In 1991, the new Wisconsin & Michigan Railroad leased from the Wisconsin Central the former Soo Line trackage from Mellon, WI to Bessemer, MI via Hurley, WI and Ironwood, MI. The new W&M was a railroad owned by BXB, a Chicago railroad investment firm.
Soo Line Railroad → Wisconsin Central (new) → Wisconsin & Michigan (new) → Wisconsin Central
Began: 1991 lease for 5½ years. Operations began June, 1992.
From: Mellon, WI to Bessemer, MI via Hurley and Ironwood. Gogebic County.
Operated for 3 years.
Ended: February 11, 1995. Lease returned to the Wisconsin Central.
Editors Note: This line's lessor, the Wisconsin Central was a new railroad which purchased Michigan and Wisconsin branch lines from the Soo Line in 1987. The early owner of the Mellon to Bessemer line was also known as the Wisconsin Central, which became the Soo Line in the early 1900's. The two were unrelated, except for the track itself.
References: [SOO-1996-#1-4]
This Soo Line branch was soon to be abandoned, when BXB agreed to lease it to serve local customers and operate a tourist train operation. The agreement included an option to purchase the line.
The track was refurbished and a small Whitcomb locomotive was brought in. This proved to be inadequate and one RS-3 and four U23B locomotives from the Lake Superior & Ishpeming were obtained. The W&M headquarters were located in the former Soo Line depot at Ironwood.
Local freight customers were served and providing pulp and logs for shipment. A small amount of stockpiled ore was moved for making paint and fertilizer.
1993. W&M provides weekend excursion trains from Ironwood using former Algoma Central passenger equipment and cabooses.
1995. February 11. The operation was not profitable and the railroad was shut down, lease returned to the Wisconsin Central.
The following sources are utilized in this website. [SOURCE-YEAR-MMDD-PG]:
