#sooline

Soo Line on the Milwaukee Road, Part One of Three

The Soo Line had trackage rights on the Milwaukee Road (Wisconsin Division, Twelfth Subdivision) to gain access to Milwaukee.

In 1977, I followed a train westward on the line between North Milwaukee, roughly, to Rugby Junction where the train switched over to the Soo main. I have one shot after that, near Slinger, Wisconsin, on the Soo Line itself. I’ll split this up over three installments.

In this first post then, we initially see the train just west of North Milwaukee, near Havenwoods; I was standing near the intersection of N. 60th Street and N. Mill Road. The bridge in the background supports a Chicago & North Western line. In the third image, the train is crossing over N. 76th Street, just south of Good Hope Road; in the fourth at the Granville Depot. And in the final image we see the train near Boundary Road, perhaps—this one location is uncertain.

Soo Line on the Milwaukee Road, Part Three of Three

The Soo Line had trackage rights on the Milwaukee Road (Wisconsin Division, Twelfth Subdivision) to gain access to Milwaukee. In 1977, I followed a train westward on the line between North Milwaukee, roughly, to Rugby Junction where the train switched over to the Soo main. I have one shot after that, near Slinger, Wisconsin, on the Soo Line itself. I’ve split this up over three installments.

To finish this series of posts, we now see two images of our train at Pleasant Hill Road, in Richfield, Wisconsin. The next three pictures shows it at Rugby Junction: it can first be seen using the connection between Milwaukee Road and Soo Line mains. The next two pictures were made from where Scenic Road crosses the tracks.

The final image has the train on the Soo Line main now, seen from the Highway 60 overpass, south of Slinger, Wisconsin. The quality of the right-of-way is noticeably better here on the Soo!

Shiller Park

On my way back to Indiana, from Milwaukee, I grabbed a couple of shots of Soo Line power in the Chicago area. I was told by some on FB that this place is called Shiller Park.

As for the locomotives on hand—we see a big U30C 803 (with aerodynamic fins, which I dig), built in 1968, and GP30 717 (sporting Alco trucks, not really visible here), built in 1963. Both of these units were constructed for the Soo Line, delivered with these numbers. There was an F-unit and a GP9 loitering about as well.

Soo Line on the Milwaukee Road, Part Two of Three

The Soo Line had trackage rights on the Milwaukee Road (Wisconsin Division, Twelfth Subdivision) to gain access to Milwaukee. In 1977, I followed a train westward on the line between North Milwaukee, roughly, to Rugby Junction where the train switched over to the Soo main. I have one shot after that, near Slinger, Wisconsin, on the Soo Line itself. I’ve split this up over three installments.

We take up the chase with the train at Donges Bay Road: in Germantown or Victory Center, Wisconsin. Next we see it near Country Aire Drive (I believe). The third image was taken at Highway 145 just east of Germantown; the bridge from which I shot longer exists. Pictures four and five highlights the lead unit nicely at County Highway F/Freistadt Road, in Germantown, while the last has it at Goldendale Road.

I should share a bit about that particular locomotive. One engine roster lists this unit as an EMD F3 though it appears to be an F7. I know that some of the later F3 models had stainless steel vents along the top like the later Fs to come, so this is probably the case.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

This is a northbound Soo Line freight enjoying trackage rights on the Milwaukee Road, northwest of Milwaukee. We are looking north along North 76th Street, with Good Hope Road just beyond.

It’s interesting to note that one roster found on-line lists this unit as an F3: I know that some of the later F3 models had stainless steel vents along the top like F7s to come, so this may be the case. This roster says the unit would be retired in a matter of months, so I’m glad I saw it in revenue service.

Covered Wagons

Westbound at Duplainville

After a post on FB and some input from knowledgeable people, I believe this is Amtrak’s North Coast Hiawatha running westbound at Duplainville. This is where the Milwaukee Road (on which the train is running) crosses the Soo Line.

While it’s a long-haul train, it only ran beyond Minneapolis three days of the week, so this may be one of the short-haul days.

Duplainville Tower

Here we see (what I believe to be) a westbound Amtrak North Coast Hiawatha running on the Milwaukee Road. The tower marks where the Soo Line crossed; it was torn down in 1987.

The two railroads crossing here now are the Canadian Pacific and Canadian National Railways.