Ahnapee and Western Railway
| Company type | Common carrier shortline railroad |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | 1890-08-18 |
| Founder | Edward Decker |
| Defunct | 1993-11-19 |
| Fate | Absorbed by Fox Valley and Western (subsidiary of Wisconsin Central Transportation) |
| Headquarters | Northeastern Wisconsin , United States |
Area served | Northeastern Wisconsin, from Casco Junction to Algoma and Sturgeon Bay |
| Products | Freight rail service |
The Ahnapee and Western Railway (A&W) functioned as a common carrier shortline railroad located in northeastern Wisconsin. Its route extended from the connection with the Kewaunee, Green Bay and Western Railroad at Casco Junction to waterfront terminals situated in Algoma and Sturgeon Bay. Notable stations along the line included Casco, Rio Creek, Forestville, Maplewood, and Sawyer. The railway’s designation originates from the city of Ahnapee, which was renamed Algoma in 1899.
History
The A&W was officially established on August 18, 1890. Construction began with the segment from Casco Junction to Algoma completed in 1892, followed by an extension reaching Sturgeon Bay by 1894. At its inception, the railway operated four 4-4-0 American type steam locomotives. Local entrepreneur Edward Decker financed the project to support his diverse business interests in logging, publishing, and commerce based in Casco. On August 1, 1906, ownership transferred to the Green Bay and Western Railroad (GB&W). During GB&W’s management, the line underwent major improvements around the time of World War I; notably, in 1915, the original locomotives were replaced with two 2-6-0 mogul engines.
The economic downturn during the Great Depression led to diminished freight volumes. Despite a temporary surge linked to naval shipbuilding and wood product manufacturing during World War II, GB&W contemplated divesting the line. During this era, the railway also facilitated transportation of German prisoners of war who were employed seasonally in fruit harvesting.
On May 31, 1947, Vernon Bushman from Green Bay purchased the A&W from GB&W. Vernon and his brother Erv managed operations serving several industries such as ship construction, plywood production, evaporated milk processing, lumber distribution, and petroleum transport. In 1949, the A&W acquired locomotive GB&W 398 but subsequently traded it for GB&W 351. By 1955, express trains provided overnight service connecting Sturgeon Bay with Chicago; regular services also ran twice weekly to Chicago along with links to the Twin Cities and Detroit.
Following condemnation of the swing bridge over the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal in 1968, rail service north of Sturgeon Bay to Algoma was suspended on August 8. The southern portion was sold in December 1970 to United States Plywood/Champion Papers to preserve rail access for their Algoma Plywood & Veneer mill subsidiary. After the final independent A&W train operated on September 15, 1972, GB&W resumed branchline service several days each week while Trans-Northern ran weekend excursion trains. However, flood damage to a bridge pier over the Kewaunee River eventually caused a complete embargo. The last known train reportedly ran on March 25, 1986.
When Wisconsin Central Transportation’s subsidiary Fox Valley and Western acquired Itel-owned lines including Green Bay & Western and Fox River Valley Railroads on August 27, 1993, it formally absorbed the Ahnapee & Western. Nevertheless, common carrier operations had already ceased as of October 25, 1990. The Railroad Retirement Board confirmed that A&W terminated carrier employer activities effective November 19, 1993 following this acquisition.
Ahnapee State Trail
The old railroad corridor has been transformed into the Ahnapee State Trail, a versatile route designed for activities such as hiking, cycling, horseback riding, and snowmobiling. This trail stretches from the initial junction with the former GB&W lines at Casco Junction all the way to Sturgeon Bay. Accessible throughout the year, it provides picturesque views of the Wisconsin landscape while safeguarding historic A&W relics including steam locomotive boiler culverts, dated concrete and steel girder bridges, as well as several buildings once used by the rail industry.
National Railroad Museum
The indoor exhibit at the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay features the Ahnapee & Western № 33 caboose.
See also
External links
- Don's Rail Photos Ahnapee & Western page
- Green Bay & Western Lines – Information on GB&W, KGBW&W, A&W, and FRV
- Ahnapee & Western photo page by Ted Ellis
- Fallen Flags Railroad – Miscellaneous "A" Railroad page (featuring A&W images)
- Ahnapee recreation trail – follows the former rail corridor