Map submitted by Lee M.
GOOGLE MAPS no longer available: With apologies, I am unable to continue showing Google Maps. Google has forced my hand by increasing their map usage fee from nothing/free to OVER $300 A MONTH for the Abandoned Rails website! This is an expense that I simply cannot afford. Rest assured I am looking at available open source alternatives, so maps should be back online soon!
—Greg HarrisonAbandonedRails.com
(Forwarded from the Central Wisconsin Railroad)
This line was abandoned by the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad in 1984.
Thanks to Lee M. for contributing information about this route.
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Following the ICG abandonment the line was purchased by the state of Wisconsin, and operated by the Chicago, Madison & Northern Railroad, the Central Wisconsin Railroad, and the Wisconsin and Calumet Railroad through the 1980s. Although there was no longer any through traffic, parts of the line around Monroe and Madison still had local service through the early 1990s when the Wisconsin and Southern Railroad (successor to the Wisconsin and Calumet) embargoed it citing unsafe track condition. The tracks were used by railroad speeder (motorcar) enthusiasts until it was finally torn up in late 1999. The route has since been developed into a bike trail.
Andy Milwaukee, WI 8/31/2012
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One of my co-workers lives near this line on Gregory St. in Madison. She told me today that one of her neighbors' house was once a IC depot back in, she was thinking, the 1950's. I went through there today on my bicycle, looking for the house. Does anyone have any information on this? I'm thinking that this may have been a rural or suburban depot, built to serve what was then a farming or outlying area of Madison. Any input on this would be much appreciated.
Patrick O. Madison, WI 4/2/2015
I wasn't thinking-I accidentally posted my e-mail address incorrectly. The correct address is printed in the form at the bottom.
Patrick - there weren't any depots on this portion of the line - primarily because most of the line is elevated above its surroundings but their certainly could have been a whistle stop near the intersection of Gregory & Glenway.
Martin Madison, WI 10/19/2015
I believe there was a Depot in Belleville that in fact still stands, unless it was for one of the other lines that used to go through, but I don't think so. My Dad was originally from Belleville and I have a cousin that still lives there (life-long resident)
Rich Schneider Kenney, IL 10/25/2015