Western Railroad Discussion > CN restoring the Ladysmith to Almena, WI line

CN has begun to restore the long out of service Ladysmith to Almena, WI line (portion of original Soo Line Minneapolis to Sault Ste. Marie). There will be a new large Frac Sand processing plant built near Almena. Large numbers of ties have been brought in and the trees growing between the rails have been cut down. CN hopes to be running trains by November 15th, 2012.

Is this the same track that was used for a few winters by the Escanaba all-rail ore trains from the Twin Ports?

toledopatch Wrote:
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> Is this the same track that was used for a few
> winters by the Escanaba all-rail ore trains from
> the Twin Ports?

It is part of the same line, but where the all-rail ore trains turned east at Ladysmith, this goes west.

SOO6617 Wrote:
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> toledopatch Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Is this the same track that was used for a few
> > winters by the Escanaba all-rail ore trains
> from
> > the Twin Ports?
>
> It is part of the same line, but where the
> all-rail ore trains turned east at Ladysmith, this
> goes west.

Thanks for the response.

So how many miles of OOS track is being restored?

P Wrote:
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> So how many miles of OOS track is being restored?


Well its about 34 miles from Ladysmith to Cameron, then its about 15 miles from Cameron to Almena, the Cameron to Almena is portion is leased to Wisconsin Northern with the five mile portion between Cameron and Barron seeing use to haul Turkey Feed to the Jennie-O Turkey facility at Barron by Wisconsin Northern. Stacks of new ties have been dropped as far as Poskin, WI and new 136lb welded rail dropped as far as Bruce, WI. Also materials for the crossing of US Hwy. 8 east of Bruce, WI. There will be a Sand Plant between Cameron and Canton, WI and another near Almena. Do a search on Flickr for user view2share to see photographs of the line taken before CN starts its work.

The CN is rehabbing 38 miles from Ladysmith to Poskin. The line will be class 2 track and should be up and running late October for shipments in November. Both plants to locate on the line have small permitting hurdles remaining before construction begins, but approvals are expected in june.

Bell Pole and Timber is the only active shipper on the WN operated line from Cameron to Barron. The turkey store has stopped using rail last year due to truck competition being better on rates and transit times. Majority of the traffic came from Mankato MN on the UP and was taking 8 to 10 days to get to the WN. They shipped 556 cars in 2010, and less then 40 in 2011, mostly to keep the trucks honest on rates.

The WN lease of the Barron line ends in September, CN and WN have made no public comments about the lease or who might operate the line.

Joe