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WISN Menomonee Valley Webcam:
Did you know there is a railroad webcam in Milwaukee? Well, sort of. It's a Channel 12 weather camera located at Miller Park and faces east down "the Valley".
From the daytime shots you can see the Canadian Pacific main (on the lower left) from Cut Off, the ramp to the old Milwaukee Road shops, the 35th St. viaduct,
and the electric towers from the TM days. It is either motion activated or just updates every 9 minutes. Some days
it is pointed more easterly down the valley which won't show the mainline but does tell you if the smokes stacks from the old shops are still standing. Not recommended
for night viewing. NOTE: During bad weather it
becomes a "traffic cam" for Miller Parkway.
New Tracks Ahead series now in production:
Milwaukee Public Television has started production on the seventh series of its popular Tracks Ahead program. The sixth
series is in high definition and the primary
underwriters are World's Greatest Hobby and Kalmbach Publishing Co. Visit the Tracks Ahead site
for the latest updates.
West Allis/Air Line Status
Plymouth Line Status
2006 Railfan News
2005 Railfan News
2004 Railfan News
2003 Railfan News
December 20, 2007
BN No. 6234 repainted in WSOR's shops delivered to the Minnesota Transportation Museum
Photos by Ralph Back
Before
After
See what arrived on December 20 at the Minnesota Transportation Museum's Jackson Street Roundhouse.
December 15, 2007
In early and mid-December Soo Line 2-8-2 #1003 was part of WSOR's Santa Train 2007 to Ripon, Hartford and Plymouth. It was the first
time a steam locomotive had been to Plymouth in 54 years. Visit the sites of Mark W. Hintz and
Keith Schmidt to see pics of the December 15 trip.
December 13, 2007
MP15ACs showing up on the WSOR
A total of four units are expected, all former SOO (ex-MILW). They were in storage at VMV in Pauducah, and went to NRE in Dixmoor for some
work. WSOR #1501 was shipped on CN train M331 north from Chicago on December 6. It was spotted in Fond du Lac, Wis. about December 7 and reported in Horicon on December 13.
December 9, 2007
Landsdowne: Raised, but Still Homeless and Unwanted
In December 2005 the car ferry Landsdowne with the shells of Milwaukee Road Skytops Gold Creek and the Arrow Creek
partially sank in Erie, Penn. It was refloated and later moved in July of 2006 to
the BIDCO Shipyard in Buffalo, New York. A few weeks ago
it was moved again to Buffalo's outer harbor, where we
pick up the latest from The Buffalo News City & Region in this sad saga of a
historic ferry and cars. [Note: Link has vanished]
December 9, 2007
Editorial by Robert Bauman, a Milwaukee alderman: Think about transportation infrastructure in a new way
Milwaukee Journal Sentinal
Three recent transportation developments demonstrate the need for a new strategic approach to transportation investments in southeastern Wisconsin.
December 6, 2007
Train stop one of many events on Saturday
Living Lake Country
Village of Pewaukee - The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train, which attracted an estimated 6,000 people to the village last year, is scheduled for a return arrival this year at about 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, at Village Park.
The CP Holiday Train is about 1,000 feet long with 14 brightly lit and decorated rail cars that includes a modified boxcar that provides a traveling stage for professional entertainers who provide concerts at each stop.
December 6, 2007
Flashback: Grave marker near railroad memorializes conductor's death
Living Lake Country
Have you ever noticed the grave marker next to the railroad tracks in the Village of North Prairie? Did you wonder why
there was a marker, and what was the story behind the marker? Note: This history column was provided by the North Prairie Historical Society.
November 26, 2007
New Berlin Railroad Club
NewBerlinNOW.com
NOW photographer Katie Derksen couldn't tell for sure who was having more fun at New Berlin's Lionel Railroad Club open house Nov. 24: the fathers or
their sons.
November 6, 2007
Loram Derailment at the Duplainville crossing
Andy Mueller's Duplainville Homepage
The Loram railgrinder had a little mishap at Duplainville in early November.
Ocotber 4, 2007
Cudahy proposes streetcar system: He criticizes leaders for lack of agreement
Milwaukee Journal Sentinal
Philanthropist Michael Cudahy blasted local leaders Wednesday for failing to agree on public transit solutions - then offered his own plan for a $140 million modern streetcar system to
link downtown, local universities and the north side.
September 14, 2007
Trains make for noisy neighbors: Some Sussex and Lisbon residents find 100 horn blasts a day a little much
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Sussex - Hearing that lonesome train whistle blow a time or two may evoke memories of folk songs or travel.
September 1, 2007
Site selected for railroad museum: Lot near new depot has room for growth
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Sturtevant - Land on the west side of the new Amtrak depot in The Renaissance business park will become home to the village's
railroad museum, officials say.
August 29, 2007
Editorial: Time to get moving: Transit was on the table again this week when local officials met - and that's good. But they weren't
able to agree on any key issues. C'mon, gentlemen, start your engines.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
A group of eight top elected officials met again on Monday to talk about transit issues - and that's saying something. Unfortunately, the leaders left the meeting without agreeing on much, if anything - and clearly, that's not saying enough.
August 28, 2007
Public transit control, funding still unsettled: Summit wraps up with area among few without cash source
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
As local leaders struggled again Monday with the questions of regional control and of dedicated funding for public buses,
they had no shortage of role models.
August 27, 2007
Amtrak service resumes after storm delays
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Amtrak service through Wisconsin has resumed now that tracks damaged by last week's rains have been repaired, an Amtrak spokesman said today.
August 25, 2007
Amtrak project on track: Work to be complete in late November
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Milwaukee should have an enlarged and beautified downtown Amtrak transportation center in time for Thanksgiving's holiday crush, city spokesman
Joel Brennan said Friday.
August 24, 2007
Baldwin goes to bat for Beloit firm
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) has inserted language in the pending defense appropriations bill that would result in
$4 million of business for the Fairbanks Morse Engine operation in Beloit, her office said Friday.
August 24, 2007
Editorial: A model for the future: A regional transit authority offers the best bet for governing the area's bus and rail systems. Finding new revenue is a must.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
There are those devilish details, but regional leaders deserve recognition for agreeing to work on creating a regional transit
authority to run bus systems and commuter trains in a four-county area.
August 13, 2007
Transit talks to proceed cautiously: Linking region involves politically sensitive decisions
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Driving toward talks on uniting area bus systems, local leaders are trying to move slowly and steer carefully around the potholes
that have blown out the tires of previous attempts to set up a regional transit authority.
August 1, 2007
Sturtevant looks to move railroad museum
Milwaukee Journal Sentinal
According to an articlein the August 1, there is a move to
relocated the railroad museum in Sturtevant. Sounds like another case of elected officials having egos that don't want something historic in the place
it belongs.
July 17, 2007
STB approves WSOR least of CP line from Grand Avenue to Glendale
STB web site
Surface Transportation Board granted approval to WSOR to lease and operate the CP line from Grand Avenue to
Glendale. [Note the line that reads. "WSOR also states that several railroads, including CPR and Canadian National Railway, will benefit because the transaction will
simplify their operations in the area." -JR]
July 17, 2007
Truck accident closes Highway 20
Milwaukee Journal Sentinal
Sturtevant - Eastbound Highway 20 at Highway H is expected to reopen soon after the load of a tractor-trailer truck struck a Canadian
Pacific Railway bridge and closed the road.
June 5, 2007
Editorial: Rail essential to system
Milwaukee Journal Sentinal
What Milwaukee needs is a local consensus on rapid transit. But until the county executive sees the value of rail or streetcars,
both compromise and progress will be elusive. Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker's plan to improve transit by using a long-unused pot of
federal money to create two and possibly three express bus routes was immediately chastised by Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett as inadequate.
June 4, 2007
Editorial: Derailed by politics
Milwaukee Journal Sentinal
State legislators who voted last week against a reasonable funding plan for a commuter rail line voted against the economic interest of southeastern
Wisconsin. Republicans on the Legislature's Joint Finance Committee did southeastern Wisconsin a disservice last week when they voted
against a $13 rental car tax increase to fund a commuter rail line linking Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha to each other and to transit in northern Illinois.
May 25, 2007
Walker bus plan gets mixed response
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Local officials voiced mixed reactions to the express bus plan that Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker unveiled Thursday.
May 22, 2007
Northern leg for commuter rail line will be studied: Transit group makes agreement in effort to galvanize support for line currently planned for south suburbs
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Town of Bristol - The Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Transit Authority agreed Monday to study extending commuter trains north to the Milwaukee-Ozaukee county line.
May 21, 2007
RTA to study extending comuter rail north
JSonline
Town of Bristol - The Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Transit Authority agreed today to study extending commuter trains through Milwaukee's north side and Brown Deer to the Milwaukee-Ozaukee county line.
May 20, 2007
Commuter rail project may get north side leg: Aldermen want line from downtown to Ozaukee County
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Just six weeks away from a key federal deadline, funding remains uncertain for a proposed $200 million commuter train line linking Milwaukee to its southern suburbs and to Racine and Kenosha.
May 10, 2007
Woman killed on Dodge County train track
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
A 37-year-old woman was struck and killed by a freight train this morning in Dodge County.
April 20, 2007
Amtrak, state look to adding train runs
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Chicago - If Chicago lands the 2016 Olympic Games, Amtrak could justify expanding service to run hourly passenger trains between Milwaukee and Chicago, Wisconsin Transportation Secretary Frank Busalacchi said Thursday.
April 9, 2007
Vandals spray graffiti on museum rail cars
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Vandals broke into a storage barn in Mukwonago and sprayed graffiti across four railroad cars owned by the East Troy Electric Railroad Museum.
April 9, 2007
Historic Rail Cars Vandalised
WTMJ Channel 4
Historic Rail Cars in Mukwonago owned by the East Troy Electric Railroad Museum were vandalized.
March 19, 2007
RTA sticks with rental car tax hike
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Kenosha - The Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Transit Authority said today it would stick with its recommendation for a $13
rental car tax increase to pay for proposed commuter trains linking Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha, even though several RTA members said
they would still prefer to see a local sales tax funding both trains and public buses.
March 15, 2007
KRM rail plan gains steam: Connection could benefit Oak Creek
OakCreekNow.com
Plans for a Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee commuter rail line are moving forward, according to Kenneth Yunker, deputy director of the
Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, but even if all the necessary steps for implementing the project are completed on
schedule, commuters won't board the first trains until at least 2012.
March 12, 2007
Smokestacks punctuate valley's history
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
It's a 21st-century road to a 21st-century ballpark.
March 8, 2007
Transit proposal will be studied: Panel votes to learn more about mayor's streetcar, bus ideas
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Over Milwaukee County's objections, a study committee voted Wednesday to launch a formal review of Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett's plan to
run streetcars downtown and express buses linking major job centers.
March 8, 2007
KRM rail plan gaining steam: Connection could benefit South Shore
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Plans for a Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee commuter rail line are moving forward, according to Kenneth Yunker, deputy director of the
Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, but even if all the necessary steps for implementing the project are completed on schedule,
commuters won't board the first trains until at least 2012.
March 7, 2007
Panel to review Barrett's streetcar plan
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Over Milwaukee County's objections, a study committee voted today to launch a formal review of Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett's plan to run streetcars downtown and express buses linking major employment centers.
February 18, 2007
Barrett advocates streetcars making downtown loop: Walker slams proposal as 'Trojan horse' for light rail
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Modern streetcars would link downtown attractions and express buses would connect workers to jobs in a new Milwaukee transportation plan advanced by Mayor Tom Barrett.
February 20, 2007
Barrett, Walker get push on transit: They should work to find bus funds, Racine mayor says
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Racine Mayor Gary Becker on Monday urged Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker to work together to save the Milwaukee County Transit System.
February 5, 2007
Editorial: Fund it; regionalize it: A hike in the tax on car rental fees isn't the ideal solution to funding commuter rail, but it's a step in the right direction.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Suggesting a $13-a-car tax increase on rental fees to pay for new commuter trains to link Milwaukee to Racine and Kenosha was not the sellout to suburban interests that both Milwaukee County Board Chairman Lee Holloway and Milwaukee Ald. Michael D'Amato apparently feel it was. It was a necessary step forward in the march toward building a regional transit network that will include a
dequate freeways and sufficient bus and rail networks.
February 4, 2007
Regional transit sessions set: State wants extra tax to pay for rail link
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Three public information sessions will be held in the area on a proposal made last week by the
Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Transit Authority for a $13 tax increase on rental cars to pay for new commuter trains to link Milwaukee to its southern suburbs and to Racine and Kenosha.
February 4, 2007
Passenger train ridership sees gains: Sturtevant depot use up 16% in 2006
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Sturtevant - While the number of riders on Amtrak's Hiawatha line arriving in and departing from Sturtevant increased last year, it's too soon to quantify what it means financially for the village, officials said.
February 4, 2007
Bands of iron: Proposed rail link to Chicago through Racine and Kenosha has historic roots and future challenges
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Chicago is getting closer. We're already linked to our southern neighbor by air, freeway and Amtrak service, and now Milwaukee is considering yet another
connection: a new rail line feeding into Chicago's Metra system.
February 2, 2007
Officials may lessen blow of rental car tax: Proposed increase would help fund commuter line
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Legislators could restructure a proposed rental car tax increase to ease its impact, state Rep. Jeff Stone (R-Greendale) says.
February 1, 2007
Governor on-board for $13 rental tax: 3-county increase would help pay for commuter trains
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Gov. Jim Doyle will back a $13 increase in the rental car tax to pay for new commuter trains connecting Milwaukee to its
southern suburbs and to Racine and Kenosha, a Doyle spokesman said Wednesday.
January 30, 2007
RTA calls for steep car rental tax hike
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Transit Authority called today for a $13-a-car increase in the car rental tax to pay for new commuter trains to link Milwaukee to its
southern suburbs and to Racine and Kenosha.
January 28, 2007
The never-ending rail folly
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Editorial
There has been an annual event in the Milwaukee area for many years. Every spring, after the snow melts, the "Choo-Choo Cuckoos" would come out of the bushes and try to force some sort of rail system on us. By summer, we'd defeat them and they would go into hiding
to plan a new scheme to be unleashed the following spring. [Or when the mis-informed don't know the difference between light rail and commuter rail - JR]
January 25, 2007
Rail stations touted as lures
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
A proposed southeastern Wisconsin commuter rail line has excellent prospects for attracting development around stations, a national expert said Wednesday.
January 19, 2007
A Windy City windfall?: Executive says ties to Chicago will boost local economy
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The Milwaukee area faces a stagnating economic outlook but can improve its fortunes by creating closer ties with Chicago, including a new commuter rail service, an executive
told area real estate and financing professionals on Thursday.
January 17, 2007
Train with 100 cars blocks traffic early Wednesday
Janesville Gazette
A Wisconsin & Southern Railroad train with 100 cars blocked traffic on County J at Delavan Drive for a couple hours this morning.
January 17, 2007
State rail commissioner pays $500 fine for abuse of power: He tried to ride in train's engine, had spat with railroad's president
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Madison - State Railroad Commissioner Rodney Kreunen paid a $500 forfeiture for abusing his powers in an attempt to ride in a train cab that
resulted in a public altercation with a railroad president.
January 16, 2007
Commissioner's bad behavior leads to fine
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Madison - State Railroad Commissioner Rodney Kreunen paid a $500 forfeiture for abusing his powers in an attempt to
ride in a train cab that resulted in a public showdown with a railroad president.
January 15, 2007
Editorial: Embracing the Windy City
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Milwaukee
It's not one market - yet - but Milwaukee and Chicago are growing closer by the day, and leaders in southeastern
Wisconsin would do well to make the most of it.
January 11, 2007
Grant helps turn old railroad into park trail
FranklinNOW.com
The city of Franklin will receive a grant from the Department of Natural Resources for $170,000 to develop 2.3 miles of recreation trail along part of the old inner-urban railroad that once ran
near St. Martins to the western city limits.
January 10, 2007
Transit authority shelves regional sales tax plan: Group to explore other ways to finance rail line
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Kenosha - The Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Transit Authority took a step back from a regional sales tax Tuesday, leaving questions
about how a proposed commuter train line could be financed.
January 8, 2007
Reid had one-track mind for trains: He spent his career painting them
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Milwaukee
Gil Reid described himself as "a train-watcher first, an artist second."
January 8, 2007
Transit backers try a new tack: Sales tax proposal for train line revamped
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Milwaukee
With a key vote approaching Tuesday on a regional transportation sales tax, public transit advocates are trying to rally support by packaging the idea as a way to cut property
taxes and to shift the cost of a new commuter rail line to tourists.
January 7, 2007
Rail link could reinforce cities' ties: Finances for Milwaukee-Chicago service remain in question
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Milwaukee
The possible creation of a commuter rail system has the most potential to reduce the figurative distance between southeastern
Wisconsin and Chicago, some civic and business leaders say.
January 6, 2007
Train derails, spills corn: Nobody injured; cause unknown
The Freeman
WAUKESHA - Ten freight cars on a Wisconsin & Southern Railroad Co. train derailed Friday morning in the town of Genesee, spilling corn and
other grains out of the overturned wreckage while leaving nobody injured. Note: To see additional photos of the wreck see the pics
by Shawn Becher.
January 2, 2007
Jacqueline Frank Named Museum's Director of Education & Programs at NRM
National Railroad Museum - Green Bay
Jacqueline Frank has been appointed as the director of education and programs for the National Railroad Museum, according to Michael Telzrow, Museum executive director. This position will be responsible for developing educational programs for all age groups and coordinating volunteer efforts. Frank began her duties with the
Museum on January 2, 2007, filling a newly created position.
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