Mission accomplished
It didn't take long for me to reach the days objective and cross it off the list. I reached Chippewa Falls and headed right to Norma. The morning handoff of cars between Wisconsin Northern and Union Pacific was just wrapping up with the UP departing to head back to Altoona. I headed right across the river to set up for my shot. The air was still and holding at about -15 as I scrambled up to the bridge. Thankfully it wasn't a long wait and I could see the train as they made their way across the river and eased into the curve approaching the diamond.
LTS82 didn't have any cars from the WN this day, only 5 gondolas destined for the Alter Metal scrap yard at Eau Claire making the trip up in order to be spotted there on the way back. The empties provided imperceptible resistance yet the frigid air had the exhaust lingering above the train. The crossing with the CN is seen in the background.
In putting together a book about the Minneapolis Sub I knew I wanted to show this crossing yet through many visits I had never caught a train here. While CN makes more moves over the diamond in a week their schedule is pretty problematic. Road trains are at night, the local is also at night, heading out before dark in the longest days of summer, but heading away and always coming back in the dark. The UP local out of Altoona on the other hand is a much more reliable play, making a morning run up to Norma on weekdays (3 times a week I believe). Much of the year, this mid-day return happens in high sun but you can't go wrong in January.
I knew the crossing was a location worth showing but in writing the book I learned what a pivotal place this has been for Chippewa Valley railroading going back to the beginning. At different points in time, 7 different alignments have radiated out from this spot. I had summarized the history and put together a map showing what went where though the years, the only thing missing was a present day photo. I was pretty trilled to get it once my fingers thawed out. January 20, 2025.
Mission accomplished
It didn't take long for me to reach the days objective and cross it off the list. I reached Chippewa Falls and headed right to Norma. The morning handoff of cars between Wisconsin Northern and Union Pacific was just wrapping up with the UP departing to head back to Altoona. I headed right across the river to set up for my shot. The air was still and holding at about -15 as I scrambled up to the bridge. Thankfully it wasn't a long wait and I could see the train as they made their way across the river and eased into the curve approaching the diamond.
LTS82 didn't have any cars from the WN this day, only 5 gondolas destined for the Alter Metal scrap yard at Eau Claire making the trip up in order to be spotted there on the way back. The empties provided imperceptible resistance yet the frigid air had the exhaust lingering above the train. The crossing with the CN is seen in the background.
In putting together a book about the Minneapolis Sub I knew I wanted to show this crossing yet through many visits I had never caught a train here. While CN makes more moves over the diamond in a week their schedule is pretty problematic. Road trains are at night, the local is also at night, heading out before dark in the longest days of summer, but heading away and always coming back in the dark. The UP local out of Altoona on the other hand is a much more reliable play, making a morning run up to Norma on weekdays (3 times a week I believe). Much of the year, this mid-day return happens in high sun but you can't go wrong in January.
I knew the crossing was a location worth showing but in writing the book I learned what a pivotal place this has been for Chippewa Valley railroading going back to the beginning. At different points in time, 7 different alignments have radiated out from this spot. I had summarized the history and put together a map showing what went where though the years, the only thing missing was a present day photo. I was pretty trilled to get it once my fingers thawed out. January 20, 2025.