Wilson Street T-Trak module

[keeper]

If you look at the upper right and lower left of this map, you will see that E. WILSON street was diverted, removed and turned into a trail. The trackage is still there. Opposite the tracks from the trail is a nice skate park where the homes once were.

@Lemosteam
I just need to ask.... 
Isn't this the location where the train is?

[Lemosteam]

So if I get this right, then the tracks are still there but all houses are gone?
I always thought that the Capitol City Trail is what was once the Milw trackage on both ends of E Wilson.
That means there was never a train on E Wilson / S Dickinson...

Possibly not.  The yellow line below represents the current ROW.  The light purple, is a perfectly straight line connecting the northeast end of E Wilson, and the Southeast end of E Wilson prior to re-routing it into Williamson.  You might consider Ingersoll Street (named after a famous Wisconsinite) as your cross street where the ROW is perpendicular to the street.  Unless there was a yard on the north side of the ROW, there would be housing here.

But your image clearly shows E Wilson down the center. So maybe there was an ROW that routed northeast away from the curve in the image.  Not sure where to look for historical images.

[keeper]

When you follow the Capital City Trail on the Northeast end of E Wilson to the point where it crosses the Yahara river, the bridge looks like a railroad bridge to me.

[nickelplate759]

you can find old maps and aerial photos here:    https://www.historicaerials.com/viewer

It looks like there used to be a rail line down East Wilson St. to the northeast of the view posted by @Lemosteam.

[keeper]

you can find old maps and aerial photos here:    https://www.historicaerials.com/viewer

It looks like there used to be a rail line down East Wilson St. to the northeast of the view posted by @Lemosteam.

Thanks for the link. It seems there was a lot going on, more than just a few tracks.

[garethashenden]

This is from a 1959 USGS map. It shows a Milwaukee line going straight alongside Wilson Street. I think we can infer from the photograph that started this that its actually running down the street, but the map is too small a scale. The railroad that is still there curves away towards the north. This then splits into a Milwaukee line and a Chicago & Northwestern line.

[Lemosteam]

I found this. Looks like about 1948? (Left hand border)

Looks like Wilson street running was definite.

[Lemosteam]

@Lemosteam
I just need to ask.... 
Isn't this the location where the train is?

Sure looks like it!

[milw156]

@keeper

This is nearby as well.  https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0676796,-89.3943311,3a,43y,333.86h,88t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1szwYBr3mrKqsJh74r13-siQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu

FWIW, and for as little sense as it makes, that "Milwaukee" loco is actually a former Pennsy E-8, (5896) repainted as a Milwaukee unit. The "real Milwaukee 35A was an E-9.
also came across this:
https://www.historicmadison.org/railroadstations

Also, if you like street running, and I am very guilty of that, check out Bellevue Iowa on the CPKC River sub between the Quad cities and Minneapolis on Steel Highways Youtube channel: 

[keeper]

Worked a bit on the factory ruin.

[keeper]

...

Also, if you like street running, and I am very guilty of that, check out Bellevue Iowa on the CPKC River sub between the Quad cities and Minneapolis on Steel Highways Youtube channel: 

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Are there times when you will definately see a train?

[milw156]

No, but you can slide the red circle on the redlined timeline along the bottom to the left and watch until there is activity, should be able to go back 12 hours or so. Same thing works on Virtual Railfan YouTube channel.

[keeper]

This will be the set-up for the shops/restaurant.



The left building is a stand-in and will be replaced with another one of that type.



I quite like it how the ballast has turned out.



More shrubbery at the destroyed factory.

[keeper]

I'm not sure about the road markings. What would make sense for such a crossing?



Right now I'm thinking, each traffic direction will get a Stop sign. That would be three white lines.
Wilson Street will get no further markings but the road crossing the tracks will get a yellow line in the middle.

Would that make sense?

[pdx1955]

I think that make sense if all directions are stopped.Also, the stop  sign would probably be mounted on the same post (below) as the railroad crossing sign for the street that crosses the tracks to save space.