The first Wisconsin & Southern train over the former Canadian National Plymouth Subdivision ran on a snowy Saturday. The 37-mile line between Saukville and Kiel was the subject of an abandonment proceeding initiated in June 2004. There was considerable public opposition to CN's application, but in the end the Surface Transportation Board granted the abandonment, probably swayed by CN's argument that the track had seen only 206 revenue loads in 2003. After the STB gave its approval, the State of Wisconsin and WSOR submitted an Offer of Financial Assistance, which compelled CN to negotiate a sale with WisDOT and WSOR. That happened; CN sold the line to the state for $1.9 million on January 13, and WSOR was appointed the operator.
In order to access their new property, WSOR struck a trackage rights arrangement with CN between North Milwaukee and Saukville. This photo shows the first northbound WSOR train, still on CN trackage, in Saukville, just south of Highway 33.
