| The residents of Manawa, WI have had their complaints of rough grade crossings addressed. Unfortunately the solution does not seem to bode well for the future of rail service there in the near term. This view looking southeast toward Depot St. along the recently truncated CN, former GB&W, rails at Manawa, WI on 30 Nov. '15. On the drive toward Manawa, I was thrilled to see the red flag at Northport had been removed, but my elation suddenly turned to disappointment as I pulled into Manawa on this day. The tracks have been removed from all of the grade crossings in town, the passing siding here has been removed, and the tracks leading from the mainline into downtown and Sturm Foods have been removed. This turnout was for the west end of the passing siding, another turnout diverted to the left to head into downtown Manawa. At one time there also a spur along the right side of the white building, which has received some new metal siding since the last time I photographed it. Maybe the fact that the entire line has not been torn up still offers a glimmer of hope for a return of rail service, maybe I am naïve. You can find a similar view of this scene in my Northeast WI, Summer 2013 album at http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/archiveThumbs.aspx?id=96037. |