Railroad: Wisconsin & Michigan railroad
The Wisconsin & Michigan railroad was organized in 1894 to build and operate lines north and south from the Soo Line at Faithorn Junction to points in Michigan and Wisconsin, reaching the Menominee iron range in and around Loretto and Norway, and on to Iron Mountain via trackage rights on the MILW. The road also ran a barge operation from Peshtigo Harbor in Wisconsin south to Chicago and the Indiana steel mills. For a time, the railroad served as the operator of the Menominee port for the Ann Arbor railroad's car ferry operation, but this was taken over by the C&NW (probably when the W&M ceased operations). The railroad was reorganized in 1918 and most of the line was abandoned by 1938. The track from Norway to Quinnesec and to Argon Mine was sold to the Milwaukee Road.
In 1903, the directors of this line were all from Chicago. There were 39 stockholders.
Menominee & Northern → Wisconsin & Michigan Railroad → Ended (some to Milwaukee Road)
Bought: 1894 - Menominee & Northern
Bought: 1905 - Quinnesec & Western
Operated for 44 Years.
Reorganized several times.
Operations Ended: 1938
Reference: [MRRC]
Photo Info: A W&M passenger train is photographed near Fumee Falls, date unknown. Note the water tower here with water drawn from the river. [Dickenson County Historical Society].
Notes
The Wisconsin & Michigan provided competition for logging and mining business in the Iron Mountain area of the Upper Peninsula, and transported goods south via the Ann Arbor railroad for Ford's Kingsford Factory.
TIme Line
1895. January 1. The road is opened between Koss, Mich. to Faithorn Jct. Michigan.
1895. The W&M reaches Peshtigo Harbor from Peshtigo, a distance of 8 miles. [MRL]
1895. A short branch from Koss to Ingalls, 5.0 miles is built. It is abandoned in 1902. [MRL]
1896. The line is opened from Hammond Jct. Michigan to the end of the Hammond Branch.
1898. In 1891, an act was passed exempting railroads to be constructed north of parallel 44 of latitude from taxes for ten years. Under this act as of 1898, the Wisconsin & Michigan having 54.1 miles have been paying no taxes whatever. [DFP-1898-0323]
1901. A deed was recorded here conveying to John R. Walsh, of Chicago, an interest in a large tract of ore land in [Iron County, MI]. This conveyance is supposed to have connection with the proposed extension of the W&M railway from Faithorn Junction northward. [SJH-1901-0629]
1902. The main line extends from the Menominee River to Faithorn Junction. Passenger service is extended to Menominee over the CM&St.P railway. [MCR-1902]
1903. The line is extended from Faithorn Jct. to Norway, Michigan, from Norway to Cundy (mine), and from Aragon Jct. to Norway and Hanberry Line seven.
1903. SNAPSHOT. The road operated 41 miles of line in Michigan and 33 miles in Wisconsin. There were 7 miles of branches and 7 miles of sidings and spurs. The road leased wheelage rights on the CM&StP railway of 8.5 miles (1.82 in Michigan). The railroad had 7 stations in Michigan. The W&M employed six each of engineers, firemen and conductors. It employed 10 brakemen, 2 baggagemen, 41 laborers (mostly section hands), 85 shopmen and 28 others. The railroad owned 8 locomotives, 4 passenger cars and 175 freight cars. The top five categories of freight hauled (by tonnage) was: logs (43%), other forest products (29%), lumber (15%), merchandise (5%) and cement, brick and lime (1%).
1903. The W&M built a coaling facility in Peshtigo. [MCR-1904]
1904. The W&M line from Everett, MI to Constine, WI via Miscauno Island is built by the Quinnessec railroad and becomes part of the W&M. [MRL]
1904. a 5.5 mile brfanch is built from Aragon Junction to Aragon Mine in Norway. It operated for 14 years when it is abandoned in 1918. [MRL]
1904. A 1.1 mile long branch is built from Bergam to O'Callaghan Mills in Vulcan (East Vulcan line). It is abandoned in 1914. [MRL]
1904. While awaiting completion of their line from Quinnesec and Iron Mountain, the W&M will use a large automobile to transfer passengers using the highway. [DFP-1904-0228]
December 30, 1904. The W&M reports completion of construction from Quinnesec to Cundy mine (1.2 miles) and Nathan to Menominee River (7 miles). [RG]
1909. The W&M is extended from Cundy Mile to milepost 75.8. [MRL]
1918. A branch is built from E. Norway to Aragon Mile, 0.8 miles long to service the mine. It is sold to the Milwaukee Road in 1938. [MRL]
In 1918, the Railroad Signal Engineer periodical reported that the 98-mile Wisconsin & Michigan road has decided to discontinue operation and was trying to locate its freight cars now scattered "all over the country", including 26 box, nine refrigerator, 12 gondola and 214 flat cars. [RSE]
1918. The W&M line from Peshtigo Harbor, by way of Peshtigo is abandoned to E. Norway. [MRL] This may have been operated by the Milwaukee Road until 1920.
1920. The W&M line between Peshtigo and E. Norway resumes operation. [MRL]
1938. January. The interstate commerce commission authorized the W&M to abandon is entire line. The road extends from Bagley Junction, WI to Iron Mountain MI, approximately 62 miles, with a branch from Aragon Junction to Norway, MI and about 5.5 miles and terminal facilities at Menominee, MI. The railroad was also given permission to abandon operation under trackage rights over the line of the Milwaukee Road between Bagley Junction and Menominee. The salvage value of the line, including land, was estimated at about $500,000. Investment in the road and equipment as of December 31, 1936 was shown at $1.4 million. The ICC said the time was in poor physical condition and the record "does not warrant a conclusion there will be a sufficient increase in traffic and revenues to require the rehabilitation of the line." [IDG-1938-0120]
1838. August 5. W&M Railway Quits. Another of the railroads that were built to tap the iron and timber resources of northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is pulling up its tracks. The Wisconsin and Michigan railroad ran its last train yesterday, permission having been granted by the ICC to abandon its operations of its 62 miles of tracks. Insufficient traffic is the reason for the railroad's folding up.
The original railroad line was between Peshtigo Harbor and Peshtigo, built in 1862 by the Peshtigo Lumber company. The eight-mile line was taken over by the W&M railway company in 1895 and was extended from Peshtigo to Faithorn Junction in 1894. In 1903, the line was extended to Quinnesec and in 1908 from Quinnesec to Iron Mountain. John Marsch, Chicago capitalist, is the sole owner of the railroad, having acquired it 25 years ago. He at one time had extensive lumbering and mining interests in the upper peninsula.
Abandonment of the W&M is a blow to the city of Menominee, where the company had its headquarters. The railroad employed 52 persons, 26 of whom lived in Menominee and Marinette and the rest living along the line in various stations. Local business was negligible on the W&M lines due to the decline of lumbering and the diversion of iron ore shipments to other railroad. The railroad for many years was virtually only a connecting link between the Ann Arbor car ferry at Menominee and the Soo Line railroad at Faithorn for transcontinental freight shipments. [EDP-1938-0805]
1938. The line from Bagley Jct. to E. Norway is abandoned (with the portion from E. Norway to milepost 75.8 sold to the Milwaukee Road. [MRL]
Further Information
Article: Wisconsin & Michigan Railroad History.
Map
Railroad: Wisconsin & Michigan railroad
The Wisconsin & Michigan railroad was organized in 1894 to build and operate lines north and south from the Soo Line at Faithorn Junction to points in Michigan and Wisconsin, reaching the Menominee iron range in and around Loretto and Norway, and on to Iron Mountain via trackage rights on the MILW. The road also ran a barge operation from Peshtigo Harbor in Wisconsin south to Chicago and the Indiana steel mills. For a time, the railroad served as the operator of the Menominee port for the Ann Arbor railroad's car ferry operation, but this was taken over by the C&NW (probably when the W&M ceased operations). The railroad was reorganized in 1918 and most of the line was abandoned by 1938. The track from Norway to Quinnesec and to Argon Mine was sold to the Milwaukee Road.
In 1903, the directors of this line were all from Chicago. There were 39 stockholders.
Menominee & Northern → Wisconsin & Michigan Railroad → Ended (some to Milwaukee Road)
Bought: 1894 - Menominee & Northern
Bought: 1905 - Quinnesec & Western
Operated for 44 Years.
Reorganized several times.
Operations Ended: 1938
Reference: [MRRC]
Photo Info: A W&M passenger train is photographed near Fumee Falls, date unknown. Note the water tower here with water drawn from the river. [Dickenson County Historical Society].
Notes
The Wisconsin & Michigan provided competition for logging and mining business in the Iron Mountain area of the Upper Peninsula, and transported goods south via the Ann Arbor railroad for Ford's Kingsford Factory.
TIme Line
1895. January 1. The road is opened between Koss, Mich. to Faithorn Jct. Michigan.
1895. The W&M reaches Peshtigo Harbor from Peshtigo, a distance of 8 miles. [MRL]
1895. A short branch from Koss to Ingalls, 5.0 miles is built. It is abandoned in 1902. [MRL]
1896. The line is opened from Hammond Jct. Michigan to the end of the Hammond Branch.
1898. In 1891, an act was passed exempting railroads to be constructed north of parallel 44 of latitude from taxes for ten years. Under this act as of 1898, the Wisconsin & Michigan having 54.1 miles have been paying no taxes whatever. [DFP-1898-0323]
1901. A deed was recorded here conveying to John R. Walsh, of Chicago, an interest in a large tract of ore land in [Iron County, MI]. This conveyance is supposed to have connection with the proposed extension of the W&M railway from Faithorn Junction northward. [SJH-1901-0629]
1902. The main line extends from the Menominee River to Faithorn Junction. Passenger service is extended to Menominee over the CM&St.P railway. [MCR-1902]
1903. The line is extended from Faithorn Jct. to Norway, Michigan, from Norway to Cundy (mine), and from Aragon Jct. to Norway and Hanberry Line seven.
1903. SNAPSHOT. The road operated 41 miles of line in Michigan and 33 miles in Wisconsin. There were 7 miles of branches and 7 miles of sidings and spurs. The road leased wheelage rights on the CM&StP railway of 8.5 miles (1.82 in Michigan). The railroad had 7 stations in Michigan. The W&M employed six each of engineers, firemen and conductors. It employed 10 brakemen, 2 baggagemen, 41 laborers (mostly section hands), 85 shopmen and 28 others. The railroad owned 8 locomotives, 4 passenger cars and 175 freight cars. The top five categories of freight hauled (by tonnage) was: logs (43%), other forest products (29%), lumber (15%), merchandise (5%) and cement, brick and lime (1%).
1903. The W&M built a coaling facility in Peshtigo. [MCR-1904]
1904. The W&M line from Everett, MI to Constine, WI via Miscauno Island is built by the Quinnessec railroad and becomes part of the W&M. [MRL]
1904. a 5.5 mile brfanch is built from Aragon Junction to Aragon Mine in Norway. It operated for 14 years when it is abandoned in 1918. [MRL]
1904. A 1.1 mile long branch is built from Bergam to O'Callaghan Mills in Vulcan (East Vulcan line). It is abandoned in 1914. [MRL]
1904. While awaiting completion of their line from Quinnesec and Iron Mountain, the W&M will use a large automobile to transfer passengers using the highway. [DFP-1904-0228]
December 30, 1904. The W&M reports completion of construction from Quinnesec to Cundy mine (1.2 miles) and Nathan to Menominee River (7 miles). [RG]
1909. The W&M is extended from Cundy Mile to milepost 75.8. [MRL]
1918. A branch is built from E. Norway to Aragon Mile, 0.8 miles long to service the mine. It is sold to the Milwaukee Road in 1938. [MRL]
In 1918, the Railroad Signal Engineer periodical reported that the 98-mile Wisconsin & Michigan road has decided to discontinue operation and was trying to locate its freight cars now scattered "all over the country", including 26 box, nine refrigerator, 12 gondola and 214 flat cars. [RSE]
1918. The W&M line from Peshtigo Harbor, by way of Peshtigo is abandoned to E. Norway. [MRL] This may have been operated by the Milwaukee Road until 1920.
1920. The W&M line between Peshtigo and E. Norway resumes operation. [MRL]
1938. January. The interstate commerce commission authorized the W&M to abandon is entire line. The road extends from Bagley Junction, WI to Iron Mountain MI, approximately 62 miles, with a branch from Aragon Junction to Norway, MI and about 5.5 miles and terminal facilities at Menominee, MI. The railroad was also given permission to abandon operation under trackage rights over the line of the Milwaukee Road between Bagley Junction and Menominee. The salvage value of the line, including land, was estimated at about $500,000. Investment in the road and equipment as of December 31, 1936 was shown at $1.4 million. The ICC said the time was in poor physical condition and the record "does not warrant a conclusion there will be a sufficient increase in traffic and revenues to require the rehabilitation of the line." [IDG-1938-0120]
1838. August 5. W&M Railway Quits. Another of the railroads that were built to tap the iron and timber resources of northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is pulling up its tracks. The Wisconsin and Michigan railroad ran its last train yesterday, permission having been granted by the ICC to abandon its operations of its 62 miles of tracks. Insufficient traffic is the reason for the railroad's folding up.
The original railroad line was between Peshtigo Harbor and Peshtigo, built in 1862 by the Peshtigo Lumber company. The eight-mile line was taken over by the W&M railway company in 1895 and was extended from Peshtigo to Faithorn Junction in 1894. In 1903, the line was extended to Quinnesec and in 1908 from Quinnesec to Iron Mountain. John Marsch, Chicago capitalist, is the sole owner of the railroad, having acquired it 25 years ago. He at one time had extensive lumbering and mining interests in the upper peninsula.
Abandonment of the W&M is a blow to the city of Menominee, where the company had its headquarters. The railroad employed 52 persons, 26 of whom lived in Menominee and Marinette and the rest living along the line in various stations. Local business was negligible on the W&M lines due to the decline of lumbering and the diversion of iron ore shipments to other railroad. The railroad for many years was virtually only a connecting link between the Ann Arbor car ferry at Menominee and the Soo Line railroad at Faithorn for transcontinental freight shipments. [EDP-1938-0805]
1938. The line from Bagley Jct. to E. Norway is abandoned (with the portion from E. Norway to milepost 75.8 sold to the Milwaukee Road. [MRL]
Further Information
Article: Wisconsin & Michigan Railroad History.
Map
