Milwaukee Road maps

[ak-milw]

can anyone tell me of a web site, or a place I can order track maps of MR in Wis. Would like to have maps to see if I can model this strech of road!!

[BoxcabE50]

Andy-

Several possibilities come into mind. The first, although I've never checked into these, are the often mentioned Sanborn Fire Maps for towns along the route of interest.

Try a library for USGS maps. See if they have any older ones still available. This will show you how the line related to the topography.

If you know anyone with the CP these days, it might be possible they've some blueprints that haven't been altered too heavily since the Milw was swallowed by Soo Line.

Another possibility, would be to check with the tax assessor for the specific county. Or if you've a good buddy in real estate, sometimes they'll have a resource. Such as from a title company.

Also, try the Milwaukee Public Library. The Milwaukee Road donated a huge amount of paperwork that is housed there. It is NOT directly accessible by the public. But you can put in your request, and see what they might have. Ask for someone in the Milwaukee Road Collection.

Milwaukee Road Engineering Department blueprints for their trackage came in two basic types. "Lands, Tracks & Structures." These are in 1"=100' scale, and were done for each individual station. They'll show where the depot was, info on any other RR and nearby structures. The other is "Right Of Way." Which shows the line in 1"=400' scale. Getting both is the best possible scenario.

We are fortunate here in Montana. When they left here, the RR donated both styles to the Montana Historical Society from their Division offices in Deer Lodge. We have coverage of most everything between Terry and St.Maries, Idaho. Including all branches. And even some proposed tracks never built! Copies can be had through a company in Billings.

Good luck. Let me know how you come out with this search!

:D

BoxcabE50

[yankinoz]

I have some .pdf files of sandborn maps in some parts of WI - what towns are you looking for?

Also check out

Railroad Paper Collectibles (http://trainsite.8m.com/)

I've never ordered from them, but they have lots of interesting stuff listed for sale...

[ 18. September 2002, 10:45: Message edited by: yankinoz ]

[ak-milw]

Hey guys, Thanks for getting back to me. I checked out the milwaukee road historical site and there info. is down, has been for about a month. I'm looking for the tracks between Madison and La Crosse wis. I checked out a few arial map sites but most of them are to modern, they show the Tomah yards as a big parking lot, which it is at this time. I currently model C& NW which runs by my house, but so does the old Milw. Road. Since the tracks run so close here I thought I wouldc like to incorperate both roads if I have the room. I will try some of your sites!! Thanks again!!!!!!! Andy

[BoxcabE50]

Andy-

Will be interested in hearing what you can find out there. If you happen to contact the Milwuakee Public Library, please let us know if they have any sort of current catalog of the Collection? Price list?

:D

BoxcabE50

[yankinoz]

Andy - the Tomah maps I have are 1922 and predate the MILW shops that were there.

I am (well will be) modeling La Crosse to Portage in the early 90's - CP/SOO calls it The Tomah Sub. I am a CNW fan too, and the CNW trackage rights from Tunnel City to La Crosse made the decision to focus on this area easy. Childhood memories of the Dells don't hurt either.

Can you do me a favour next time you are in Tunnel City? There is a little white chapel that just begs to be reproduced in HO scale - I only have a photo of the side that faces the tracks - can you photograph the other three sides? I can provide a heap of sandborn PDF files...

[ak-milw]

Hey Rob, I currently have a freelanced C&NW layout I am working on. I will have about 22' by 14' space opening up in the near future and would like to try prototypingboth roads, especially through the Dells, some really nice scenery there, and the bridge over the Wis. river.I live about 20 miles from Tomah and my wife works there, Tunnel City is only about five more miles. I'll get the pictuers for you, I don't have a digital camera so I'll make photos and mail them to you, I can even get the dimensions for you if you want? Thanks again

[yankinoz]

Yes please!

[BoxcabE50]

Originally posted by alkcnw:
Hey Rob, I currently have a freelanced C&NW layout I am working on. I will have about 22' by 14' space opening up in the near future and would like to try prototypingboth roads, especially through the Dells, some really nice scenery there, and the bridge over the Wis. river.I live about 20 miles from Tomah and my wife works there, Tunnel City is only about five more miles.Andy-

Are you familiar with a fellow named Nathan Molldrem? He lives in Eau Claire. Models the Milw in HO. (But also has some CGW, RI, SOO, etc., on his layout.) Part of his layout features the Dells. This layout was featured in the January, 1994 issue of Model Railroader. Nate just recently retired. So perhaps it would be possible to catch up with him and compare notes?

:D

BoxcabE50

[ak-milw]

Hey Boxcab, I live about 2 hours from Eau Claire and don't get up there much, but I will be going on Oct. 12 because they are having a big show and sale there in the high school. I will check in my back issues of model railroader and see if I can find out where he is located. Maybe we can meet at the show!! :eek:

[BoxcabE50]

Andy-

Am curious- Have you had a chance to check out any of those possible sources for your map needs?

:D

Boxcab E50

[ak-milw]

Boxcab, I talked to a guy I know that works for CP, he says he can get me copies of what I need. Now all I have to do is wait!!!!!!!!! :eek:

[BoxcabE50]

That's good news! graemlins/097.gif

But now I'm sitting here. Wondering. What other buried treasures in track maps he might know of???? :rolleyes:

:D

Boxcab E50

[ak-milw]

I don't know what all he can get. He is a track enginer on the line, he designs bridges,culverts, tunnels ,He travels up and down the line so I only get to see him about once a month. :eek:

[BoxcabE50]

I sort of have a feeling that the files were purged of older blueprints from the past two decades. But my curiousity has me wondering what might accidently be stashed in a cubby hole somewhere.

:D

Boxcab E50

[ak-milw]

When I talked to him he said he knew where a lot of old files and paper work and maps were stashed. He also said that in his job he has to look back to when a certain bridge or culvert was put in and see what problems they ran into so he dosn't make the same mistakes. You Wouldn't belive how long some of those small bridges have been there!! :eek:

[BoxcabE50]

Andy-

Did you ever catch up with this fellow again?

:D

Boxcab E50

[ak-milw]

Boxcab, Yes I have a couple of times. He said he found some maps of the area I was looking for but CP wouldn't let him copy them. It all has to do with the terrorist junk, their afraid the maps might be used for some bad stuff. I did get all I needed from the historical association one magazine at a time!! I pieced them all together, added a few extras for excitement, and have my layout. From Portage , Wis. Dells,Lyndon Station, Mauston, New Lisbon, Camp Douglas, Tomah and Tunnel City then back in to Portage again. Once I ever figure out how to load pictures in I will post it. graemlins/220.gif

[ 13. February 2004, 01:39: Message edited by: ak-milw ]

[BoxcabE50]

Bummer! :( Oh well. At least you were able to gather up the data needed.

I'd sure like to see some pictures!

:D

Boxcab E50

[ak-milw]

Boxcab, I'm working slowly on getting pictures in. This computor just dosn't cooperate all the time. If I do figure it out do you want them loaded in here or like in Layout design?

[BoxcabE50]

Andy-

Layout Design, Here, HO Forum. Any of these would work. Probably one of the latter two most fitting.

:D

Boxcab E50

[Milw.Fan]

There is a fellow by the name of Dave Cramer from Madison, WI that sells track charts and profiles of various roads. I model a portion of the "J" line from Chicago to Janesville, and the things I purchased from him were very helpful, including some kind of transportation planning book that detailed all of the rail industries around Madison. It enabled me to have a prototypical consist of my trains heading north to Madison. Check out his website:
trainsite.8m.com

[ak-milw]

Hey Milw. Fan, Glad you can join us. I will be sure to check out the site, even though I have my plan down to where I like it. I used to be from Chicago land too about 20 years ago!!

[BoxcabE50]

I've purchased from Dave. A little pricey. But he has stuff that can't be found elsewhere.

I hope some day to whittle my wish list down to where I can buy one of his M&St.L condensed profile book copies.....

:D

Boxcab E50

[marty coil]

Boxcab
In 1967 I was playing ball in Bellingham, Wash. That was the only time I saw Mil Rd. live. Two SD-9's would haul empty ore car and general freight almost every day. Any clue where they were going. There was a small Mil. yard in Bellingham.
Marty