Railroad History

North Fond du Lac has always been pretty much a railroad town. Before the Village of North Fond du Lac was incorporated, the railroads already had shops set-up here. The railroads that have made their home here in North Fond du Lac over the years include the Wisconsin Central, the Chicago & Northwestern, the Soo Line, and the Canadian National. Much of our Village history is based on the railroad, the members of our community who worked for the railroad, and the people and businesses that supported the railroad and its employees.

The Francis J. Wiener engine was dedicated by the Wisconsin Central Railroad to the memory of a North Fond du Lac resident and long time employee . Francis J. Wiener, was the late husband of Dorothy Wiener. The engine is located in Laona, Wisconsin. Our thanks to Dorothy for allowing us to use the picture on our website.

Wisconsin Central: Incorporated in Feb. 1871 by the State of Wisconsin to tap the vast forest and lumber reserves of Northern Wisconsin. In 1899 the Wisconsin Central moved it’s shops to North Fond du Lac. In 1908 the Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Sault Ste Marie railroad (Soo Line) acquired a majority interest in the Wisconsin Central and obtained a 99 year lease on the property in 1909. The railroad operated in the Soo Line system until 1987. In 1987 it was purchased by the Wisconsin Central Transportation Corp. which operated until the year 2000 when the Canadian National Railway bought the company.

Car Dept Office North Fond du Lac, WI: C&NW Caboose #10800 (ex Lehigh Valley #95012) converted to a Car Department Office at North Fond du Lac, WI. Photo taken during 11/1979 by John F. Campbell. Permission to use the picture from Chicago & Northwestern Historical Society & John F. Campbell family.

Chicago & Northwestern: The Northern Wisconsin Division headquarters were moved to North Fond du Lac in 1899. In 1920 the general office burned down, but was rebuilt. In 1974 the employees took control of the Chicago & Northwestern Transportation Co and a new yard office was built in North Fond du Lac. In 1995 the Chicago & Northwestern also succumbed to the pressures of the industry and it was purchased by the Union Pacific Railroad.

Soo Line: the Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Sault Ste Marie railroad was commonly known as the “Soo Line” and was officially trade named the Soo Line in 1950. The railway had leased the rights to property of the Wisconsin Central in 1909. One of the major projects accomplished by the shops was the 7-Post Box Cars that were manufactured by the shops of North Fond du Lac (see picture). In 1960 the Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Sault Ste Marie, the Wisconsin Central, and the Duluth, South Shore, and Atlantic (DSSA) were consolidated and officially reorganized under the Soo Line name. A new yard office had been built in North Fond du Lac in 1973, but the stresses and strains of the railway industry operational costs caught up with the Soo Line in the 1980’s. In 1987 the Wisconsin Central Transportation Corp purchased the Soo Line.

Canadian National: The Canadian National railway purchased the Wisconsin Central Transportation Corp in the year 2000. The Canadian National provided the refurbishment services of the caboose which is now located in Yellowstone Park in North Fond du Lac, WI. The Canadian National continues to operate the shops in North Fond du Lac and we hope that they will continue to be a strong force in the railroad industry and have a home in North Fond du Lac for many years to come.