MILW Sparta, Cashton and Viroqua, oh my!

For your viewing pleasure are photos created this past September whilst doing some railroad archeology on the old Sparta to Viroqua line. I was attracted to this line by a photo in The Milwaukee Road: Volume 3 Wisconsin & Michigan, page120, that showed a SD10 climbing up a hill and over a wooden trestle that spanned a dirt road. The trestle was barely 6-8 feet high over the road.

I made my first attempt at this three years ago while I was returning from Bemidji. Why Bemidji? Because it was there. Seriously. Anyway, on the way back down I spent the night in the MSP just south of Red Wing. My objective was to go to La Crosse the next day, then travel down the old Sparta-Viroqua line to photograph whatever was left. I figured it would not be too hard to find the old right of way. Welllllll.....there's a reason you research stuff before you go. I didn't and subsequently never found the MILW caboose on display in La Crosse, never found Grand Crossing, found Sparta but found no definitive vidible vestiges of the railroad through any of the small towns. Cashton was the most dissappointing, with no locals EVER remembering a train.

As with all things that do not go well the first time for me, I resolved to do a better job of figuring where the tracks were and what buildings, etc. I could find. I found Topozone and downloaded detailed maps of the line. Most showed the old grade, but there were blank sections north of Cashton.

The first shot shows the old depot location in Sparta. Page 113 in TMR: Vol 3. shows this depot shot from the highway viaduct. All gone.

Cashton 1 shows where the grade passed through the grain facility in Cashton. Viewing east. The red line approximates the grade. The newer addition to the building was added to bridge the gap where the grade used to be. My apologies for the blur, but I had to shoot this one on the move. The local constibulary had taken in interest in me at this point, so I was on m way out of town.

Cashton 2 was shot 200 yards west from Cashton 1. Still viewing east.

Cashton 3 is the same spot looking west. The grade is anihilated past the trees. A new school was built, along with a hospital so there is no evidnce of the grade.

I did venture east and north of Cashton, and was able to locate what I think was the grade (the grade ended south of County Rd U on the topo map). I had read about the need to sometimes double the Cashton Hill and I could see why. this section, the further I went down Ember Ave., began to look like a holler in Tennesee. I was surprised at the number of barns and farm buildings that were right next to the grade. One farm house was not more than 10 feet from the grade. I did find one section of distinguishable grade while on Ember Ave. but the weather had broke, and the locals looked less than friendly, so I stayed in the car. Sorry, no shots.

Heading south of Cashton on Highway 27 the map revealed that the ROW follwed the road (I know, vice versa!) but there was no grade visbile until I arrived at Newry. The grade was still somewhat visible

 

Further South I reached the thriving metropolis of Westby. The old Milwaukee Road Frighthouse still stands, though it is now a private residence/shed. the building appears to have started small, and then expanded. The far end has a cut stone foundation under 1/4 of the total building. The rest of the foundation is block.

 

Thanks to the maps I was able to follow the old grade south of Westby much better than I had the first time. I actually went the right direction! And I was rewarded. As I past Coon Prairie Lutheran church I crested a hill to see a right of way that was clearly discernable. There was great rejoicing! The two shots below show the grade itself and the garde compared to the road.

The line crossed Smith Rd. where a cut was clearly visible. The shot shows what are either really old hay bails that have composted, or manure piles. I think the ghosts of the section gang would be perterbed at this sight.

The next grade was on Landfill Rd. The grade now serves as a driveway and probably has a better gravel base on it then it did when the Milwaukee owned it.

Next was Seasbranch Rd.

 

Traveling further south I turned unto County Rd Y and shot the grade looking north. You can see what I mean about houses and farm buildings being right on the ROW.

I turned south onto Railroad Ave. and photographed where the grade crossed the road. A bit further on I shot the east side of the garde. The grade actually runs between the oak trees and the lone pine tree before disppearing into the overgrowth. Shot looking north.

Further south on Railroad Ave, near N. Asbury Ave., I took this shoot of the ROW.

I was then into Viroqua. I have shots of the depot from the first, but it is now a architecture firm, painted blue and not much to write home about, and i don't feel like getting the prints out of storage and scanning them. I did get a shot of where the yard used to be. the area around south of this is a woodworking facility, and you can see via the arrangement of the old buildings exactly where the various spurs went. Alas, the folks there were not happy seeing me and my camera and I was yelled at to leave.

 

There ya' have it! I would recommend good topo maps to anyone who wants to do some exploring. The details and building locations really help in determining where a rail line that hasn't existed for 30 years is.

No, I never did find that low overpass. If you live in the area and can tell me if it still exists, I would appreciate it.

-Mark

 

It was. I really have fallen in love with that side of Wisconsin. The roads are a blast to drive, the scenery is breath taking, and the plethora of cheese stores fills my heart with joy and my lower GI tract with dread.

 

Mark,

I know this is like five years too late... lol... I live in Cashton and am formerly from Sparta and La Crosse. I know where the the rail bed used to go for the sparta viroqua branch. You must have spoken to new people in town because there are many villagers that know the railroad. I have an eighty year old friend that saw it when it was steam. I also know the route for the LA CROSSE & SOUTHEASTERN that ran from La Crosse, WI. to Viroqua through Chaseburg, Coon Valley, Westby and Viroqua. This rail bed is still very easy to find and there is still one wooden tressel with ties (no rail) in a valley so remote that you would swear it is full of the hatfields and Mc Coys. Actually a funny note is that we have Hatfields and Mc Coy's in Sparta. Ft. Mc Coy is from an ancestor but they never feuded.. LOL not that I know of anyway. Soooo, if you are still interested in more info contact me. I have been interested in railroading since a kid. I used to model railroad for many years as a teen to young adult until marriage and kids made my railroad bankrupt. No federal funding avail as you can guess.. LOL I have always wanted to model this branch line. Also this branch was re-opened after the Milw. closed it. it was run by two other small roads I don;t remember the one name but the other was bigger. The Wisconsin Central or Southern I can't remember right off but I can get it from my friend. The small operations and needing big track repairs forced its final closure in the mid eighties and the tracks were ripped up and the rail land deeded back or sold for minimal fee to the current neighboring landowners. Any way I would be glad to share the info with you. there is still a nice section of the rail bed that we could walk just north of Cashton. I ride my snowmobile on it every year. i wold be glad to show you sometime.. Also that tressle you talked about in the picture is gone. The town road was reworked and covers part of the railbed. The bridge was taken out. I have driven under it many years ago when the rail was still active...

Contact me at: mjamesson@centurytel.net Mike Jamesson, Cashton.

 

Melvin05j - Welcome to TrainBoard

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Dear Mike,


Thank you! I figured the bridge was gone, but the confirmation helps. I do plan on getting back to the area, next Summer. I was going to head there this past August, but the flood happened a few days before I was scheduled to get there. Alas, that trip was canceled.

Since your in the area, do you know where the restored Milwaukee Road Passenger car is near Coon Creek?

-Mark

 

I work through the week near Sparta, If you want any pictures of anything in the area let me know.

 

Here is a link to a story in the Westby Times about a Milwaukee Road caboose restoration project. It looks like this caboose will be located along the abandoned Milwaukee Road tracks in Westby, WI.

Westby Times - Features

 

Box, check your PM.

 

Welcome to Trainboard and thanks for the link. Great story. I might have to get back into the area this Fall.

Mark Williams