The M&N Menasha Branch, running 16 miles from Hilbert Junction, Wis., to Menasha, Wis., was completed in 1871. 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 was the Appleton Branch of the Superior Division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul (CM&StP), or Milwaukee Road (MILW), after they took over the M&N in 1893. The MILW reorganized as the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific (CMStP&P) in 1928.
After the Soo Line (SOO) purchased the Milwaukee Road (MILW) in 1985, about 4,000 feet of the original M&N main line and yard between Manitowoc St. and Milwaukee St. in Menasha became redundant and was torn up. The remainder of the Menasha Branch is still in use, currently operated by the Canadian National (CN).