The Milwaukee & Northern Main Line – Schwartzburg Junction to Hilbert Junction
Construction of the Milwaukee & Northern (M&N) commenced in the summer of 1870 at Schwartzburg Junction, Wis., where the M&N connected with the Northern Division of the Milwaukee & St. Paul (M&StP) (a predecessor of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul (CM&StP), or Milwaukee Road (MILW)).
By the end of 1870, the M&N had completed 13.7 miles of main line to Cedarburg. The official opening of the line to Cedarburg was celebrated on 27 January 1871.
In 1871, 79 miles of track were laid from Cedarburg to Hilbert Junction, and from there to Menasha.
The M&N became the Superior Division of the CM&StP, on 1 July 1893. It reorganized as the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific (CMStP&P) in 1928.
The majority of this portion of the main line is still active. Some of it is operated by the Canadian National (CN), some of it is operated by the Wisconsin & Southern (WSOR).
Brown Deer, Wis., was Milepost 11 on an 1873 timetable; it was Milepost 14 on later timetables.
Looking northeast along the former M&N main line from W. Brown Deer Rd./Hwy. 100 at Brown Deer, Wis., on 13 March 2021. It is difficult to imagine that there used to be a depot and passing siding here. The passing siding was to the right (east), the depot to the right of that, and the interurban right-of-way ran to the right of the depot. Otto’s Wine & Spirits is partially visible to the left. Seeing as I used their parking lot to walk to the grade crossing, I felt obligated to show my gratitude by making a purchase there. After all, we have to support local, small businesses at every opportunity. Photograph by Tom Bruss.
Looking southeast along the former M&N main line from W. Brown Deer Rd./Hwy. 100 at Brown Deer, Wis., on 13 March 2021. It is difficult to imagine that there used to be a depot and passing siding here. The passing siding was to the left (east), the depot was behind me to the east of the siding, and the interurban right-of-way ran to the east of the depot. Photograph by Tom Bruss.
Cedarburg, Wis., was Milepost 19 on an 1873 timetable; it was Milepost 23 on later timetables.
A WSOR train, led by WAMX 3894 and WAMX 3895, crosses Portland Rd. as it heads northeast via the former the M&N main line at Cedarburg, Wis., on 13 March 2021. Photograph by Tom Bruss.
A WSOR train, led by WAMX 3894 and WAMX 3895, passes the station sign as it heads northeast via the former M&N main line at Cedarburg, Wis., on 13 March 2021. Photograph by Tom Bruss.
Looking northeast from Portland Rd. along the former M&N main line at Cedarburg, Wis., on 11 February 2021. The original depot stood here, to the left of the main line. When a new depot was built by the Milwaukee Road (MILW) in 1907, the old depot was converted into a freight house. At some point a new depot/yard office was built, the white building just left of center. Then the 1907 depot was moved to the Ozaukee County Historical Society’s Pioneer Village in the Town of Saukville on 24 January 1983. Photograph by Tom Bruss.
Looking southwest from Portland Rd. along the Canadian National (CN) rails at Cedarburg, Wis., on 11 February 2021. Photograph by Tom Bruss.
Grafton, Wis., was Milepost 22 on an 1873 timetable; it was Milepost 25 on later timetables.
A WSOR train, led by WAMX 3894 and WAMX 3895 crosses Beech St. as it heads northeast with 9 cars via the former M&N main line at Grafton, Wis., on 13 March 2021. I believe the depot stood just out-of-frame to the right, north of Beech St. on the west side of the main line, with a passing siding on the east side of the main line. Photograph by Tom Bruss.
Saukville, Wis., was Milepost 26 on an 1873 timetable; it was Milepost 29 on later timetables.
A WSOR train, led by WAMX 3894 and WAMX 3895, crosses W. Church St., parallels S. Railroad St., and passes the station sign as it heads northeast via the former the M&N main line at Saukville, Wis., on 13 March 2021. The station sign marks the approximate location of the depot. Photograph by Tom Bruss.
A WSOR train, led by WAMX 3894 and WAMX 3895, parallels S. Railroad St. as it heads northeast via the former the M&N main line at Saukville, Wis., on 13 March 2021.
Looking north along the former M&N main line from W. Church St. at Saukville, Wis., on 11 February 2021. The station sign marks the approximate location of the depot. Photograph by Tom Bruss.
Looking south along the former M&N main line from W. Church St. at Saukville, Wis., on 11 February 2021. Saukville Feed Supplies stands at right. I’m not sure if they currently receive rail service. Photograph by Tom Bruss.
Fredonia, Wis., was Milepost 32 on an 1873 timetable; it was Milepost 36 on later timetables.
A WSOR train, led by WAMX 3894 and WAMX 3895, heads north with 9 cars via former M&N main line at Fredonia, Wis., on 13 March 2021. Photograph by Tom Bruss.
Random Lake (originally Greenleaf), Wis., was Milepost 38 on an 1873 timetable; it was Milepost 41 on later timetables.
A WSOR train, led by WAMX 3894 and WAMX 3895, passes the west end of 3rd St. as it heads north with 9 cars via former M&N main line at Random Lake, Wis., on 13 March 2021. The train had picked up speed and arrived before I could decide where I wanted to shoot it from. Photograph by Tom Bruss.
Waldo, Wis., was Milepost 47 on an 1873 timetable; it was Milepost 50 on later timetables.
A WSOR train, led by WAMX 3894 and WAMX 3895, crosses 1st St./Hwy. V as it heads north with 9 cars via former M&N main line at Waldo, Wis., on 13 March 2021. Photograph by Tom Bruss.
Plymouth, Wis., was Milepost 52 on an 1873 timetable; it was Milepost 55 on later timetables.
A WSOR train, led by WAMX 3894 and WAMX 3895, approaches Thayer St. as it passes the former MILW depot at Plymouth, Wis., on 13 March 2021. The train has just returned from Sheboygan Falls and is transitioning from the former Chicago & North Western (C&NW) rails to the former M&N rails. The former C&NW depot is partially visible beyond the train. Both of these depots were built in 1912, after the earlier union depot was destroyed by fire. The former MILW depot is owned by the WSOR. The C&NW depot has been a restaurant since 1973, currently home to PJ Campbell’s at the Depot. The C&NW rails were originally laid by the Sheboygan & Fond du Lac (S&FdL) in 1859. Photograph by Tom Bruss.
A WSOR train, led by WAMX 3894 and WAMX 3895, crosses Thayer St. via the former M&N main line at Plymouth, Wis., on 13 March 2021. The train has just returned from Sheboygan Falls. The former Chicago & North Western (C&NW) right-of-way runs parallel on the other side of the train. Those rails were originally laid by the Sheboygan & Fond du Lac (S&FdL) in 1859. Photograph by Tom Bruss.
Elkhart Lake, Wis., was Milepost 59 on an 1873 timetable; it was Milepost 62 on later timetables.
The description of this photograph from the Neenah Historical Society suggests it is “Possibly Milwaukee Road Depot on Forest Ave.” I am nearly certain that this is Elkhart Lake, not Neenah. The depot and track arrangement is very similar to other photographs of Elkhart Lake which I have seen. The 1871 depot at Elkhart Lake was the first building erected in the village. Doty Island was not this desolate when the Neenah depot was built in 1882. A large house at 303 High St., built in 1880, would be visible in the background to the right. Some of the taller structures (churches and factories) in downtown Menasha, about ¾ of a mile away, would be visible in the background. M&N 712 boxcar can be seen on the track between the passenger train and the depot. Photograph courtesy of the Neenah Historical Society.
Kiel, Wis., was Milepost 65 on an 1873 timetable; it was Milepost 68 on later timetables.
The M&N depot at Kiel, Wis., circa 1872, about a year after it was erected. This view is looking south. Fremont St. passes in front of the depot. Image courtesy of the Heritage Collection at Kiel Public Library.
The 1916 MILW depot at Kiel, Wis., circa the 1930s. This view is looking southeast from Fremont St. The 1871 M&N depot stands just out-of-frame to the right. Image courtesy of the Heritage Collection at Kiel Public Library.
A crop of the original aerial photograph shows the 1872 M&N depot and the 1916 MILW depot at Kiel, Wis., circa 1954. This view is looking northeast. The MILW depot can be seen to the right of (south of) Fremont St. The 1872 M&N is partially visible to the far left, where it was moved and tacked on to the feed mill circa the late 1940s. Image courtesy of the Heritage Collection at Kiel Public Library.
The 1916 MILW depot at Kiel, Wis., in 1969. The depot was closed by this time. This view is looking southeast from Fremont St. Image courtesy of the Heritage Collection at Kiel Public Library.
New Holstein, Wis., was Milepost 68 on an 1873 timetable; it was Milepost 72 on later timetables.
Looking northwest toward the M&N depot at New Holstein, Wis. It is difficult to approximate the date, but the photograph may have been captured circa the 1880s or 90s. The depot still looks pretty new, but not brand new. The platform is starting to show some signs of wear and age. This depot was built when the line was laid in 1871. It stood on the east side of Railroad St. between Main St. and Mill St. (now Park Ave.). The building on the right is listed simply as “grain warehouse” on the 1894 and 1900 Sanborn maps. It is listed as “H. C. Timm & Co. grain warehouse” on 1911 Sanborn map. It is interesting to ponder whether the smoke rising from behind the left end of the depot might be emanating from a switcher on the house track, or from the C. F. Dumke & Co. flour mill, which stood about 200 feet northwest of the depot. Postcard from MNRHS the archives.
The lime kilns at Hayton, Wis., would have been circa Milepost 75 on the M&N.
These were commonly referred to as the Hayton lime kilns, although they lie two miles south of Hayton proper. A small community sprouted around these lime kilns and at some point, it was simply named Lime Kilns. In 1908 the community of Lime Kilns petitioned for the MILW to establish a flag station here. The Railroad Commission of Wis. denied the petition, given the close proximity to Hayton Station.
Looking southeast toward the Western Lime and Cement Co. lime kilns at Hayton, Wis., circa 1920. Photograph from Limestone Products, 1920.
Looking southeast toward remnants of lime kilns at Hayton, Wis., on 30 January 2021. The first lime kilns here were built by the Ormsby Lime Co. circa 1876. We are not sure if these are the original kilns or not. Photograph by Tom Bruss.
The Western Lime and Cement Co. quarry adjacent to their lime kilns at Hayton, Wis., circa 1920. Photograph from Limestone Products, 1920.
Employees of the Western Lime and Cement Co. at their lime kilns at Hayton, Wis., circa 1920. Photograph from Limestone Products, 1920.
Hayton, Wis., was Milepost 73 on an 1873 timetable; it was Milepost 77 on later timetables.
Sometimes listed as Hayton Station, because the depot was about half of a mile southwest of Hayton proper.
Looking southeast along the former M&N main line at Hayton, Wis., on 30 January 2021. The former H. C. Timm & Co. elevator stands at left. Photograph by Tom Bruss.
Looking northwest along the former M&N main line at Hayton, Wis., on 30 January 2021. I believe the depot stood here. Some old maps depict it on the north side of the tracks, others depict it on the south side. Photograph by Tom Bruss.
Hilbert Junction, Wis., was Milepost 83 on an 1873 timetable; it was Milepost 86 on later timetables.
Looking northwest toward the M&N depot and yard at Hilbert Junction, Wis. It is difficult to approximate the date, but it was likely captured between 1893 (when the M&N was taken over by the MILW) and 28 February 1910 (when this depot was destroyed by fire). Main St. bisects the scene in the foreground. A man is repairing the grade crossing. A locomotive, No. 716, rests near the depot on the Menasha Branch. A pair of passenger cars rest under the water tank on the passing siding. It is interesting to note two important differences between this photograph and the similar photograph to the right. The color of the depot seems to be different, and the water tank has been moved. Postcard from the MNRHS archives.
Looking northeast toward the M&N depot and yard at Hilbert Junction, Wis. It is difficult to approximate the date of this photograph. Seeing as the boxcar partially visible to the far right is stenciled for the CM&StP, we know that it was captured sometime between 1874 (when the name of the MILW was changed from M&StP to CM&StP) and 28 February 1910 (when this depot was destroyed by fire). The water tank has two spouts, so it could simultaneously fill locomotives on the main line and the Menasha Branch. The building partially visible to the right is the Geo. Walter Beer Depot. This image was captured by Nicholas ‘Nick’ Bruehl, a local farmer, historian, and prolific photographer whose negatives were acquired by the Oshkosh Public Museum in 1980. It is interesting to note two important differences between this photograph and the similar photograph to the left. The color of the depot seems to be different, and the water tank has been moved. Photograph Courtesy of the Oshkosh Public Museum.
The former MILW depot at Hilbert Junction, Wis., circa the 1960s. I had always hoped that this was the original ca. 1871 M&N depot, expanded and remodeled at some point. However, on 5 February 2022, I found an article in the 5 March 1910 Chilton Times which states that the old M&N depot burned to the ground on 28 February 1910. The MILW completed this new depot several months later. Photograph by Larry Easton, co-founder of the MNRHS.
The south and west walls of the former MILW depot at Hilbert, Wis., on 30 May 2020. I had always hoped that this was the original ca. 1871 M&N depot, expanded and remodeled at some point. However, on 5 February 2022, I found an article in the 5 March 1910 Chilton Times which states that the old M&N depot burned to the ground on 28 February 1910. The MILW completed this new depot several months later. Photograph by Tom Bruss.