With the takeover of Wisconsin Central by Canadian National, I wonder what the likely effects will be on the preservation community? I suspect WC's pro-steam policy will be endangered. What about the dozen or so Soo Line roundhouses that WC inherited when it bought the line? What about Minnesota Transportation Museum's operation on WC track in Wisconsin?

bobyar2001@yahoo.com

> With the takeover of Wisconsin Central by
> Canadian National, I wonder what the likely
> effects will be on the preservation
> community? I suspect WC's pro-steam policy
> will be endangered. What about the dozen or
> so Soo Line roundhouses that WC inherited
> when it bought the line? What about
> Minnesota Transportation Museum's operation
> on WC track in Wisconsin?

I know that WC/CN has been good to the preservation community with the donations of ex Soo GP30s #700 and #703(?) to the Lake Superior Railroad Museum and the Colfax, WI Railroad Museum, respectively.

But are right, there many other preservation issue with WC that have to be faced. Two of the last SD24s (ex-SOU) and the F-units that WC had bought for the Algoma Central passinger trains still remain in deadlines at Steven's Point, Fond du Loc and in Markham in Chicago. Plus there are the depots, roundhouses and other historic buildings that CN inherited in the WC buyout that could be saved someday.

Also, I don't know about MTM's operations on the Dresser line, but the days of Soo #2713 and #1003 roaming the WC under steam are over, though it is possiblity that WC/CN will allow ferry moves to friendly rails in Wisconsin.

> But are right, there many other preservation
> issue with WC that have to be faced. Two of
> the last SD24s (ex-SOU) and the F-units that
> WC had bought for the Algoma Central
> passinger trains still remain in deadlines
> at Steven's Point, Fond du Loc and in
> Markham in Chicago.

Those SD24s aren't ex-Southern, they're original CB&Q units by way of Burlington Northern and Maryland Midland. I think they are the units that were at Steamtown for a short time, one painted Lackawanna. Then they went to FRVR, then WC, and finally CN. The SD35 which has been heavily rebuilt was originally a Southern unit.

Anyways, these are somewhat significant, but one member of this class is already preserved at IRM and is currently undergoing restoration to Burlington chinese red and grey.

I think there are several ex-WC diesels that are more important to preserve. One of the original Milwaukee SDL39 units should definitely be saved. One of the standard F45 units would be nice, too, considering that six FP45s are preserved but no straight F45s. The first 20 ATSF F45s had signal and steam lines so they could run on passenger trains. One of them would sure look nice in the solid blue ATSF scheme paired with a restored FP45 in Warbonnet with small roman SANTA FE lettering.

tbraun@uiuc.edu

> Those SD24s aren't ex-Southern, they're
> original CB&Q units by way of Burlington
> Northern and Maryland Midland. I think they
> are the units that were at Steamtown for a
> short time, one painted Lackawanna. Then
> they went to FRVR, then WC, and finally CN.
> The SD35 which has been heavily rebuilt was
> originally a Southern unit.

> Anyways, these are somewhat significant, but
> one member of this class is already
> preserved at IRM and is currently undergoing
> restoration to Burlington chinese red and
> grey.

> I think there are several ex-WC diesels that
> are more important to preserve. One of the
> original Milwaukee SDL39 units should
> definitely be saved. One of the standard F45
> units would be nice, too, considering that
> six FP45s are preserved but no straight
> F45s. The first 20 ATSF F45s had signal and
> steam lines so they could run on passenger
> trains. One of them would sure look nice in
> the solid blue ATSF scheme paired with a
> restored FP45 in Warbonnet with small roman
> SANTA FE lettering.
The SDL39's are going back to the leasing company that owns them, Joseph Transportation. They are avaible for lease at a resonable rate,and if they are going to dipose of them,I will try and save one for our operation.

irss@eriecoast.com

See my comments above in the "Its not just CSX/ it's CN too" posting. CN has made it quite clear what their take on preservation is....even with the ex-Soo engines.

TJG

> The SDL39's are going back to the leasing
> company that owns them, Joseph
> Transportation. They are avaible for lease
> at a resonable rate,and if they are going to
> dipose of them,I will try and save one for
> our operation.


Port Huron Museum

tjgaffney@phmuseum.org