Projects

Welded Rail Installed Between Slinger and Harford, WI on Milwaukee Sub— Summer 2006

WSOR crews unload 115 lb continuous welded rail near Hartford, WI on the Milwaukee Sub (MP 120.1) in 2005. This special car allows the 1/4 mile-long rail to be threaded through the flatcars in the welded rail train. WSOR photo.

Special welded rail train. WSOR received the cars at Clearing Yard in Chicago. WSOR photo.

The Milwaukee Subdivision is one of the most heavily used corridors on the Wisconsin & Southern. Located in the southeastern part of the State of Wisconsin between Milwaukee and Horicon, the Milwaukee Subdivision provides a critical link between the Northern and Southern Divisions of the WSOR. As part of a commitment to upgrade its infrastructure, WSOR began preliminary planning for upgrading a 7-mile section of track between Hartford and Slinger, as outlined in its Capital Upgrade Plan (3-5-7 Plan). The goal of 3-5-7 is to upgrade critical “backbone” corridors in order to handle 286,000 lb. rail cars by the year 2010.

The Slinger to Hartford rehabilitation project began in July of 2004 with the installation of over 6,000 ties and reconstruction of several public crossings and bridges. New 115# switches and new ballast were installed as well. Taking delivery of the continuous welded rail commenced phase two of this project. The new rail will be installed in the spring of 2006 as weather permits. After the rail and turnouts are in place, more ballast will be added and the entire area will be re-surfaced. The entire project is expected to be completed by June of 2006.

WSOR GP38's 3803 and 3808 provided the power for the welded rail train. WSOR photo.


The rail is temporarily anchored using heavy machinery. The train is moved forward allowing the 1/4 mile-long stick of rail to slide out in place on top of the ties. WSOR photo.



Several communities have rail-served industries in this area including: Slinger, Hartford, Iron Ridge, Mayville, Horicon, Beaver Dam, Fox lake, Cambria, Waupun, Brandon, Markesan, Ripon, Pickett, and Oshkosh, WI. Good rail infrastructure provides greater economic shipping options for many industries who must ship their goods by rail. This capital upgrade will help make the WSOR ready to handle the new heavier cars that are now the industry standard, while safeguarding our role in local and state economies.

This project is being financed collaboratively by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Wisconsin & Southern Railroad Co, and 19 southern Wisconsin counties.