Wisconsin Short Line Railroads: A Complete Guide

Published: April 5, 2025

Escanaba & Lake Superior Railroad (reporting mark, ELS): The E&LS is a regional that operates in the Upper Midwest, primarily in Michigan and Wisconsin. Established in 1898, the railroad has a rich history rooted in serving the region's lumber and mining industries. Over the years, the railroad has adapted to the changing industrial landscape, transporting diverse freight including paper, chemicals, and agricultural products.

The E&LS operates on a network of approximately 200 miles of track, and its main connections are with the Canadian National at several locations. This strategic positioning allows E&LS to play a vital role in facilitating the movement of goods across the Midwest and beyond.

One distinguishing feature of the E&LS is its dedication to preserving historical rail equipment, which it maintains alongside its operational fleet. This commitment to heritage is reflected in its efforts to restore vintage locomotives and rolling stock, providing a tangible link to the past.

Renowned for its reliability and customer service, the E&LS is a critical player in the regional economy, ensuring efficient transport of goods while maintaining close ties with local businesses. As of today, it continues to be a vital infrastructure component in the Upper Midwest's transportation network.

Fox Valley & Lake Superior (reporting mark, FOXY): A division of Watco that launched on January 29, 2022, this short line utilizes much of the former Wisconsin Central Railway acquired by Canadian National in 2001.

It operates 328.5 miles in Wisconsin, as well as the 142.6 miles of trackage in Michigan's Upper Peninsula which will be maintained by Watco's Grand Elk Railroad. Essentially, this new regional will give Watco most of Wisconsin's secondary rail corridors, which also includes with the Wisconsin & Southern.

Tomahawk Railway (reporting mark, TR): This short line began operations in 2005 over trackage originally owned by the Milwaukee Road. It currently owns about 6 miles running north and south of Tomahawk and handles chemicals, coal, and forest products.

Wisconsin & Southern Railroad (reporting mark, WSOR): This large, profitable Class II regional has been successful in resuscitating many secondary, left-for-dead branch lines in the state of Wisconsin and northern Illinois (Fox Lake although trackage rights give it access to Clearing Yard in Chicago) that once belonged to the Milwaukee Road and Chicago & North Western.

It began service in 1980 and today operates more than 700 miles of track, some of which is owned by the state of Wisconsin. The company, currently owned by Watco since 2012, plans to continue resurrecting lines in the region it sees as a potential profitable ventures. The Wisconsin & Southern handles more than 60,000 carloads annually with freight traffic highly diversified.

Wisconsin Northern Railroad (reporting mark, WN): This road is headquartered in Lakeville and operates as a subsidiary of Progressive Rail. It first began service in 1996 and currently runs between Chippewa Falls and Sand House, Wisconsin over trackage originally owned by the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha (later, C&NW).