Nicolet Badger Northern Railroad
| Company type | Short-line railroad |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Predecessor | Chicago & Northwestern Railway |
| Founded | 1983 |
| Defunct | 1994-12-30 |
| Fate | Ceased operations; corridor converted to Nicolet State Trail |
| Headquarters | Laona, Wisconsin , United States |
Area served | Northern Wisconsin (Wabeno to Tipler) |
| Products | Freight (primarily pulpwood) |
The Nicolet Badger Northern Railway (Reporting Marks: NBN) functioned as a logging railroad, operating along a 38-mile stretch between Wabeno, Wisconsin and Tipler, Wisconsin within the boundaries of the Nicolet National Forest in Northern Wisconsin.
History
Initially established in 1896 under the name Wisconsin Northern Railway, the company aimed to construct 115 miles of track extending northward from a junction near Gillett on the Chicago & Northwestern route. By 1897, it had completed 46 miles reaching Wabeno. The Chicago & Northwestern (C&NW) took ownership and consolidated the railway in 1899, eventually lengthening the line to Siding 62 near Laona by 1905 after resolving legal disputes related to crossing the Soo Line tracks.
By 1961, the Laona Line primarily transported pulpwood; however, diminishing freight volumes resulted in scaling back operations to a single weekly train. In 1979, the Interstate Commerce Commission granted permission for C&NW to discontinue service on the line. Following this, a 37.79-mile section between Wabeno and Tipler was sold for short-line railroad use. The final C&NW train ran on June 29, 1979.
That year also saw the Wisconsin Department of Transportation acquire the line after C&NW's abandonment. The Nicolet Badger Northern Railway Limited was formed in 1983 to provide freight service connecting with the Soo Line Railroad at Laona Junction. Due to significant financial difficulties in the early 1990s, NBN ended its operations on December 30, 1994. The former railway corridor has since been converted into part of the Nicolet State Trail.
Rolling Stock
| Number | Marked | Type | Previous Owners |
|---|---|---|---|
| 82083 | NBNR | Caboose | Tomahawk Railway (formerly MTW) |
Motive Power
| Number | Model | Previous Owners | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62 | EMD NW2 | Tomahawk Railway | Formerly DTI 914; currently MWLX 62 |
| 103 | Whitcomb 65 Ton | Laona and Northern Railway | Previously LNO 103; scrapped in 2006 |
| 207 | Baldwin RS-12 | Escanaba and Lake Superior Railroad | Leased from ELS; currently inactive |