Soo Line Historical and Technical Society

WC Coming or Going?

by Todd Brown

04.19.03

Wisconsin Central SD-45 #7499 is shown here on a typical damp, cold, and miserable Wisconsin spring day in Fond du Lac at the south end of the NFDL CN/WC classification yard. The Scott Street grade crossing lies just behind #7499. Or does the grade crossing lie ahead of #7499? The answer depends on the travel direction of the locomotive.

Can you guess if #7499 is northboud, returning to NFDL from a local run, or if #7499 is at the tail-end of a southbound freight getting ready to make a run at the Byron Hill in Byron, Wisconsin? Check back next week for the answer.

On a broader scope, logical thinking leads most to conclude that the WC is "going". It is more common these days to see WC power outnumbered at its former NFDL headquarters in by CN, IC, and NS units. Although the influx of non-WC motive power certainly makes train-spotting more exciting, the looming rumor that the NFDL yards may be closed down and downgraded to nothing more than a whiste-stop is a bitter thought for those who have loved watching the trains operate for decades in North Fond du Lac.

Note the numerous "diamonds" formed by the criss-crossing power lines above #7499 in the photo to the left.

Direct any questions about this website's content or function to the webmaster.