WGB Railway Opening01

 

Waupaca Record

January 16, 1908

 

FORMAL OPENING OF THE WAUPACA-GREEN BAY RAILWAY

CROWD OF ABOUT TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY GATHERS TO SEE

THE ARRIVAL OF THE FIRST TRAIN

MUCH PRAISE IS DUE TO PROMOTERS OF THE PROJECT

Train Arrived Here >From Green Bay on Wednesday Morning at 11:30

The Road Is Now Prepared To handle Freight Business

Passenger Trains in a Few Days

 

            The formal opening of the Waupaca Green Bay Railway took place in this city on Wednesday morning as the special train which left Green Bay at 7:30 o’clock steamed into Waupaca at 11:30 o’clock.  It was greeted by cheers from about 250 of our citizens and music by the Waupaca City Band. A delegation from the Business Men’s Association was present but the heavy snow storm prevented the carrying out of the demonstration planned.

            The train consisted of an engine and coach and the official party was made up of A.G. Nelson, president of the road and A.M. Penney, one of the directors, with master Mechanic Radler of the Green Bay and Western and T.J. McGrath of Green Bay, the contractor who had charge of the construction of the road.

            Owing to the balasting of a short piece of track which is occupying the attention of Mr. McGrath at the present time, the passenger schedule will not be put into effect for a few days but the road is ready to handle freight.

            Much praise is due the promoters of this project for their untiring efforts in bringing to completion a work which will add so materially to Waupaca’s growth and prosperity.

            The following passenger schedule will commence in a few days.

                                                            Trains Leave Waupaca

                        No. 1, 7:20 a.m., makes connections with G.B. & W. east and west.

                        No. 3, 3:20 p.m., makes connections with G.B. & W. east.

                        No. 5, 7:20 p.m., make connections with G.B. & W. west.

                                                                        Arrive

                        No. 2 at 9:45 a.m.

                        No. 4 at 4:35 p.m.

                        No. 6 at 8: 45 p.m.        

 

 

Waupaca Republican

January 16, 1908

 

FIRST TRAIN

Passenger Coach and Engine for W.G.B. Road Arrive Wednesday

 

            Wednesday, January 15th, at about 11 a.m. the train of the Waupaca Green Bay Railroad came into the city in charge of Conductor Dingman pulled by Engineer Fredericksen.

            The passengers were A.G. Nelson, President; A.M. Penney, One of the Directors; Frank Stout, Commissary Sergeant; T.J. McGrath, General Contractor and W.P. Raidler, Master mechanic of the G.B. & Western.

            A large crowd was on hand at the depot and the band played joyous music as the train pulled in.  This was the consummation of nearly two years of effort much of which is ancient history outlined many times in the Republican but a few facts may be of interest  in regard to the actual construction of the road.

            The working survey, started on January 28th, 1907, was made by F.E. Halladay, Chief Engineer and J.M. Maxwell Ass’t. Engineer.

            Those who are not acquainted with such tasks and have only seen the field work can have no idea of the amount of labor involved in figuring out the cuts and fills, the curves and grades and making the working plans and drawings.  A thousand and one things of which the outsider knows nothing at all must be exactly computed.  This work was completed and the plans submitted for bids about May first and the contract for the construction let to the T.J. McGrath Construction about May third.  Actual construction work began about May 18th at Scandinavia.  An average of seventy-five men have been kept at work ever since.  There has been almost no delay for material beyond a few days waiting for ties.

            In the course of the completion of the work 125,000 cu. yds.of dirt had to be moved; six bridges had to be built across the branch of the Little Wolf; the sink hole at Scandinavia had to be crossed and the marsh at the marl mill bridged.

The biggest cut was one of 27 ft. height above grade from which 11,000 cu. yds. were taken and the biggest fill was 11 feet below grade and required 6500 cu. yds of earth to fill.

The sink at Scandinavia occupied 25 men for two months 500 cu yds of rock 4 acre of small tamarack timber, 12 car loads of old ties and 8,000 cubic yards of earth went into the sink hole proper and 6000 feet timbers were used on the approaches with many car loads of cinder to support the track. The fill at the marl mill bridge gave way twice because of the uneven settling.

This used up 14,000 cubic yards of earth and delayed completion for four weeks.

They began to lay steel about the fifth of October and completed the work the last week in December.  The cost of the road is $120,000 apportioned about as follows:  right of way $9,000, terminals $5,000, steel $28,000, ties and other supplies $33,000, contractor $45,000.  There are about 10 miles of main track and about a mile of side tracks and switches.