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 1871-2, 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 (W&S or WSOR).
Thiensville, Wis., was Milepost 15 on an 1873 timetable; it was Milepost 18 on later timetables.
The former M&N depot at Thiensville, Wis., on 21 March 1948. This depot was destroyed in an accident in 1965. According to the photographer, Don Ross, “There was a load of telephone poles which shifted and knocked the station from the foundation in 1965. It collapsed totally.” This view is looking northwest from Buntrock Ave. Photograph by, and purchased from, Don Ross.
Cedarburg, Wis., was Milepost 19 on an 1873 timetable; it was Milepost 23 on later timetables.
The CMStP&P, or MILW, depot at Cedarburg, Wis., on 21 March 1948. This depot was built by the CM&StP in 1907. The original M&N depot was moved and converted to a freight house (it is likely the building partially visible to the far left). This depot was purchased by the Ozaukee Co. Historical Society in 1983. It was moved to their Pioneer Village and restored. This view is looking north from Portland Rd. Photograph by, and purchased from, Don Ross.
The CMStP&P, or MILW, Cedarburg depot preserved at the Ozaukee Co. Pioneer Village in the Town of Saukville, Ozaukee Co., Wis., on 6 September 2022. This depot was built by the CM&StP in 1907. It was purchased by the Ozaukee Co. Historical Society in 1983 and moved here to be restored. Photograph by Tom Bruss.
Grafton, Wis., was Milepost 22 on an 1873 timetable; it was Milepost 25 on later timetables.
This postcard shows where the Milwaukee Northern (MN) interurban crossed the former Milwaukee & Northern (M&N) at Wisconsin Ave. in Grafton. This 765-foot long viaduct was built in 1906. It was probably removed not long after the line was abandoned in 1948. The postcard was published by B. W. Reuter of Port Washington, Wis. He owned a photography studio there. After he died in 1919, his widow continued with the business. The postcard was postmarked 27 December 1927. The farm in the background beyond the viaduct was owned by Mrs. E. Ahlers according to a couple of 1915 plat maps. She was probably Caroline Ahlers, widow of Edwin Ahlers. The farm was still there when the 1959 topographical map was printed. The photograph to the right is attempt to replicate this perspective. Postcard from the MNRHS archives.
Looking southwest from the intersection of Wisconsin Ave. and 9th Ave. at Grafton, Wis., on 15 May 2024. The railroad tracks are the former M&N main line. This photograph is an attempt to capture the same perspective as depicted in the postcard to the left. That circa-1927 postcard shows the Milwaukee Northern (MN) interurban viaduct which crossed the former M&N tracks and Wisconsin Ave. here. Much of the former MN right-of-way is now the Ozaukee Interurban Trail. You can see a portion of it ascending a grade in the background to the right. Photograph by Tom Bruss.
A CM&StP, or MILW, passenger train rests in front of the former M&N depot at Grafton, Wis. This view is looking northeast from Beech St. Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church is partially visible in the background to the left. That church is no longer extant. This photograph may have been captured before 1907. The Grafton Foundry, built in that year, would probably have been partially visible above the trains, to the right. Postcard from the MNRHS archives.
Saukville, Wis., was Milepost 26 on an 1873 timetable; it was Milepost 29 on later timetables.
The former M&N depot at Saukville, Wis., on 3 February 1950. This view would be looking northwest from Railroad St. Photograph by, and purchased from, Don Ross.
Random Lake (originally Greenleaf), Wis., was Milepost 38 on an 1873 timetable; it was Milepost 41 on later timetables.
The partially dismantled former M&N depot at Random Lake, Wis., on 27 August 1977. We wish the photographer had captured the entire wig-wag. The depot was reportedly moved 2 miles southwest of town for use as an outbuilding. We haven’t been able to verify its location, or if it is still standing. This view is looking northeast from 2nd St. Slide of an unknown photographer from the MNRHS archives.
Plymouth, Wis., was Milepost 52 on an 1873 timetable; it was Milepost 55 on later timetables.
We are not absolutely certain, but we believe that this photograph depicts the former M&N freight house (to the right) and the C&NW passenger depot (to the left) at Plymouth, Wis. If so, this view is looking southeast from Thayer St., and likely captured between 1893 and 1912. The Sheboygan & Fond du Lac (S&FdL), later C&NW, passenger depot served as a union depot for both roads at Plymouth from 1871 until 1912. Both roads maintained their own freight houses. The C&NW’s would have been out-of-frame to the left of this scene. The union depot in this photographed replaced the earlier one, which had burned down in 1886. Photograph from the MNRHS archives.
A W&S (or 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.
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.” We 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 southeast toward the former M&N depot at New Holstein, Wis. The building in the background is the office of The John Lauson Manufacturing Co. (which was built circa 1910). Postcard from MNRHS the archives.
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 spur for 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.
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. We had always hoped that this was the original ca. 1871 M&N depot, expanded and remodeled at some point. However, on 5 February 2022, We 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. We had always hoped that this was the original ca. 1871 M&N depot, expanded and remodeled at some point. However, on 5 February 2022, We 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.