Northeast WI, Spring 2020

A CN local passes the former C&NW Neenah-Menasha depot on 25 Mar. '20. This depot, at 500 N. Commercial St., was opened on 2 October 1892, to replace the old depot which stood on the opposite side of Commercial St. The firm of Decker & Gindle had commenced construction in the Fall of 1891, as soon as W. E. Wheeler of Menasha finished excavating the basement. The depot was designed by Charles Sumner Frost in the Victorian Romanesque style, or the Romanesque Revival style, depending on which reference you choose to believe. It was built with Duck Creek stone, Bayfield brown stone, and St. Louis brick, protected by a roof of black slate with copper trim, at a cost of approximately $30,000. The railroad closed the depot in the 1980s, and it stood vacant until 1991, when it was purchased by G-Group, Inc. Restoration was completed in 1994, and it is currently home to Gries Architectural Group, Inc., and Sturtevant & Associates, LLC. While quite rusty, the metal C&NW sign still adorns the trackside gable above the arched window. Surprisingly, the mast and ladder for the train order board are still present, sans blades and lamp unfortunately. Many thanks to the late, great Larry Easton, from whom I obtained some of this valuable information. The border between the Twin Cities of Neenah and Menasha bisects the yard about 200 feet north of the depot, just out-of-frame to the right.

A CN local services Chemtrade (originally General Chemical Co.), 388 Ahnaip St., (just out-of-frame to the left), via former C&NW rails on Doty Island at Menasha, WI on 25 Mar. '20. The General Chemical Co. erected the facility in late 1939, on land purchased from Menasha Wooden Ware. Production commenced in early 1940. By 1979, the facility was known as Allied Chemical-Industrial Chemical Division’s Menasha plant. The facility was acquired by Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund (Chemtrade) on 23 January 2014. They are a Canadian company which operates numerous industrial chemical production facilities throughout the United States and Canada.

A CN local approaches Washington St. after servicing Chemtrade (originally General Chemical Co.), 388 Ahnaip St., (partially visible above the semi trailers at left), via former C&NW rails on Doty Island at Menasha, WI on 25 Mar. '20. The General Chemical Co. erected the facility in late 1939, on land purchased from Menasha Wooden Ware. Production commenced in early 1940. By 1979, the facility was known as Allied Chemical-Industrial Chemical Division’s Menasha plant. The facility was acquired by Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund (Chemtrade) on 23 January 2014. They are a Canadian company which operates numerous industrial chemical production facilities throughout the United States and Canada.

A CN local crosses the mouth of the Neenah Slough as it heads northwest via former SOO rails at Neenah, WI, on 28 Mar. '20. Local was headed for Appleton, Little Chute and Kaukauna.

A CN container train crosses the mouth of the Neenah Slough and approaches the S-curve at the north end of the former SOO yard at Neenah, WI on 28 Mar. '19. Train had three locomotives, CN 3900 and CN 2232 pulling as well as CN 3801 pushing. The remnants of the foundation from the ca. 1955 masonry SOO depot can be seen to the right. There are rail sections supported by concrete blocks and railroad ties stacked upon it. It was built to replace the wooden depot built in 1891 on Sherry St., about 850 ft. to the southeast, which was torn down soon after the new one opened. Eggers Div. of VT Industries, 164 N. Lake St., an active rail customer, looms in the background. Founded at Neenah, WI, in 1910 as Hardwood Products Co., construction of the facility commenced in Oct. ’10. It was renamed Hardwood Products Corp. as a result of a merger with Mississippi Veneer & Lumber Co. on 20 Apr. ’22 (the latter company was formed by the same businessmen who founded the Neenah company). Eggers Industries acquired Hardwood Products Corp. in 1965 and renamed it Eggers Hardwood Products Corp. Eggers was founded by Fred W. Eggers at Two Rivers, WI in 1884 to make wood baskets used by farmers. They later started making plywood and other wood veneer products. The name was changed to simply Eggers Industries at some point. It was acquired by Holstein, IA, based VT Industries, Inc., on 2 Oct. ’18.

A CN container train, including one of their new Autonomous Track Inspection Program (ATIP) cars, passes the Main St. overpass as it traverses the west leg of the wye at the north end of the former SOO yard at Neenah, WI on 28 Mar. '20.

A CN container train passes the Main St. overpass as it traverses the west leg of the wye at the north end of the former SOO yard at Neenah, WI on 28 Mar. '20. Train had three locomotives, CN 3900 and CN 2232 pulling as well as CN 3801 pushing. Eggers Div. of VT Industries, previously Eggers Industries, founded as Hardwood Products Co. in 1910, 164 N. Lake St., an active rail customer, can be seen beyond that.

A CN through freight passes the W. Cecil St. overpass (Timothy Hamblin Bridge) and parallels Harrison St. as it prepares to set out and pick up cars at the south end of the former SOO yard at Neenah, WI on 28 Mar. '20. The overpass, erected to eliminate the grade crossing, opened to traffic on 20 Nov. '07.

A CN through freight passes the Winneconne Ave. overpass and the remnants of the former Winneconne Ave. grade crossing as it heads south through the former SOO yard at Neenah, WI on 29 Mar. '20. Train had three locomotives, CN 3813 and CN 2984 pulling as well as CN 3049 mid-train. The front door of the original Neenah Foundry facility, later known as Plant 1, which stood here for over ¾’s of a century, was near the lower right of the scene. Established in 1872 as Aylward Plow Works (a.k.a. Aylward & Sons) at 120 N. Lake St., they erected a new foundry at 500 W. Winneconne Ave. in 1918 “in a rural area of southwestern Neenah.” The name of Neenah Foundry was adopted in 1922. Expanded numerous times over the years, it became Plant 1 in 1960 when Plant 2 was constructed in the then rural area at the intersection of Byrd Ave. and the aptly named Aylward St. (followed by Plant 3 in 1967). Plant 1 was closed in 1994, the corporate overlords didn’t want to spend any money to update the plant. It stood abandoned for a while and was eventually demolished. The iconic crossing tower which, until 1991, would have been visible above the cab of the second locomotive now resides at the Mid-Continent Railway Museum: https://www.midcontinent.org/about-us/tour-of-grounds/the-crossing-tower/.

A CN container train approaches the Winneconne Ave. overpass as it heads northeast through the former SOO yard at Neenah, WI on 29 Mar.'20. Train had two locomotives, CN 3149 and CN 3828. This view would have been prevented by the dominating silhouette of the original Neenah Foundry facility, later known as Plant 1, which stood here for over ¾’s of a century. Established in 1872 as Aylward Plow Works (a.k.a. Aylward & Sons) at 120 N. Lake St., they erected a new foundry at 500 W. Winneconne Ave. in 1918 “in a rural area of southwestern Neenah.” The name of Neenah Foundry was adopted in 1922. Expanded numerous times over the years, it became Plant 1 in 1960 when Plant 2 was constructed in the then rural area at the intersection of Byrd Ave. and the aptly named Aylward St. (followed by Plant 3 in 1967). Plant 1 was closed in 1994, the corporate overlords didn’t want to spend any money to update the plant. It stood abandoned for a while and was eventually demolished. The front door was located just out-of-frame to the right.

GTW 5937 works the north end of the CN, former SOO, yard at Neenah, WI, on 29 Mar. '20. The tan 4- or 5-story facility in the background to the right is, or was, Kimberly-Clark Corp. (K-C) Neenah Nonwovens Facility, 1111 Henry St.

A CN through freight crosses American Dr. as it heads southeast via former SOO rails at Fox Crossing, WI (formerly Town of Menasha, WI, from 1855 until 14 Apr. 2016) on 29 Mar. '20.

A CN local crosses River St. as it traverses this mostly industrial island (formed when the Fox River navigation canal was excavated) via a combination of former MILW, SOO, and C&NW rails at Menasha, WI, on 30 Mar. '20. TC Transcontinental, Inc., 271 River St., an active rail customer, can be seen in the background. The facility was originally home to the Menasha Printing & Carton Company, formed in 1917 through the merger of two older, neighboring companies, the Menasha Printing Co. and the Menasha Carton Co. Acquired by Marathon Paper (later Marathon Corp.) in '27, it became the Marathon Div. of American Can Co. in '57. James River Corp. acquired American Can in '82. At some point it was acquired by Bemis Co., who sold it to Exopack Holding Corp. (Sun Capital Partners, Inc.) in '10. At some point it became Coveris, until its purchase by TC Transcontinental, Inc. in '18. Simply Incredible Foods, 198 River St., Menasha, WI, is partially visible at the left. Simply Incredible Foods purchased the defunct Menasha Municipal Utilities (Menasha Utilities) plant in Jun. '14.

A CN local crosses one of four diamonds which remain on this mostly industrial island (formed when the Fox River navigation canal was excavated) as it heads southwest via former joint MILW/SOO rails at Menasha, WI, on 30 Mar. '20. TC Transcontinental, Inc., 271 River St., an active rail customer, can be seen in the background. The site was originally home to the Menasha Printing & Carton Company, formed in 1917 through the merger of two older, neighboring companies, the Menasha Printing Co. and the Menasha Carton Co. Acquired by Marathon Paper (later Marathon Corp.) in '27, it became the Marathon Div. of American Can Co. in '57. James River Corp. acquired American Can in '82. At some point it was acquired by Bemis Co., who sold it to Exopack Holding Corp. (Sun Capital Partners, Inc.) in '10. At some point it became Coveris, until its purchase by TC Transcontinental, Inc. in '18. Looking southeast from River St. The street now jogs to the left, but it used to continue straight ahead here. At some point in the late 1990s or early 2000s, part of River St. was vacated and re-routed to facilitate expansion of this facility.

A CN local approaches the bridge over the North Branch (Menasha Branch) of the Fox River and crosses one of four diamonds which remain on this mostly industrial island (formed when the Fox River navigation canal was excavated) as it heads southwest via former joint MILW/SOO rails at Menasha, WI, on 30 Mar. '20. The locomotive is crossing a remnant of the former C&NW main line. TC Transcontinental, Inc., 271 River St., an active rail customer, is partially visible through the trees at left. The facility was originally home to the Menasha Printing & Carton Company, formed in 1917 through the merger of two older, neighboring companies, the Menasha Printing Co. and the Menasha Carton Co. Acquired by Marathon Paper (later Marathon Corp.) in '27, it became the Marathon Div. of American Can Co. in '57. James River Corp. acquired American Can in '82. At some point it was acquired by Bemis Co., who sold it to Exopack Holding Corp. (Sun Capital Partners, Inc.) in '10. At some point it became Coveris, until its purchase by TC Transcontinental, Inc. in '18.

A CN local crosses Edna Ave. and approaches High St. as it heads southwest via the former joint MILW/SOO rails on Doty Island at Neenah, WI, on 30 Mar. '20. Levenhagen Oil Corp., 321 High St., can be seen to the left. Previously known as the Standard Oil Depot, the facility dates to at least 1893. The facility used to receive rail service, but has not for some time. It is hard to believe that there used to be four tracks crossing these two streets. Evidently, if you drive a red Cadillac you are allowed to ignore stop signs, as well as approaching freight trains. “NO RULES!” I am quite angered by, and have no sympathy for, people who think that the rules do not apply to them.

A CN local crosses Edna Ave. and approaches High St. as it heads southwest via the former joint MILW/SOO rails on Doty Island at Neenah, WI on 30 Mar. '20. Local was headed back to the yard in Neenah and had one locomotive, IC 9601. Levenhagen Oil Corp., 321 High St., can be seen to the left. Previously known as the Standard Oil Depot, the facility dates to at least 1893. The facility used to receive rail service, but has not for some time. It is hard to believe that there used to be four tracks crossing these two streets.

A CN local passes the former MILW depot and approaches W. Forest Ave. as it heads southwest via the former joint MILW/SOO rails at Neenah, WI, on 30 Mar. '20. The depot was built by Milwaukee & Northern (M&N) in 1882 and is home to the Milwaukee & Northern Railway Historical Society, a.k.a. the Neenah-Menasha Model Railroad Club, 323 W. Forest Ave.

A CN local crosses W. Forest Ave. as it heads southwest via the former joint MILW/SOO rails at Neenah, WI, on 30 Mar. '20.

A CN unit train of autoracks passes Chapman Ave. and approaches N. Lake St. as it heads southeast via former SOO rails at Fox Crossing, WI (formerly Town of Menasha, WI, from 1855 until 14 Apr. 2016) on 30 Mar. '20. Train had two locomotives, CN 2301 and CN 8866. The boxcars at right rest in a small ancillary yard behind Clearwater Paper Corp., historically Kimberly-Clark’s Lakeview mill, 249 N. Lake St., Neenah, WI (physically located in Fox Crossing, WI). The Hwy. 41 overpass can be seen in the background. The first highway bridge over the then SOO railroad tracks there was built when Hwy. 41 was relocated to what was then the rural outskirts of the Fox Cities. The project commenced in the late-1930s and continued into the 1940s. The relocation allowed for expansion to a 4-lane highway (‘superhighway’ or ‘belt line’), as well as bypassing the congestion of the downtowns of Neenah, Menasha, and Appleton. On 18 Apr. ’36, the State Highway Commission of Wis. authorized “construction of an overhead bridge in Town of Menasha, Winnebago Co., on the proposed route of U.S. Highway 41.” The overpass project was referred to as the Neenah Belt Line Overhead.

A CN unit train of autoracks approaches N. Lake St. as it heads southeast via former SOO rails at Neenah, WI, on 30 Mar. '20. Eggers Div. of VT Industries, previously Eggers Industries, founded as Hardwood Products Co. in 1910, 164 N. Lake St., an active rail customer, is partially visible to the left.

A CN unit train of 2-bay covered hoppers parallels Harrison St. and approaches Kampo Rd. as it heads southwest via former SOO rails at Neenah, WI, on 30 Mar. '20. Train had three locomotives, CN 5793, CN 8818 and CN 2554. A remnant of the former C&NW main line, now relegated to a passing siding, runs parallel to the right. The W. Cecil St. overpass (Timothy Hamblin Bridge) can be seen in the background at right. The overpass, erected to eliminate the grade crossing, opened to traffic on 20 Nov. '07.

A CN local parallels S. Whitman Ave. and traverses the west leg of the wye at the former C&NW yard at Appleton Junction, WI, on 4 Apr. '20. Local was switching Quality Carriers, 700 S. Whitman Ave., in the northwest corner of the wye.

A CN local approaches N. Lake St. as it heads southeast via former SOO rails at Neenah, WI, on 4 Apr. '20. Eggers Div. of VT Industries, previously Eggers Industries, founded as Hardwood Products Co. in 1910, 164 N. Lake St., is partially visible at left.

A CN local traverses the east leg of the wye and passes the Main St. overpass as it shoves its train into the north end of the former SOO yard at Neenah, WI, on 4 Apr. '20. The white building partially visible at left is, or was, Progressive Paper Storage, Inc. (formerly Kimberly-Clark Warehouse (K-C Warehouse)), 135 Millview Dr. It does not receive rail service, but it looks like there may have been a spur on the northwest side of the building in the past. The remnants of the foundation from the ca. 1955 masonry SOO depot can be seen to the right. There are rail sections supported by concrete blocks and railroad ties stacked upon it. It was built to replace the wooden depot built in 1891 on Sherry St., about 850 ft. to the southeast, which was torn down soon after the new one opened.

A CN local crosses the mouth of the Neenah Slough at the south end of Little Lake Butte des Morts as it heads southeast via former SOO rails at Neenah, WI, on 4 Apr. ‘20. This bridge is a popular spot for fishermen, and women, to ply their luck. Eggers Div. of VT Industries, previously Eggers Industries, founded as Hardwood Products Co. in 1910, 164 N. Lake St., an active rail customer, is visible in the background. Clearwater Paper Corp., historically Kimberly-Clark’s Lakeview mill, 249 N. Lake St., Neenah, WI (physically located in Fox Crossing, WI (formerly Town of Menasha, WI, from 1855 until 14 Apr. 2016)), an active rail customer, is partially visible to the right.

A CN local passes Arrowhead Park as it heads southeast via former SOO rails at Neenah, WI, on 4 Apr. '20. The historic Neenah Stove Works, currently occupied by Hafemeister Machine Corp., 635 Main St., and International Children's Fund, 619 Main St., is partially visible in the background. The oldest part of the facility dates to 1857, when the Moore & Wells foundry was established.

A pair of BRIX covered hoppers were part of the consist of a CN through freight passing the Main St. overpass as it prepared to set out and pick up cars at the north end of the former SOO yard at Neenah, WI, on 4 Apr. '20.

A CN through freight traverses the west leg of the wye as it prepares to set out and pick up cars at the north end of the former SOO yard at Neenah, WI, on 4 Apr. '20. On the far side of the train lies Arrowhead Park, a closed paper sludge landfill. Before the landfill was opened in the '50s, the south shore of Little Lake Butte des Morts came right up to the north leg of the wye, which runs along the other side of the train.

A CN through freight passes the Main St. overpass as it prepares to set out and pick up cars at the north end of the former SOO yard at Neenah, WI, on 4 Apr. '20.

A CN container train parallels Union St., passes the former Caroline St. grade crossing, and passes a halted through freight as it heads south at the north end of the former SOO yard at Neenah, WI, on 4 Apr. '20. Train had two locomotives, CN 3222 pulling and CN 2914 pushing. The Main St. overpass is in the background to the left. The area between the tracks and Union St., from Main St. to Monroe St., used to be the yard. I don't know when the current, significantly larger yard (extending southwestward from Winneconne Ave.) was built, but a map from 1909 shows the yard still here.

A CN container train parallels Union St. and passes a halted through freight as it heads south at the north end of the former SOO yard at Neenah, WI, on 4 Apr. '20. Train had two locomotives, CN 3222 pulling and CN 2914 pushing. Consist included. The Main St. overpass is in the background to the left. The area between the tracks and Union St., from Main St. to Monroe St., used to be the yard. I don't know when the current, significantly larger yard (extending southwestward from Winneconne Ave.) was built, but a map from 1909 shows the yard still here. The pair of telephone poles toward the right stand at the former Adams St. grade crossing.

A CN container train parallels Union St., passes the former Caroline St. grade crossing, and passes a halted through freight as it heads south at the north end of the former SOO yard at Neenah, WI, on 4 Apr. '20. Train had two locomotives, CN 3222 pulling and CN 2914 pushing. The area between the tracks and Union St., from Main St. to Monroe St., used to be the yard. I don't know when the current, significantly larger yard (extending southwestward from Winneconne Ave.) was built, but a map from 1909 shows the yard still here.

GAEX 63081, with a bright, new coat of paint, was part of the consist of a CN through freight paralleling Union St. at the north end of the former SOO yard at Neenah, WI on 4 Apr. '20.

A CN container train passes the Main St. overpass and traverses the west leg of the wye at the north end of the former SOO yard at Neenah, WI, on 4 Apr. '20. The white building partially visible at left is, or was, Progressive Paper Storage, Inc. (formerly Kimberly-Clark Warehouse (K-C Warehouse)), 135 Millview Dr. It does not receive rail service, but it looks like there may have been a spur on the northwest side of the building in the past. First Presbyterian Church, 200 S. Church St., can be seen above the warehouse. The clock tower of the once impressive 1888 city hall building, intersection of S. Commercial St. and W. Doty St., looks like a church steeple from this perspective, but it is a block east of the church.

IC 769587, former CRI&P, RI, or ROCK, 'Route Rock,' rests at the CN, former SOO, yard at Neenah, WI, on 5 Apr. '20.

SMW 842809 rests at the CN, former SOO, yard at Neenah, WI, on 5 Apr. '20. I guess we can't expect vandals to be good spellers, “Teenage Waistland” vs. “Teenage Wasteland.” Then again, maybe the vandals are cruelly mocking Lisa the Rat's physical appearance.

A CN through freight crosses N. Lake St. as it heads southeast via former SOO rails at Neenah, WI, on 5 Apr. '20. Train had four locomotives, CN 3239 and CN 3229 pulling as well as CN 3876 and CN 2804 pushing. Clearwater Paper Corp., historically Kimberly-Clark’s Lakeview mill, 249 N. Lake St., Neenah, WI (physically located in Fox Crossing, WI (formerly Town of Menasha, WI, from 1855 until 14 Apr. 2016)), an active rail customer, is partially visible in the background at right.

A CN through freight crosses N. Lake St. as it heads southeast via former SOO rails at Neenah, WI, on 5 Apr. '20. Train had four locomotives, CN 3239 and CN 3229 pulling as well as CN 3876 and CN 2804 pushing.

A CN through freight rests along Union St. at the former Sherry St. grade crossing at the north end of the former SOO yard at Neenah, WI, on 10 Apr. '20. Train had five locomotives, CN 2246, IC 2718, CN 8002, BCOL 4652, CN 5261. The area between the tracks and Union St., from Main St. to Monroe St., used to be the yard. I don't know when the current, significantly larger yard (extending southwestward from Winneconne Ave.) was built, but a map from 1909 shows the yard still here.

A CN through freight rests along Union St. at the former Sherry St. grade crossing at the north end of the former SOO yard at Neenah, WI, on 10 Apr. '20. Train had five locomotives, CN 2246, IC 2718, CN 8002, BCOL 4652, CN 5261. The area between the tracks and Union St., from Main St. to Monroe St., used to be the yard. I don't know when the current, significantly larger yard (extending southwestward from Winneconne Ave.) was built, but a map from 1909 shows the yard still here.

A CN through freight parallels Harrison St. and passes the W. Cecil St. overpass (Timothy Hamblin Bridge) as it heads southwest past the former SOO yard at Neenah, WI, on 11 Apr. '20. Train had two locomotives, CN 3269 and CN 3813. A remnant of the former C&NW main line (now relegated to a passing siding) runs parallel on the other side of the train. The overpass, erected to eliminate the grade crossing, opened to traffic on 20 Nov. '07.

A CN through freight parallels Harrison St. as it heads southwest past the former SOO yard at Neenah, WI, on 11 Apr. '20. Train had two locomotives, CN 3269 and CN 3813. A remnant of the former C&NW main line (now relegated to a passing siding) runs parallel on the other side of the train. Neenah Foundry Plant 2 & Plant 3 stand in the background to the right. Plant 2 opened in 1960 and Plant 3 was built in 1967. Plant 1 opened in 1918 and stood about a mile to the north, until it was closed in 1994 and eventually demolished.

ITLX 41128, former MILW, was part of the consist of a CN through freight paralleling Harrison St. as it headed southwest past the former SOO yard at Neenah, WI, on 11 Apr. '20.

IC 3108 rests at the CN, former C&NW, yard at Appleton Junction, WI, on 11 Apr. '20.

IC 3108 rests near the depot/yard office at the CN, former C&NW, yard at Appleton Junction, WI, on 11 Apr. '20. There used to be a diamond right about where the sidewalk leading to the front door of the depot/yard office is, from ca. 1874 until at least 1968, where the MLS&W crossed the C&NW. When the MLS&W was absorbed by the C&NW on 1 Sep. 1893, their line became the Ashland Div. of the C&NW. The white building behind the depot/yard office is the former home of the Harry H. Long Moving and Storage Co., 1001 S. Douglas St. This building dates to at least 1953, when it was listed in the local directory (it was not listed in ’51). The building has a spur, but it hasn’t been used for quite a while (except for occasional MoW equipment). Now called Harry H. Long Moving Storage & Express, Inc., the company, founded in 1917, is still family owned. It moved to a larger facility in Town of Clayton, Winnebago Co., WI in 2001.

LMIX RG316 does its thing along the CN main line past the former SOO yard along Harrison St. at Neenah, WI, on 17 Apr. '20. What an impressive piece of mechanical engineering. I've encountered this unit several times over the years, but this is the first time I've seen it grinding. The W. Cecil St. overpass (Timothy Hamblin Bridge) can be seen in the background at the right. The overpass, erected to eliminate the grade crossing, opened to traffic on 20 Nov. '07.

LMIX RG316 does its thing along the CN main line past the former SOO yard along Harrison St. at Neenah, WI, on 17 Apr. '20. What an impressive piece of mechanical engineering. I've encountered this unit several times over the years, but this is the first time I've seen it grinding.

LMIX RG316 does its thing along the CN main line past the former SOO yard along Harrison St. at Neenah, WI, on 17 Apr. '20. What an impressive piece of mechanical engineering. I've encountered this unit several times over the years, but this is the first time I've seen it grinding.

LMIX RG316 does its thing along the CN main line past the former SOO yard along Harrison St. at Neenah, WI, on 17 Apr. '20.