map is useful because it effectively documents the routes that CN cares about, i.e. the green lines. I wonder if the route to Canada via Sault ste Marie is a lightweight route by today's standards because of the several bridges needed to cross the shipping channels and St. Marys River. Otherwise, I would think that CN would care about that route.
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| CN |
Would be worth noting as well that CN retains trackage rights along that section of track into Sault St. Marie as per their press release.
ReplyDeleteThis is exciting, I want to see Watco grow in Wisconsin and bring railroading back to life where CN has let it die. Git r done people.
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThe Spencer-Medford section was taken out of service in the Fall of 2022 due to very little business and poor track conditions on the line, all thanks to CN during the years they owned it. This is the first time EVER in the history of it's entire existence that has happened. WATCO claims to be working on it, but with only 2 customers left it doesn't look good for the longevity of the line.
ReplyDeleteThe buy out of Wisconsin central to CN was the biggest mistake. The Wisconsin central was customer based bringing back customers lost to class1 garbage soo line and C&NW. Then the CN only wanted the main from Chicago to superior. I don’t understand how these about her being approved.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand how Watco is seemingly doing nothing to make improvements on the Spencer to Medford branch as there were still customers on that line, but Watco shut it down instead of attempting to do some repairs on the line. This will do nothing to get new business with the line out of service. They could easily pick up more customers on that line if they were to show a commitment to service. The other lines that are out of service currently in Northern Wisconsin are just that...out of service with 0 customers. This line is 30 miles in length. They could certainly get grants from the State of Wisconsin if they would at least try! Or, if they don't want the line, sell it to the State of Wisconsin! They would rehabilitate the line and put it back into service just like they were doing with the lines that Watco purchased a while ago which is the Wisconsin and Southern which leases from the state the lines.
ReplyDeleteI just saw a FOXY section guy in Unity today. I almost pulled over to ask him on info concerning the line.
ReplyDeleteThat is interesting regarding the section crew man in Unity recently. I also wonder what the guy was doing. If that was me I would've asked the guy to see what was going on lol. Just seems like such a waste that the line was taken out of service and no activity on the line. There is alot of potential and by keeping the line out of service it will do nothing to spur rail business while out of service. Watco needs to show a commitment to customers as they claim they are and not just offer "lip service." Who knows, maybe there is something brewing for that line yet.
ReplyDeletejust saw a post of a derailment on the FOXY and can't find it now. maybe due to the flooding and storms?
ReplyDeleteCheck this out... https://northwoodrail.x10.mx/wp/wp-content/uploads/Watco-NRTC-Update-June-9-2023.pdf
ReplyDeleteWent through Rhinelander yesterday and seen the FOXY Highway 17 crossing by Menards has been removed and they are doing road construction in that area. The tracks are on either side are still there, just the east side of Rhinelander has been cutoff. The crossing signs have also been removed. It is my guess the tracks will be reinstalled for that crossing?? I know Watco has been doing research on the cost to reactivate this line east out of Rhinelander so I am hoping this will still be the case.
ReplyDeleteAs of somewhere around the beginning of August, there was an article published that Clark County is joining the Northwoods Rail Transit Commission (NRTC). They want to look into legal action to force Watco to reopen the Spencer to Medford Line, aka Medford Subdivision. Check out the article. https://www.centralwinews.com/tribunephonograph/2024/08/06/clark-county-to-join-northwoods-rail-transit/?destination=star-news
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