Timetable: Milwaukee Road - Quinnesec Branch

This a branch, off the Milwaukee Road main line near Antoine, went southeast to the Quinnesec area and Norway and was built in 1877.

In its effort to reach the port of Escanaba where they could load ore books, it appears that the Milwaukee Road joined with the Schlingser syndicate to build the Escanaba, Iron Mountain and Western (EIM&W) line from Iron River to Escanaba via Iron Mountain. Schlingser also owned the Chapin Mine and a branch was built to reach this mine via a connection at Antoine on the east side of what is now US-2.

Before the EIM&W line could be completed, Schlingser went into receivership and the syndicate was dissolved. The C&NW purchased stock ownership of the EIM&W line, as a shrewd competitive move against the MILW. The EIM&W, along with the branch to the Chapin Mine, was then completed from Escanaba to Antoine. The road bed west of Antoine through Wisconsin was graded but rail not laid.

Seven years later (1877) the MILW built their own branch from Antoine to Quinnesec, known as the Quinnesec Branch. They later arranged for running rights on the Escanaba & Lake Superior from Channing to Wells to reach their newly built Escanaba ore docks.

Key: C=Coal | D=Open > Day | DN=Open Day and night | EH=Engine house | HI=Half Interlocked Crossing | I=Interlocked Crossing | J=Junction | N=Open at night | P=Passing Track w/40' car capacity | Q=Quarry | RH=Roundhouse # stalls | S=Scales |  T=Turntable | TC=Telegraph call | W=Water | X=Crossing | Y=Wye | Yard=Yard

Notes

Quinnesec Junction was located on the MILW main line just north of the C&NW Antoine Yard.

The crossing at milepost 0.6, known as Antoine Tower, was protected by an interlocking tower and later a crossing gate. [CNWV-1916]

Reference: [MRL][CNWV]

Time Line

1887. Line is built from Quinnesec Junction to Quinnesec Mine spur. [MRL]

1902. The Quinnesec Mine spur is extended to the Vivian Mine. [MRL]

1902. This branch is used exclusively for the transportation of iron ore. [MCR-1902]

1903. Line is extended from Quinnesec Mine spur to the W&M main line. [MRL]

1906. With the purpose of making a bid for ore traffic the chief mine operators in which are the Steel Corporation and the Cambria Steel Co. it is reported the intention of the MILW to extend a branch of its railroad from Iron Mountain to the district in and about the city of Norway. The right of way has been staked out between the two cities, the route selected paralleling for a portion of the distance of the line of the C&NW road at at present ending at the junction of the C&NW with the Wisconsin & Michigan railroad at the summit of Cyclops Hill. [DFP-1906-1231]

1935. The entire line is removed. [MRL]