Cab Video of the Final Days of the Wisconsin Central. Oshkosh, WI to Stevens Point, WI

This is Hi8 video shot in late 2003 or early 2004. I was the engineer running train 407 Northward on the Neenah Subdivision, but I don't know what our engine number was. I'm thinking it was probably one of the WC 6000-(Former Algoma Central) series (SD-40, SD40-2) but I don't know for sure. I don't think it was an SD-45 because of the bell placement (annoyingly placed right above the cab-which didn't work half of the time!). This video starts out in Oshkosh, going over the old C&NW draw bridge in Oshkosh (which has now been replaced with a beautiful bascule bridge that allows 40 mph track speed) and shows the remains of a derailment just south of Dale, Wisconsin both on the Northward and Southward legs of our trip.

[@richarddrum9970]

Outstanding video of this route in the snow, thanks for sharing.

[@Matthebrat1014]

I remember watching Wisconsin Central trains in Lomira the tracks were literally down the street from my house I watched them for 15 years.. I remember one time in when I was like 9 I was watching WC Engine 548 pick up a load at the Main Street Crossing while stopped the Engineer came out and allowed me to come in the Engine and he let me help pick up there load of course I got out before they took off but I'll never forget that day..

[@terrywitkowski6937]

I didn't see THAT wreck, I saw the one in Weyauwega. the cops had the whole area blocked-off for 3 wks. all my girlfriend could see the distant smoke. I worked at Waupaca foundry and a couple guys I worked-with lived there. they were really bummed-out because they lost so much. in the end they recovered. great!!

[@terrywitkowski6937]

I worked this line when I was running a Jackson 'servo-chief' tamper-liner in '79.

[@thetrainshop]

I love being an engineer and hearing the relay clicks and such and can tell exactly what you're doing control wise the whole time. It really is different when you go from ground foam to hog foam.

[@osrr6422]

An observant conductor can tell when their engineer isn't doing what they should be just by listening to the controls/relays clicking.

[@WAL_DC-6B]

@@osrr6422 I was taught at the C&NW that a good locomotive engineer is one who uses the engine's controls the least amount necessary while running the train. Anything beyond that is "an event" taking place.

[@jpatt1000]

The video starts just before Ardy & Ed's Drive In! The bridge at 2:24 isn't there any more. Has been replaced with an upward opening version. Wish I could find a video like this from the Soo Line running through the south side of Oshkosh and along Division St. Thanks for the memories.

[@jpatt1000]

HA! Found one! kzbin.info/www/bejne/sHKto5-pi6x0oKM Ride starts at 7:08.

[@aarronvanburen8612]

Isn't that bridge the one closer to campus on the trail? On Wisconsin street.

[@aarronvanburen8612]

They broke it up into pieces.

[@jpatt1000]

@@aarronvanburen8612 Broke it up sounds bad, like it went to the scrap man. I believe both it and the old Soo trestles were incorporated into the bridge on the trail.

[@suiprev]

Hi Thank you for this video. I live in IL, but love the colors of Wisconsin Central engines. I also have two ho W.S. engines.

[@boweandrew3]

Love the WC dispatcher telephone beep tones classic what radio channels and frequemcies were used on this line I was a huge fan of the WC during my stay at a camp in lake villa il and always was thrilled when I listened to the east or south Stevens point dispatcher on 79 161.295 MHz sure miss this railroad a lot thanks for the memories

[@haydenstrains8169]

+Andrew Bowe is that still the frequency for that area? I'm a local railfan of point and knowing whats where when would help.

[@kcbigbandjazz]

It is from Shops Yard south to State Line (79-79). We then go to an end to end channel (54-54) for the rest of the trip southward.

[@EdWittenable]

Excellent video. It looks like you passed two derailments. You only mention one in the video description.

[@ethanmcdowell9677]

Same wreck, just differing views. One northbound, the other southbound.

[@wisconsinrailfanner8963]

I noticed a few of the spots like the bridge, wiouwash trail, readfeild, and point

[@wisconsinrailfanner8963]

Hey! I l railfan the Neenah sub! Amazing that you could get video of the wc in their final days!

[@Jdaminbf4]

I wish the old Oshkosh yard was still there when they would occasionally pick a few up and drop a few off.

[@cnwbutlerjctwi5511]

Another excellent video!! Barry > retired DBR Jct WI.

[@All_Noing]

Hey, is that dispatcher Rick Lee? Sure sounds like him. Nice video, Chris!

[@punkindonutguy]

My parents live south of Oshkosh in Black Wolf. The tracks go through their property. I was wondering if you happened to have any onboard videos from Fond du Lac or Van Dyne to Oshkosh. Love your cab ride videos!

[@StrangeScaryNewEngland]

Well aren't you being weirdly extra specific.

[@StrangeScaryNewEngland]

Also, it's pumpkin, not punkin

[@terrywitkowski6937]

btw. I was born and raised in stevens point just south of patch st, by roger's cinema.

[@Conraildan]

what caused the wreck, did the slack roll in?

What are the signs with the vertical lines for?

[@kcbigbandjazz]

Those are 1/4, 1/2/ 3/4 mile markers. 1 line is a quarter-mile, 2 lines is a half-mile, and three lines is a quarter-mile. With PTC now, they aren't really necessary anymore.

[@epicdriver4g]

Communities that pass the law to not blow a horn at all crossings are fools, till a sleepy or drunk resident drives thru a crossing at the wrong time.

[@aarronvanburen8612]

You've never lived in Waukesha, WI were the Canadian National blares thru 8 main interactions at all times of day and it can be heard for MILES. They're not fools in a way. We just want to sleep at 3am! Lol

[@youraveragejoe2]

@@aarronvanburen8612 then why move near train tracks and complain about the horn? It's like moving near the airport and complaining about the planes.

[@StrangeScaryNewEngland]

Just curious, why no horn at the beginning and just the bell? No horn zone?

[@kcbigbandjazz]

No horn zone.

[@captainrikcaldwell9375]

I wonder how long before a train viewer app allows the viewer to sound the horn?..

[@caseyvanboxtel2279]

5:38, went by a red board

[@kcbigbandjazz]

Yes, we did. We had authority past it too. It isn't required to stop for it if you have authority past it into the limits of the planned work.

[@caseyvanboxtel2279]

@@kcbigbandjazz rog

[@billinindiana1]

Can this rail/line go into Minneapolis/St. Paul?

[@radon360]

There's a branch that goes west to New Brighton (suburb). The left turn off the main trunk is at Owen, WI, which is in the sub west of Stevens Point.

[@pkranz937]

radon360 Minneapolis Sub. Former Soo mainline.

[@hillert1967]

does anybody have any info on the Soo line when it went thru central Wi. from Marshfield to Merrillan. the train would have went thru Chili, Granton, and Neillsville also. I used to live by Chili and I remember when the train came thru. there was a cemetery, my dad used to dig graves at, near the track, just outside of town. Anyway, any old videos or photos of this info can be sent to my KZbin channel. THANK YOU If you have anything. Please share. I'm a train nut too. mostly steam engines like 2719.

[@pkranz937]

Jeannette Hillert that line was Chicago & North Western. There's a bit of it left out of the Rapids, a bit coming into Marshfield, and just a tail at Merrillan. It was abandoned in 1976 between Marshfield and Merrillan.

[@po9318]

It wasn't Soo that ran this route of which you speak, it was the Chicago and Northwestern, actually it was Chicago, Minneapolis, St. Paul and Omaha, a C&NW subsidiary that ran it.

[@pkranz937]

P O the Neillsville line was CNW. The Omaha ran via Elroy, Wyeville, Merrillan, Eau Claire, but not east of there. All C&NW

[@stevynschlinsog7478]

@@pkranz937 cnw went out in 1984. The last train to come to granton was in spring of 1982.

[@ErickC]

9:17 Looks like the cat thought the train was a bug.

[@TNS17]

WC is still a. Railroad

[@kcbigbandjazz]

WC hasn't been a railroad for quite some time now. It is all owned and operated by the Canadian National.

[@caseyvanboxtel2279]

On paper only for tax purposes