Ahnapee and Western Railway
Encyclopedia
The Ahnapee and Western Railway (A&W) was a common carrier
short line railroad located in northeastern Wisconsin
.
The railroad ran 34.5 miles (55.5 km) from a connection with the Kewaunee, Green Bay and Western Railroad
at Casco Junction to the lakeshore terminals of Algoma
in Kewaunee County
and Sturgeon Bay
in the "Door County
thumb" of Wisconsin. Other towns along the line include Casco
, Rio Creek, Forestville
, Maplewood, and Sawyer. The name of the railroad comes from the city of Ahnapee, which was founded along the Ahnapee River
and became Algoma in 1899.
in 1894. It was financed by Edward Decker, a prominent businessman in the area, to dovetail with his logging, publishing, and other commercial interests centered at Casco
. Decker sold the company on August 1, 1906 to the Green Bay and Western Railroad
(GB&W). The A&W became a division of the GB&W and the physical plant of the line was substantially upgraded in the period around World War I. Through the Depression years the railroad saw a decrease in traffic and the GB&W looked to sell the line during World War II despite short term increases in carload traffic due to wartime production of naval vessels and of wood products at industries along the route. The A&W also transported German prisoners of war to Door County to work the fruit harvest season during the war years.
The A&W was sold by the GB&W to local interests on May 31, 1947. Vernon Bushman of Green Bay, Wisconsin
purchased the railroad and, along with his brother Erv, operated the road whose carloadings were dependent on the local shipbuilding, plywood, evaporated milk, lumber, and petroleum products-related industries.
Upon the condemnation of the swing bridge across the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal
in 1968, the railroad embargoed the entire north end (Sturgeon Bay
to Algoma
) on August 8, 1968. The south half of the railroad was sold to United States Plywood/Champion Papers in December 1970 to ensure rail service to the Algoma Plywood & Veneer mill (a USP subsidiary). The GB&W was contracted to operate train service over the line in September 1972, with the last independent A&W train running on September 15, 1972. The GB&W operated the railroad as a branchline a few days per week as well as special excursion trains until a bridge washout at the Kewaunee River forced the entire line to be embargoed in the late 1980s. Sources state that the last train to operate on the railroad ran on March 25, 1986.
The company was officially acquired by Wisconsin Central Transportation
's subsidiary Fox Valley and Western in its August 27, 1993, purchase of the Itel-owned lines of the Green Bay & Western, Fox River Valley, and Ahnapee & Western Railroads. However, the line had already been declared "no longer a Common Carrier" on October 25, 1990. The Railroad Retirement Board
determined that the railroad ceased to be a carrier employer effective November 19, 1993, following the sale to WC/FV&W.
tracks at Casco Junction to Sturgeon Bay. It is open year around and gives users a remarkably scenic view of the Wisconsin
countryside. Many artifacts of the A&W's history remain along the trail including steam locomotive
boiler culverts, dated concrete bridges, several steel girder bridges, and many of the buildings that once housed rail-related industries.
Common carrier
A common carrier in common-law countries is a person or company that transports goods or people for any person or company and that is responsible for any possible loss of the goods during transport...
short line railroad located in northeastern Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
.
The railroad ran 34.5 miles (55.5 km) from a connection with the Kewaunee, Green Bay and Western Railroad
Kewaunee, Green Bay and Western Railroad
The Kewaunee, Green Bay and Western Railroad, constructed with Lackawanna Trust and W. W. Cargill backing, was incorporated on May 19, 1890 for the purpose of moving cargo between the port cities of Green Bay and Kewaunee in Wisconsin...
at Casco Junction to the lakeshore terminals of Algoma
Algoma, Wisconsin
Algoma is a city in Kewaunee County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 3,357 at the 2000 census. Algoma is part of the Green Bay Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
in Kewaunee County
Kewaunee County, Wisconsin
Kewaunee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 20,187. Its county seat is Kewaunee. Kewaunee County is part of the Green Bay Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:According to the U.S...
and Sturgeon Bay
Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Sturgeon Bay is a city in and the county seat of Door County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 9,437 at the 2000 census. It is located at the natural end of Sturgeon Bay, although the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal was built across the remainder of the Door Peninsula.-Geography:Sturgeon Bay is...
in the "Door County
Door County, Wisconsin
Door County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 27,961. Its county seat is Sturgeon Bay. Door County is a popular vacation and tourist destination, especially for residents of Wisconsin and Illinois....
thumb" of Wisconsin. Other towns along the line include Casco
Casco, Wisconsin
Casco is a village in Kewaunee County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 572 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Green Bay Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, Rio Creek, Forestville
Forestville, Wisconsin
Forestville is a village in Door County, Wisconsin, United States, along the Ahnapee River. The population was 429 at the 2000 census. The village is located within the Town of Forestville.-Geography:Forestville is located at ....
, Maplewood, and Sawyer. The name of the railroad comes from the city of Ahnapee, which was founded along the Ahnapee River
Ahnapee River
The Ahnapee River is a river on the Door Peninsula in eastern Wisconsin in the United States. It rises in Door County, Wisconsin and flows through Kewaunee County into Lake Michigan. It is about 15 mi long...
and became Algoma in 1899.
History
The A&W was incorporated on August 18, 1890, and was built from Casco Junction to Algoma in 1892 and extended to Sturgeon BaySturgeon Bay
Sturgeon Bay is an arm of Green Bay extending southeastward approximately 10 miles into the Door Peninsula at the city of Sturgeon Bay, located approximately halfway up the Door Peninsula. The bay is connected to Lake Michigan by the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal. Three bridges cross the bay, including...
in 1894. It was financed by Edward Decker, a prominent businessman in the area, to dovetail with his logging, publishing, and other commercial interests centered at Casco
Casco, Wisconsin
Casco is a village in Kewaunee County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 572 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Green Bay Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. Decker sold the company on August 1, 1906 to the Green Bay and Western Railroad
Green Bay and Western Railroad
The Green Bay and Western Railroad served the transportation and freight haulage needs of northern Wisconsin for almost 100 years before it was absorbed into the Wisconsin Central in 1993...
(GB&W). The A&W became a division of the GB&W and the physical plant of the line was substantially upgraded in the period around World War I. Through the Depression years the railroad saw a decrease in traffic and the GB&W looked to sell the line during World War II despite short term increases in carload traffic due to wartime production of naval vessels and of wood products at industries along the route. The A&W also transported German prisoners of war to Door County to work the fruit harvest season during the war years.
The A&W was sold by the GB&W to local interests on May 31, 1947. Vernon Bushman of Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located at the head of Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It has an elevation of above sea level and is located north of Milwaukee. As of the 2010 United States Census,...
purchased the railroad and, along with his brother Erv, operated the road whose carloadings were dependent on the local shipbuilding, plywood, evaporated milk, lumber, and petroleum products-related industries.
Upon the condemnation of the swing bridge across the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal
Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal
The Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal is a shipping canal connecting Sturgeon Bay on Green Bay with Lake Michigan, across the Door Peninsula, at the city of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin....
in 1968, the railroad embargoed the entire north end (Sturgeon Bay
Sturgeon Bay
Sturgeon Bay is an arm of Green Bay extending southeastward approximately 10 miles into the Door Peninsula at the city of Sturgeon Bay, located approximately halfway up the Door Peninsula. The bay is connected to Lake Michigan by the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal. Three bridges cross the bay, including...
to Algoma
Algoma
Algoma may refer to:* Algoma * Algoma * Algoma Central Railway* Algoma District, Ontario* Algoma, Mississippi* Algoma, Oregon* Algoma, West Virginia* Algoma, Wisconsin, a city* Algoma, Winnebago County, Wisconsin, a town...
) on August 8, 1968. The south half of the railroad was sold to United States Plywood/Champion Papers in December 1970 to ensure rail service to the Algoma Plywood & Veneer mill (a USP subsidiary). The GB&W was contracted to operate train service over the line in September 1972, with the last independent A&W train running on September 15, 1972. The GB&W operated the railroad as a branchline a few days per week as well as special excursion trains until a bridge washout at the Kewaunee River forced the entire line to be embargoed in the late 1980s. Sources state that the last train to operate on the railroad ran on March 25, 1986.
The company was officially acquired by Wisconsin Central Transportation
Wisconsin Central Transportation
Wisconsin Central Ltd. is a railroad subsidiary of the Canadian National Railway. At one time, its parent Wisconsin Central Transportation Corporation owned or operated railroads in the United States, Canada , the United Kingdom , New Zealand , and Australia .- Overview...
's subsidiary Fox Valley and Western in its August 27, 1993, purchase of the Itel-owned lines of the Green Bay & Western, Fox River Valley, and Ahnapee & Western Railroads. However, the line had already been declared "no longer a Common Carrier" on October 25, 1990. The Railroad Retirement Board
Railroad Retirement Board
The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board is an independent agency in the executive branch of the United States government created in 1935 to administer a social insurance program providing retirement benefits to the country's railroad workers....
determined that the railroad ceased to be a carrier employer effective November 19, 1993, following the sale to WC/FV&W.
Ahnapee State Trail
The railroad right of way has been turned into a hiking, biking, horse riding, and snowmobile trail called the Ahnapee State Trail, traveling from the railway's original connection with the former GB&WGreen Bay and Western Railroad
The Green Bay and Western Railroad served the transportation and freight haulage needs of northern Wisconsin for almost 100 years before it was absorbed into the Wisconsin Central in 1993...
tracks at Casco Junction to Sturgeon Bay. It is open year around and gives users a remarkably scenic view of the Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
countryside. Many artifacts of the A&W's history remain along the trail including steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
boiler culverts, dated concrete bridges, several steel girder bridges, and many of the buildings that once housed rail-related industries.
External links
- Don's Rail Photos Ahnapee & Western page
- Green Bay & Western Lines - GB&W, KGBW&W, A&W, and FRV information
- Ahnapee & Western photo page by Ted Ellis
- Fallen Flags Railroad - Miscellaneous "A" Railroad page (includes A&W images)
- Ahnapee recreation trail - follows the path of the rail line