Eastern Railroad Discussion > CN rebuilding/reopening Baron Sub west of Ladysmith, Wi

These three pictures were taken this past week in Weyerhauser, Wisconsin showing CN track work going on in preparation to reopen the line west of Ladysmith to Cameron and Baron.

Top photo shows the track supplies awaiting use by the depot in the village.

Middle photo is looking east towards Ladysmith. Heavy tree and brush has been removed off the ROW.

Bottom photo shows the same area with a siding being in the process of being removed.

This town was once a division point on the old Soo Main through here. Off in the distance of the bottom photo a roundhouse, water tank and coal tipple once stood.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/15/12 20:50 by ngfan.

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Top photo is historic view showing the depot in June 1910. Off in the distance are the coaling tipple, water tank, and roundhouse of a very active crew change point.

Middle picture was taken in October 2010 while the line was inactive looking is same direction as historic above.

Bottom picture is the caboose display to the left side of the depot.

Sand trains will be soon running down this line. Question will to be determined if the diamond crossing in Ladysmith with go back in place to handle the traffic.

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Always good to see a line brought back to life. What kind of traffic will this line see? What is the history of the line? Thanks for posting these photos.

Another shot from March 2006 looking east.

New traffic is sand for use in oil and gas fields in the west. CN is investing heavily for this traffic with reopening the line.

Line was part of the original Soo Main between MSP and Pembine Wisconsin. Line east of Ladysmith remained active while line west to the Almena was shut down several years ago. West of Almena to MSP removed years ago.

A trip along parallel US 8 should be very interesting in the near future.

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Approximately how many miles of track will be reactivated?

About 48 or 49 miles of the Old Main is being rebuilt between Ladysmith and Almena. They may also do a section off this line to Rice Lake too.

Two years ago this line was almost lost to the scrapper. Now new life and reinvestment.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/15/12 21:00 by ngfan.

The line was removed east of Dresser, WI not all the way to MSP. The line was the original Soo Line mainline running to a connection with the Canadian Pacific at Sault Ste. Marie, MI. The line will be replaced as far west as Poskin, WI a few miles short of Almena.

Ladysmith Display.

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http://www.news-shield.com/news/top_stories/article_f77ad3ba-b589-11e1-98c5-001a4bcf887a.html

Go to Baron Wisconsin paper for several updates such as this one on resuming operation due to sand mining.

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http://www.news-shield.com/news/top_stories/article_151e5c20-8966-11e1-a54d-0019bb2963f4.html
More details

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http://www.news-shield.com/news/community_news/article_f72f10b4-99e2-11e1-af2c-0019bb2963f4.html

One last article

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