Port Inland Railroad
"I've never heard much about it except that it was built a few years ago"....Actually, that railroad has been around for a very long time. It was originally owned by Inland Lime & Stone Co., and that company used rail to transfer limestone from it's pits to Lake Freighters at Port Inland. Those operations ceased in 1989, and the company shut down. In 1991, there were new owners of the company, and they were using trucks to transport their products. Wisconsin Central Railroad persuaded the new owners that rebuilding the railroad and letting WC operate it would be more cost effective than trucks. The new owners agreed, and, the railroad proved it was the right move. In 1995, WC handled over 5 million tons on this very short line. I think the company is now owned by Dolomite, and, CN is the operating railroad.
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