Glad to see the new SOO Line forum. I want to clarify some things for myself. I didn't know that Wisconsin Central merged into the SOO Line. When did that happen? In fact, I thought they still had survived as a short line. Here is a pair of WC engines in Dolores Yard around 1995. Is WC all a part of Canadian Pacific now? Thanks. I am just behind on these merger events. BTW, why do we spell this SOO Line and not Soo Line? Which is correct?
The Wisconsin Central was created from portions of the old Milwaukee Road (the Valley Line) and the old Eastern Division of the Soo Line beginning operation October 11, 1987. I know because I helped start up the Minneapolis portion of the WC and stayed with them until 1996. I will never forget that start up, it was an adventure. The CN now owns the former WC acquiring it sometime in the early 2000 years. The WC which CN acquired also includes what is left of the Green Bay Western and several portions of former Chicago & Northwestern Wisconsin/Michigan lines. Barry
Flash- Although you did see large logo letters on engines and rolling stock, the correct spelling is Soo Line Railroad. No capital "OO". Soo Line was only a nick name for many long years. Until on January 1, 1961. On that date, the DSS&A, MSt.P&SSM, and the WC were all folded together. Becoming officially the Soo Line Railroad Company. Thus the involved companies noted in this forum header. The 1987 and later WC, was an unrelated company to the original. Wisconsin Central Limited did encompass some former Soo trackage. In preparation for selling, prior to WC, Soo had spun off part of it's operations, as the Lake States Transportation. Which had it's own timetables, etc. I have a whole package of their card calendars stashed away somewhere. WC, Ltd, also had former Milw, C&NW, plus Ahnapee & Western, FV&W, Green Bay & Western..... And also acquired control of the Algoma Central. Plus? This incarnation is now a fallen flag. Going to CN, October of 2001. So probably fits over there, or in the CN Forum. Boxcab E50
Barry has it correct. There was once a railroad called the Wisconsin Central, this was controlled by and eventually merged into the Soo Line. The Wisconsin Central was reborn in 1987 when the Soo Line spun off portions of the former MILW and its own Lake States division to Ed Burkhardt. This is the WC that most are familiar with, and it was acquired by the Canadian National in 2001. George Widener CN Fond du Lac, WI
Soo Line Historical and Technical Society They say: It isn't an acronym such as ATSF or SP, but rather is a phoenetic spelling of "Sault," for Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, the original eastern terminus of the Minneapolis, Sault Ste. Marie & Atlantic Railway line eastward from Minneapolis. Since "the Soo Line" is a nickname like "the Hoosier Line" or "Katy," only the "S" should be capitalized. That is, it's "Soo Line," never "SOO Line." :tb-biggrin: :tb-biggrin: :tb-biggrin: :tb-biggrin:
