Timetable: Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic - Main Line West - Ewen to Marengo Junction

This line from Ewen to Marengo Junction, known as the Twelth Subdivision under Soo Line control, was built under Marquette, Houghton & Ontonagon control in 1888. It was reorganized as the DSS&A in 1890. The line reached Superior, WI in 1892. 

This line was reorganized into the Soo Line railroad in 1961, the Wisconsin Central in 1987, and the CN in the 2000's.

A short branch to Bessemer was built in 1888 in an attempt to gain ore traffic. With little ore traffic offered, the branch was abandoned in 1928. A branch from Bergland to White Pine was built in 1953 to reach the White Pine mine and smelter.

Thomaston, northeast of Wakefield, was an original division point with a yard, roundhouse and crew facilities. The functions were later moved to Ewen.

This line from Marengo to Superior was removed in 1934. In 1981, the main line from Bergland to Ewen was removed in 1981. This leaves the line intact from the Michigan state line east to White Pine, but the line has been railbanked and not used for a number of years.

Key: BB=Bascule Bridge | C=Coal | CS=Car Shop | D=Open > Day | DN=Open Day and night | DS=Dispatcher | DT=Double Main Track | EH=Engine house | F=Diesel Fuel | HI=Half Interlocked Crossing | I=Interlocked Crossing | J=Junction | LB=Lift bridge | N=Open at night | P=Passing Track w/40' car capacity | Q=Quarry | RH=Roundhouse # stalls | RT=Railroad Resort | S=Scales | SB=Swing bridge | T=Turntable | TC=Telegraph call | W=Water | X=Crossing | Y=Wye | Yard=Yard

[REF] = Greg Bunce, plus additions.

Notes

Time Line

1945. SNAPSHOT. There is one passenger train each way daily except Sunday on this line, #7 (westbound) and #8 (eastbound). The westbound train leaves Ewen at 10:55 pm and arrives at Ashland at 2:30 am and Duluth at 5:40 am.  The eastbound leaves Duluth at 8:15 pm, Ashland at 11:55 pm and Ewen at 3:10 a.m. There was also a time freight in each direction daily operating at night.

1953. May. Little damage resulted Saturday afternoon when a DSS&A trestle across the Montreal River caught fire. Huge clouds of black smoke from burning creosote attracted a large crowd of spectators. [IDG-1963-0524]

1968. The White Pine Copper Co. indicated that the Ontonagon County firm plans to unload more than 200,000 tons of coal from 25 vessels this year at Ashland. The coal would be moved to the White Pine smelters by the Soo Line railroad in mixed trains. Transport from lower lake ports to Ashland is to be made by the Reiss Steamship Co. of Cheboygan, WI. [PHTH-1968-0607]

1977. In addition to its abandonment request for lines north of Baraga, the Soo Line indicated that they will proceed with an abandonment petition for part of their main line between Bergland and Nestoria on or before May 1, 1977. They note that the request will be made contingent upon coordination of certain operations with other railroads to continue service west of Marquette. [IDG-1977-0423]

2020. An inspection of this line in the western upper peninsula near Bergland indicates that the line in Michigan east to Bergland and north from there to White Pine is intact, but hasn't been used for over 10 years. The track is badly overgrown and most highway grade crossings are paved over.

2022. January 29. This line west of Bergland in Michigan is purchased by WATCO using its Grand Elk subsidiary. The line remains dormant. [SSS-2022-Q1]