WSOR News Archive

Wisconsin & Southern Becomes New Operator of Rail Line Between Saukville and Kiel, WI

WSOR's first trip over the Kiel line was made on a snowy January 22, 2005. The train is seen here on its return trip at Saukville on CN trackage. Photo ©Mike Yuhas, used with permission.

On Thursday, January 13, 2005, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) and the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad Co. (WSOR) finalized the purchase of a 37-mile segment of rail line extending from Saukville to Kiel, WI from the former owner and operator--the Canadian National Railway. With this purchase, Wisconsin & Southern Railroad Co. becomes the new operator.

The transaction includes transfer of ownership and operating rights from North Saukville (north of Charter Steel) to South Kiel (near intersection of Heins Street and 6th Street). The land and improvements will be publicly owned by the WisDOT and the East Wisconsin Counties Railroad Consortium. In turn, the WSOR will be leasing the land and improvements from both public agencies listed above for future freight operations. “This new public/private partnership that has been created in Ozaukee and Sheboygan Counties mirrors what has worked well for the past 25 years in several other Wisconsin counties,” mentioned Ken Lucht, Community Development Manager of Wisconsin & Southern Railroad.

On September 24, 2005, WSOR's takeover of the 37-mile line was officially dedicated as part Random Lake's Fall Festival WSOR 4025 attended as a static display. WSOR photo.


WSOR president and CEO Bill Gardner cuts the ribbon during the dedication ceremony at Random Lake, WI, September 24, 2005. WSOR photo.
WisDOT and WSOR began negotiations with the Canadian National Railway in June of 2004 with interests of providing for a seamless transition between operators. The objective was to transfer ownership and operating rights from the Canadian National Railway to WisDOT and the WSOR, without interrupting freight service to the communities of Fredonia, Random Lake, Adell, and Waldo. All parties involved in the transaction followed federal regulations pertaining to abandonment processes as administered and enforced by the Federal Surface Transportation Board (STB).

Since June of 2004, the WSOR has been working with local shippers and officials in Ozaukee and Sheboygan Counties in identifying appropriate service levels and infrastructure needs. “This project could have never been accomplished without the dedication of the shippers located along this rail line. The WSOR is looking forward to operating this new territory and will work as equally hard with the shippers in meeting their transportation needs,” stated Bill Gardner, President of WSOR.

The Wisconsin and Southern is a privately owned and managed regional railroad company operating in the southern half of the State of Wisconsin and northeastern Illinois. WSOR operates nearly 700 miles of branch and mainline track traversing a total of 21 counties in Wisconsin and Illinois. WSOR was named Regional Railroad of the Year by “Railway Age” magazine in 2001, and was honored nationally with the 2002 Marketing Award from the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association.

For more information on Wisconsin & Southern Railroad you may contact Ken Lucht at (608) 243-9101, ext. 207 or by email.