Railfan News - 2004

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December 21, 2004
Hobbyist can't resist grilles on film
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Milwaukee (WI)
Local truck photographer, and railfan, Bill Bedell. Bill has given numerous clinics at WISE Division meets, including one this past fall on, what else, trucks!

November 29, 2004
City completes cleanup of valley's west end: Light industrial park creating 1,000 jobs envisioned for area
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Milwaukee (WI)
Milwaukee city officials announced Sunday that the environmental cleanup of the Menomonee Valley's west end [former Milwaukee Road yard] is complete and that industrial land there will be available for sale to private businesses beginning this spring.

October 21, 2004
Another transformer delivery in Port Washington:
A few heavy duty flat cars with loads for the new Sheboygan Falls Power Plant arrived in Port Washington, Wis. on October 21. Photos by James Bartelt.

October 12, 2004
Wisconsin & Southern gets revenue back on track:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Milwaukee (WI)

October 10, 2004
Sturtevant's old depot may face demolition - (Sturtevant):
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Milwaukee (WI)
Railroad offers 2 options: Move the building or raze it.

October 9, 2004
CP main closed due to power lines
A power outage in Milwaukee and Oak Creek, Wisconsin Saturday night was caused by the collapse of the power transmission tower. Sabotage is a possibility, and the FBI is investigating. Part of the power outage included nearby General Mitchell International Airport.

October 7, 2004
New Editor for Trains Magazine
Jim Wrinn, a reporter and editor at the Charlotte Observer for 18 years, has been named editor of Trains magazine. And Jason Gallinger has been named associate editor. For more information see the article at Trains.com.

September 28, 2004
Sturtevant board votes to build Amtrak depot - (Sturtevant):
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Milwaukee (WI)
Construction to start in spring a few blocks north of existing site.

August 25, 2004
Madison, Milwaukee rail plans proceed:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Milwaukee
Commuter rail plans in the Madison and Milwaukee areas are continuing to advance, but on different tracks.

August 21, 2004
A sad ending for Beltline rail tracks - (Madison):
The Capital Times (Madison WI)
The tracks that cross the Beltline Highway west of Fish Hatchery Road are slated for removal.

August 20, 2004
Festival fans may get rail link - (Milwaukee):
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Milwaukee (WI)
City looks at old bridge for route to Walker's Point.

August 7, 2004
'Train bar' will hit the rails for Kansas City train museum: One-time nightspot, other cars will go south
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Milwaukee
One of Milwaukee's most unusual nightspots, "the train bar," will be pulling out of Bay View soon to become part of a museum in Kansas City.

July 29, 2004
Train strikes woman's car - (Waukesha):
Waukesha Freeman - Waukesha (WI)
Police say woman will face OWI, trespassing charges

June 29, 2004
Amtrak breaks ground for airport station - (Milwaukee): Congress also asked to help upgrade Milwaukee-Chicago service; $281 million requested.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Milwaukee (WI)
Amtrak called Tuesday for the federal government to pick up $281 million of a $351 million plan to build a high-speed train line from Milwaukee to Madison and upgrade the existing Milwaukee-to-Chicago service.

June 28, 2004
Amtrak seeks funds for Madison route - (Milwaukee): Stop will cater to business travelers.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Milwaukee (WI)
Business travelers will be able to hop a train from Mitchell International

June 11, 2004
Amtrak's long-distance Empire Builder marks 75th year - (Milwaukee): Doyle to be among officials saluting route at downtown station.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Milwaukee (WI)
A story on Amtrak's only long-distance train through Milwaukee, the Empire Builder, and the events marking its 75th anniversary.

May, 2004
Riverwest: A Railroad Ran Through It - (Milwaukee):
Riverwest Currents - Milwaukee (WI)
An article by Carl Swanson that the Beer Line Recreational Trail is new, but its roots go back to Milwaukee's early days. Has pics of the "Roller Coaster" then and now.

April 29, 2004
Police News from Waukesha County - (Brookfield):
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Milwaukee (WI)
Click on the link and scroll down to the article about two men and a woman stealing rail tie plates in Brookfield.

April 21, 2004
Steam-powering a vision - (Milwaukee): Engine building at old plant could be restaurant, museum.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Milwaukee (WI)
While not directly railroad related, an interesting story about the Solvy Coke facility.

April 20, 2004
The train that wouldn't move - (Caledonia): A stopped train blocked the railroad crossing at Six Mile Road for more than six hours Sunday...
Journal Times - Racine (WI)
FREDs don't tell you when the last car is blocking a road.

April 15, 2004
Motorist who died in train collision identified - (Mount Pleasant):
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Milwaukee (WI)

April 12, 2004
Another transformer delivered to Port Washington:
The Union Pacific has been busy! On April 12, 2004 KRL heavy duty flat #32803 delivered another transformer to the We Energies power plant in Port Washington, Wis. By James Bartelt.

March 29, 2004
Transformer delivered to Port Washington:
On March 29, 2004 KRL heavy duty flat #90016 delivered a Ferranti Packard Transformer to the We Energies power plant in Port Washington, Wis. By James Bartelt.

March 29, 2004
Rail yard chimneys could be valley icons - (Milwaukee)
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Milwaukee (WI)
The last remains of the former Milwaukee Road shops are in jeopardy of falling to the wrecking ball. You can sometimes see the towers from the WISN Menomonee Valley Webcam.

March 7, 2004
Railroad club's plea leads to '48 find - (Sturtevant)
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Milwaukee (WI)
A related article about the 1947 Milwaukee Road 5744 Touralux Sleeper appeared in the April 20, 2003 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

February 15, 2004
261 Excursion Tickets Now Available
You can now purchase tickets to ride behind 261 from Minneapolis to Milwaukee and Milwaukee to Chicago. Visit the 261 Ticket page for more information.

January 30, 2004
Train clips car stopped on tracks - (Brookfield) NOTE: You may have to scroll down a bit to find the article.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Milwaukee (WI)

January 21, 2004
Counties asked to contribute to rebuilding freight rail line - (Waukesha) Rock County route at heart of track system serving area employers.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Milwaukee (WI)

January 20, 2004
Milwaukee Road #261 to stop in Milwaukee in June:
A thank you to Andrew Mueller for passing this along. The trips are part of the Grand Excursion Flotilla which will be June 25-July 5, 2004 along a 400-mile stretch of the Mississippi River to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the 1854 steamboat expedition.

Grand Excursion Schedule June 20 - July 4, 2004
6/20 Minneapolis to Milwaukee one way - CP
6/22 Milwaukee to Chicago one way - CP
6/25 Chicago to Rock Island one way, BNSF, IAIS
6/26 Davenport to Savanna round trip IC&E
6/27 Rock Island to Bureau round trip IAIS
6/28 Davenport to Dubuque one way IC&E
6/29 Dubuque to La Crosse one way IC&E/CP
6/30 La Crosse to Minneapolis one way BNSF
7/2 St. Paul to La Crosse (BNSF), La Crosse to St. Paul (CP) circle trip
7/3 St. Paul to La Crescent round trip CP
7/4 Minneapolis/St. Paul round trips including Short Line Hill, BNSF/CP

January 3, 2004
UP delivers generator to Port Washington - (Port Washington)
On January 3, 2004 the Union Pacific delivered a steam turbine generator to the We Energies power plant in Port Washington, Wis on heavy duty flat GEX #80002. By James Bartelt.


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