{"id":2889,"date":"2013-06-18T06:50:19","date_gmt":"2013-06-18T10:50:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/?p=2889"},"modified":"2013-06-18T11:09:09","modified_gmt":"2013-06-18T15:09:09","slug":"wisconsin-southern-on-the-old-milwaukee-road-at-sun-prairie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wisconsin-southern-on-the-old-milwaukee-road-at-sun-prairie\/","title":{"rendered":"Wisconsin & Southern on the old Milwaukee Road at Sun Prairie"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

Here the Atlantics Once Rolled.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Dick Gruber did the driving, John offered historical context, while I made notes. We all made photos. I was working with three cameras; my EOS-3 film camera loaded with Provia 100F slide film<\/a>, my EOS 7D<\/a> digital camera, and Lumix LX-3.<\/p>\n

John Gruber, says as we inspect a grade crossing<\/a> near Sun Prairie<\/a>, Wisconsin, \u2018Passenger trains were allowed 75mph through here. The Hiawatha\u2019s <\/i>Atlantics worked here towards the end. It was probably the last regular trains they worked. When I saw them they were pretty dirty.\u2019<\/p>\n

\"Wisconsin<\/a>
Wisconsin & Southern’s westward freight L464 hits the a highway crossing near Deansville, Wisconsin on June 1,4 2013. Canon EOS 7D with 28-135mm lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Visions of high-speed service on this route were revived in recent years (as part of a Chicago-Milwaukee-Madison route) then dashed again when political philosophy interfered with transport reality. Track speed is 10mph, and the only service is Wisconsin & Southern<\/a>\u2019s (WSOR) local freights.<\/p>\n

\"WSOR<\/a>
Wisconsin & Southern’s westward freight L464 near Sun Prairie. Canon EOS 7D with f2.8 200mm lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We drove from DeForest, pausing for lunch near Sun Prairie, to a lightly used grade crossing near Deansville where we intercepted the WSOR local freight. This was hauled by a clean pair of GP38s clattering upgrade with a long string of ballast cars and mixed freight at the back.<\/p>\n

WSOR’s burgundy and silver makes for a pleasant contrast with rural scenery. I can only imagine what it was like with a streamlined A1 Atlantic clipping along with light-weight passenger cars at speed. Different worlds.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Wisconsin<\/a>
Sun Prairie, Wisconsin: Wisconsin & Southern’s westward freight L464 drops down the grade from Deansville. Canon EOS 7D with f2.8 200mm lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Wisconsin<\/a>
Wisconsin & Southern’s westward freight L464 at Sun Prairie. Lumix LX-3.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"WSOR<\/a>
Detailed view of WSOR GP38 number 3801 at Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. Lumix LX3 photo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
For more on Wisconsin & Southern locomotives click here<\/a>.<\/h6>\n

See yesterday’s popular post on Wisconsin’s DeForest Station.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

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