MILW Sparta, Cashton and Viroqua line

This question is for all of the resident cheeseheads out there. I tried to follow this abandoned line from the link with the CN&W in Sparta all the way to Viroqua. Aside from a station in Viroqua that apperas to be in its built spot, there isn't anything left. I found what appeared to be the old right of way north of Cashton, but in no other areas could I find any remnants. Has anybody been through or live in the area that could help. I am really looking for a wooden trestle the crosses a dirt road in the Cashton area. It is in a photo that has been published in a few books.

The year before I looked for this line, I went to look for the line that ran from Richland Center to the Prarie Du Chein line. I actually found the roadbed, and several old buildings in the bergs the line passed through. I have also followed the Copper Country line from Green Bay to Channing and through to Hancock. They have a nice sign at the yard in Channing telling railfans, for lack of a better phrase, to F-off. I felt bad the whole time I was trespassing and taking photos . There are sections of the line north of Channing where the rail was left alone, and the forrest has reclaimed the land. 4 inch tree trunks jutting between the ties, with rails running into the underbrush. Railroad archeology. Wonder if Colorado has a College for that?

Mark

PS-Cheeseheads...fear not about your Packers. They will rebound..sooner or later. Besides, you could be a Lions fan

 

Mark,
Awhile back I tried to trace the route out of Sparta. I seen it marked on an old map and thought it would be neat to find. On the Sparta end I couldn't find a trace, or anyone that could tell me about it. I never went to Cashton to check it out, maybe have to head over that way. I live about 25 miles northeast of Sparta

 

Thanks.

Andy, save the trip to Cashton...I was there two years ago and not one soul had even heard of a railroad going through the town. I have some topographical maps (now) that show where the line went through. When I get back out there I will do further research. Are there any campgrounds around that area?

Boxcab...alas..I heard the samething about the ELS concerning theivery. I didn't know it was a set of Baldwin Sharks!!!! Darn! I missed those too..eh? I have seen a picture of one of the Creek series observation cars sitting in the yard in July of '86. I drove right by it that year (well..I was a prisoner in the parents car) and never knew about it. Of course, back then I knew nothing of the Milwaukee Road. The AHM engine that started this whole quest was buried in the basement with my train stuff. Baldwin Sharks....darn!

One thing about living in the Metro Detroit area is the subtle and not so subtle racism on both sides. Which causes me to really get when I hear about stuff like this. The same white guys I know who always crack, "the n*****rs being a bunch of theives and cheats and crooks" have no problem stealing when it suits them. And often without regret. It's not just on railroads, it's everywhere. I can hear those dips going on about, "They don't use these anymore..there just going to scrap..they can afford it......lets take something" and grabbing, as well as breaking, someone elses property. I work/worked in small business..every penny counts. That bell you grabbed is going to cost me X dollars to buy, X dollars to install and X dollars lost because my motive power was BO.

As usual, one or two morons make every foamer look bad.

On the plus side I went to Muskeegon this weeknd for a trainshow and to see the car ferries and docks. The trainshow was good; picked up an Atheaarn F unit for $15 and then made the beacuop find..a Stewart FT A unit for $20....new! Yowsa! I now have three F units to go on the Western WI lines I am modeling. Brewery is next...along with a Cheese factory...a few Wig-Wags and a group of drunken Badgers (the Madison variety).

I did find the ferries, but it started raining hard, and getting up to the dock would have cost me parking and a good soaking. I found the old yard on the N end of town and found some interesting motive power, a GP-9m done in Grand Rapids and Eastern colors and a leased GP40 in blue. Nice, clean functioning yard..with a scale, even!

I tried to follow the line back from Muskeegon, but ran out of light in Fruitport.

Just a note...I find really good topographical maps at www.topozone.com. It's neat way to look up abandoned lines.

Caio!
Mark

 

Mark,
I will have to check on that map site. I know there are plenty of camp grounds in that area, I can pick up some info for you if you like!

 

Thanks Andy. Any info you could provide would be great. With financing, I can almost afford the drive.

Mark

 

I am a little late posting to this thread, so probably there is no more interest. I grew up in Cashton and have fond memories of the rail road running through town, first with steam locomotives and later with an Alco diesel. My buddy's dad was the depot agent, so we had the run of the place. The crew used to stop at Cashton for their evening meal on their return trip to Sparta and ate at the resturant that I used to frequent. I got to talk to them on a fairly regular basis. I can still hear the sounds of the Alco idling next to the depot.

 

Ha! Better late than never!:teeth: And there's always an interest in abandond rail lines!

 

Oh hey, welcome to Trainboard too! That must have been great, actually hangin' around the depot!

 

You folks might check out the Milwaukee Road historical magazine for the last year or so as I remember an article on these lines with photos. Very interesting.

Barry

 

Dear Barry,

Thanks. I have that issue and it made me chuckle. If I had only had that before......
Then again, I had so much fun on my two trips to the area I am planning a third. I did enjoy seeing images of the line through Cashton and how it was laid out. It matched what I had figured.

One thing, since my last trip I have done aerial research on the area via Google Satellite and Google Earth because I could NEVER find where the line went going north out of Cashton. I still can't find the rail bed north of County Rd. U..but I think it went along Neptune Rd. However, north of Melvina, I can pick up the rail bed still visible in the plowed fields...thirty years after the lines demise.

 

The actual starting point is not in Sparta it is aprox 1 mile
west of of Sparta. The bridge under I-90/94 was filled in a few years ago. Before that it was easy to see the line there. Here is a map of the Jct
http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCP&cp=43.91768~-90.840883&style=h&lvl=15&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&sp=Point.r9m4fc7dwrm4_Sparta%20Jct____&encType=1

 

Mark,
I believe you are right about it crossing County U near Neptune Rd. As I recall it Crossed there and then continued down the valley where you see Neola Ave. Just north east of Cashton, there there appears to be a line of trees where I suspect the line went. We used to walk along the tracks going north-east out of Cashton to get to a woods which I can still see between Olive Rd and County U on Google satellite view.
John

 

Dear Rock,

Thanks. I did find this on the second trip. If you look at the newest satellite shot that you linked me to, you can still make out the ghost shape of the line. I saw the same thing in the satellite shots around Melvina..

Welcome to Trainboard.

-Mark

 

Dear John,

Thanks! I went down Neptune/Neola Rd. last time I was in the area, and at the bottom of the valley, about 2 miles down, I found a driveway that was suspiciously well ballasted and level, and about 8 feet across. It ran about 100 yards up to a house, and I was tempted to proceed up it, but then I noticed all the abandoned vehicles in the yard, the KEEP OUT signs in abundance and thought twice about it. Luckily, a good old Wisconsin late afternoon thunderstorm broke on me and convinced me to stay in the car and move on.

The line out of Cashton does roll out to the southeast and proceeds on a semi-circle back to the U/Neptune intersections. On the satellite shot, you can see it start at the cemetery and curve over to Neptune Rd.

-Mark

 

I know that I am a little late with this post but I just recently found this site. I have always had an interest in the Viroqua branch. My great grandmother lived in Cashton so I visited there every so often. I only saw a train come through town once heading down the hill. I don't remember a whole lot since I was only about 6 years old. I do remember the line getting scraped and all the ties and rail stacked up ready to get hauled away. That was about 1984-85.

Last fall I visited the area and tried my best to see if anything was left. There are still a few reminants left. Up by Sparta there is a yard limit sign still visible next to the grade close to where the CNW crossed. Around Melvina the grade can still be made out. Way back off of HWY 27 there is a small trestle which is very hard to make out. I am assuming it is now on private land. The only way I could make some of this out is because all the leaves had fallen from the trees.
When you are on Neptune Rd heading up the grade you can still make out the right of way. Part way up the road there was a trestle and the right of way switched to the other side. The trestle is gone however I believe I saw a couple of pilings still there. The clearance was very low. Closer to the top of the hill Neptune Road got rebuilt over the right of way.

Once you are over HWY U (i believe) you can pick up the right of way again. Cinder ballast is still there. Very easy to follow into Cashton. I will try to figure out how to post some pictures that I took. I only had about an hour and half to do this in so I image that there is a lot more to find.

Mike

 

Welcome to TrainBoard!!!!!!!

:tb-biggrin: :tb-biggrin: :tb-biggrin: :tb-biggrin:​

 

I've thought of that, too. Maybe we should team up?

Michael