Atlas Series 22 Dec 2015 Rice Lake Tower – Historical Railroad Geography Series This abandoned tower once protected the crossing of the two parallel routes of the Chicago and North Western and the Soo… Travis Dewitz
Atlas Series The Norfolk and Western Railway's coal hauling right of way once followed the course of the Tug River between Welch and Davy. In 1903, the railroad started a major rebuilding project to straighten out portions of the Pocahontas Division and prepare for future double tracking. Just a year later, two tunnels were constructed roughly a mile norwest of Welch, known as Hemphill. Hemphill originated as a name of a siding, likely named after Secretary of the N&W, A.J. Hemphill in 1894, which eventually evolved into a community. The two tunnels named Hemphill Tunnel No. 1 and No. 2 respectively were cut through the Appalachian Plateaus Physiographic Province, a region characterized by deeply incised plateaus underlain by flat-lying sedimentary rock. The railroad grade was raised during this realignment to avoid the common flooding of the Tug Fork which it crosses three times in this short stretch. The realignment shaved off 2.4 miles from the previous wandering Tug Fork route. Double tracking was completed here in 1909. The N&W CPL Signal can be seen by trains exiting the west portal of tunnel no. 2 that guards Farm, a well known railroad location where a large coaling tower still stands. Today, helpers wait assignments to shove heavily loaded coal trains east up the steep steady grade. 19 Dec 2015 Hemphill Tunnels – Historical Railroad Geography Series The Norfolk and Western Railway's coal hauling right of way once followed the course of the Tug River between Welch… Travis Dewitz 1 Comment
Railroad Books 16 Dec 2015 Soo Line Railroad Photography Books SOO LINE Railroad Books This book list features only books featuring the Soo Line Railroad. I grew up fascinated with… Travis Dewitz 1 Comment
Railroad Books 16 Dec 2015 Best David Plowden Photography Books Ranked David Plowden Photography Books Ranked from Best to Worst This book list features the photography books of David Plowden. David Plowden is a… Travis Dewitz No Comments
Railroad Books 13 Dec 2015 Steel Manufacturing Industry Photography Books Steel Industry Related Railroading Photography Books This book list features books about the steel manufacturing industry and the steel mill towns that… Travis Dewitz No Comments
Railroad Books 13 Dec 2015 Coal Country Railroad Photography Books Coal Related Railroading Photography Books This book list features mainly coal hauling railroads, coal regions, and coal mining operations. A few books… Travis Dewitz No Comments
Atlas Series A lone Canadian National locomotive pushes a large cut of bulkhead flat cars loaded with logs over the Flambeau River. They will cut off the three rear cars at Besse Lumber Company just south of the river before heading back north on the Superior Sub. 09 Dec 2015 The Logging Roots of Ladysmith – Historical Railroad Geography Series Logging in northern Wisconsin was booming in the 1880's through the early part of the 1900's. This industry isn't anywhere near… Travis Dewitz 1 Comment
Railroad History of Eau Claire 01 Dec 2015 Chicago & North Western’s Madison Street Hill Grade Separation in Eau Claire, Wisconsin History of Eau Claire's Main Bottleneck of the Northside A spectacular scene of loggers and voyagers were once an integral… Travis Dewitz No Comments