Wisconsin Central Railway (1897–1954)

For the modern railway, see Wisconsin Central Transportation.

Wisconsin Central Railway

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Locale	Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois
Dates of operation	1897–1961
Predecessor	Wisconsin Central Railroad (1871–99)
Successor	Soo Line Railroad
Track gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

The Wisconsin Central Railway Company was created in 1897 when the Wisconsin Central Railroad (1871–99) was reorganized from bankruptcy. In 1954, the name went back to Wisconsin Central Railroad Company. The railroad was merged into the Soo Line Railroad in 1961.

History

File:Unloading a stock car rev.jpg

Sheep are unloaded from the upper level of a Wisconsin Central stock car in Chicago, Illinois, in 1904.

After a proposed merger with the Northern Pacific fell through in 1908, the Wisconsin Central was leased by the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway, commonly known as the Soo Line, in 1908. Controlling interest in the Soo Line (along with the Wisconsin Central) was held by the Canadian Pacific Railroad. The Wisconsin Central entered receivership in 1932, declared bankruptcy in 1944, and finally re-emerged from administration in 1954 as the Wisconsin Central Railroad. The Wisconsin Central was entirely merged into the new Soo Line Railroad in 1961.

See also

• Wisconsin Central Transportation - a reincarnation which operated 1987–2001

External links

• Soo Line Historical and Technical Society