Reminders of the Milwaukee & Northern - Menasha Branch
The M&N constructed the Menasha Branch, running 16 miles from Hilbert Junction, Wis., to Menasha, Wis., in 1871-2. It was extended to Appleton, Wis., in 1880 and to Neenah, Wis., in 1881. By the mid-1880s, the Menasha, Appleton and Neenah Branches were collectively referred to as the Appleton Branch on timetables.
It became the Appleton Branch of the Superior Division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul (CM&StP), or Milwaukee Road (MILW), on 1 July 1893. It reorganized as the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific (CMStP&P) in 1928.
Most of Menasha Branch is still active, operated by the Canadian National (CN).
Scroll down to find information regarding Reminders of the M&N Menasha Branch. Use these buttons to find information regarding Reminders of the Extensions of the Menasha Branch.
Hilbert Junction, Wis., was Milepost 0 on the M&N Menasha Branch.
A CN local, powered by Grand Trunk Western GTW 4924 and Illinois Central IC 3106, passes Hilbert Civic Park and the north end of 5th St. as it heads south via the former M&N Menasha Branch at Hilbert, Wis., on 16 October 2020. At least two old maps (one from 1893 and one from 1920) depict a small round house which would have stood to the right of the locomotives. Photograph by Tom Bruss.
A CN local, powered by Grand Trunk Western GTW 4924 and Illinois Central IC 3106, crosses Main St. as it transitions from the former M&N Menasha Branch to the former M&N main line at Hilbert, Wis., on 16 October 2020. Photograph by Tom Bruss.
A CN local, led by GTW 4620, approaches the former MILW depot at Hilbert, Wis., on 11 December 2013. The local is about to transition from the former M&N main line to the Menasha Branch. Some of us 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.
Town of Woodville, Calumet Co., Wis., on the M&N Menasha Branch.
A CN local, powered by Grand Trunk Western GTW 4924 and Illinois Central IC 3106, crosses McHugh Rd. as it heads southeast via former M&N rails at Town of Woodville, Calumet Co., Wis., on 16 October 2020. This view is looking north from the intersection of McHugh Rd. and Crosstown Rd. You can shoot two grade crossings from this intersection. Photograph by Tom Bruss.
A CN local, powered by Grand Trunk Western GTW 4924 and Illinois Central IC 3106, crosses Crosstown Rd. as it heads southeast via former M&N rails at Town of Woodville, Calumet Co., Wis., on 16 October 2020. This view is looking east from the intersection of McHugh Rd. and Crosstown Rd. You can shoot two grade crossings from this intersection. Photograph by Tom Bruss.
Sherwood, Wis., was Milepost 6 on the M&N Menasha Branch.
A CN local, led by Grand Trunk Western GTW 4924, crosses Military Rd./Hwy. M and passes the Sherwood Elevator, N599 Military Rd., as it heads southeast via the former M&N Menasha Branch at Sherwood, Wis., on 20 November 2020. Sherwood Elevator has been owned, operated, and expanded by the Kress family since they purchased it in 1951. Their grain terminal, out of frame to the left, has a capacity of 1 million bushels. Unfortunately, the elevator has not received rail service for quite a while. This area used to be referred to as Sherwood Station or Lower Sherwood. Photograph by Tom Bruss.
Town of Menasha, Winnebago Co., Wis., on the M&N Menasha Branch.
The entire township was incorporated as the Village of Fox Crossing, beginning in clumsy stages on 14 April 2016. We continue to use the historic designation of the Town of Menasha, as it was when the M&N was built.
A CN local, powered by Grand Trunk Western GTW 4924 and Illinois Central IC 3106, crosses Brighton Beach Rd. as it heads east via former M&N rails at Town of Menasha, Wis., on 16 October 2020. An 1889 map depicts a station at Brighton Beach, within a stone’s throw of the Brighton Beach Hotel. We haven’t found any other information about the station, but we hope to in the future. Photograph by Tom Bruss.
A CN local, powered by Grand Trunk Western GTW 4924 and Illinois Central IC 3106, switches LSC Communications, Inc./Warehouse Specialists, Inc., via former M&N rails at Town of Menasha, Wis., on 16 October 2020. Photograph by Tom Bruss.
Plank Road, Menasha, Wis., on the M&N Menasha Branch.
A CN local, led by Grand Trunk Western GTW 4924, approaches the Plank Road grade crossing as it heads east via former M&N rails at Menasha, Wis., on 20 November 2020. The facility to the right is Intertape Polymer Group, IPG, 741 4th St. They receive rail service from the other end of the facility, but they, obviously, do not currently receive service from this end. Scroll down to find more information about IPG. The ornate steeple of St. Mary’s Church is partially visible above the trees to the left. Photograph by Tom Bruss.
Menasha Junction on the M&N Menasha Branch.
A turnout was installed here, at Manitowoc St., in 1873, when the Wisconsin Central (WC) leased the M&N in order to gain access to Milwaukee. This spot was thence labeled as Menasha Junction on some old maps.
Menasha Junction ceased to be a junction soon after the Soo Line (SOO) purchased the Milwaukee Road (MILW) in 1985. The SOO didn’t need two yards in Menasha, so the MILW rails between Menasha Junction and West Menasha Junction were torn out.
Intertape Polymer Group (IPG) dominates nearly every perspective at the former Menasha Junction. The company was founded in December 1917 at Menasha as the George Banta Paper Co., an affiliate of the George Banta Publishing Co. They merged with Menasha’s Gebrick Paper Co. in 1919 and continued under the Banta name. The name was changed to Central Paper Products Co. (later shortened to Central Paper Co.) ca. September 1920, about the same time they moved into their new facility here on Manitowoc St. The facility was acquired by Alco Standard Corp., based in Valley Forge, PA, ca. 29 September 1969 but continued to operate as Central Paper. The name changed to Central Products Co. at some point after 1974. Spinnaker Industries, Inc. purchased Central Products Co. from Alco circa 1 July 1995. Intertape Polymer Group, Inc., from Canada, purchased Central Products from Spinnaker circa 12 April 1999.
A CN local, powered by Grand Trunk Western GTW 4924 and Illinois Central IC 3106, crosses the former Manitowoc St. grade crossing and the former Menasha Junction as it heads east via former M&N rails at Menasha, Wis., on 9 October 2020. Intertape Polymer Group (IPG) stands to the right. Photograph by Tom Bruss.
A CN local, led by Illinois Central IC 3106, crosses the former Manitowoc St. grade crossing and the former Menasha Junction as it heads east via former M&N rails at Menasha, Wis., on 6 November 2020. Intertape Polymer Group (IPG) dominates the background. Scroll up to find more information about IPG. Photograph by Tom Bruss.
Looking west along the CN right-of-way from Manitowoc St. and the former Menasha Junction at Menasha, Wis., on 9 August 2020. When the M&N Menasha Branch was originally laid in 1871, their tracks continued due west from here, through the trees and to the left of the tan building in the background. That structure, currently used by Alliance Industries, was erected in 1960 along the then MILW rails. The facility partially visible at right is Intertape Polymer Group (IPG). Scroll up to find more information about IPG. Photograph by Tom Bruss.
West Menasha Junction on the M&N.
There used to be a full wye here which was once known as West Menasha Junction on the M&N. This is where the Menasha Branch terminated, the Appleton and Neenah Branches began, and the original Wisconsin Central (WC) connected. This should not be confused with West Menasha, a station for the Chicago & North Western and the WC on the west side of Little Lake Butte des Morts.
Looking northeast along the former M&N rails from Tayco St. at Menasha, Wis., on 2 May 2020. As this track curves toward the east, it forms the south leg of the wye. The first turnout is for the west leg of the wye. The second turnout is for a siding on the west leg of the wye. The east leg of the wye is no longer extant. Photograph by Tom Bruss.
Looking west along the CN, originally Wisconsin Central (WC), rails from Racine St. at Menasha, Wis., on 2 May 2020. There used to be a diamond midway between Racine St. and Milwaukee St., where the east leg of the M&N wye crossed these tracks. Up until at least 1936 there was another turnout beyond this one, giving the WC, later Soo Line (SOO), access to the east leg of the wye. Photograph by Tom Bruss.