I am trying to get a handle on the timeline of events involving the Q
thru La Crosse WI. At one time the Q had a line that went thru downtown
La Crosse; was this the original line, or was it built at the same time
as the freight bypass east of town? If the freight bypass was built
after the line thru downtown, when did this happen? And last but not
least, when was the line thru downtown abandoned?
You find yourself asking the darndest questions at 3 a.m........
Thank you kindly,
Michael Matalis
Downers Grove IL
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<mailto:mmatalis@sprynet.com?subject=Re%3A%20La%20Crosse%20WI>Hi Mike
and everyone,
The history of the Burlington in La Crosse, WI
1886 the Chicago, Burlington and Northern built into downtown La
Crosse. The depot was built at 2nd and Pearl Streets
1887 the east side bypass was built for freight trains. Grand Crossing
took its shape.
1929 the second depot was built downtown.
1929 the North La Crosse passenger depot built at the end of Rublee Street.
1940 the depot by the bluff on the freight mainline proposed and built.
The downtown depot was used for railroad offices, not passenger traffic
after that.
1970 the second downtown depot demolished for urban renewal. railroad
offices moved to the North La Crosse depot.
1971-1980 the depot by the bluff was demolished by the BN.
1980 the track on second street abandoned and removed to make way for
the La Crosse Center.
BN used the Milwaukee Road tracks from the north and ran down front
street to get to the brewery. Eventually, the Milwaukee track was also
removed and the BN locals would now have to use the mainline to get to
the original trackage from the south to get to the brewery.
The information was gathered from a book, The History of Railroads in La
Crosse, newspaper articles from the La Crosse Tribune, and depot
drawings of the second depot, north La Crosse depot and the depot by the
bluffs.
Enjoy,
John Uehling
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