WCfan
Devils Lake
Situated in the South Baraboo Range is a crystal clear spring fed lake called Devils Lake. Devils Lake sits in a narrow and steep gorge which geologists believe was cut by an ancient river (presumably a predecessor to the Wisconsin River). This river would have flowed through a gap North East of Baraboo WI (where the Baraboo River exits the North Baraboo Range), down through the current day Devils Lake, and then through the valley in the center of the image. This river exposed the underlying layers of a hard, pink rock called Baraboo Quartize. An Ice Age 15,000 years ago deposited layers of earth and rock which dammed the north and south entrances to the Devils Lake Gorge, effectively rerouting the Wisconsin River to the east through Merrimac. This gorge was then filled with spring water forming Devils Lake.
The gorge and former river valley gave the CNW an easy way to cross the South Baraboo Range. After crossing the Wisconsin River at Merrimac, the CNW climbed the former river valley to the south entrance of the Devils Lake Gorge. Once in the gorge, the CNW skirted Devils Lake before exiting the South Baraboo Range at the north entrance of Devils Lake. Luckily for the CNW, there was also an easy exit point for the North Baraboo Range by using Ableman's Gorge at Rock Springs WI (A decent map can be found here: pages.uwc.edu/keith.montgomery/baraboo/oblq.htm).
The pink Quartzite is very characteristic of the surrounding area. Ableman's Gorge, situated in the North Baraboo Range, is the location of the quarry which supplied CNW their famous "Pink Lady" ballast. Unfortunately, it seems that last year was the quarry's last year of producing ballast. Hopefully this isn't true, but the future looks bleak.
At one time, this line was the double track mainline of the CNW from Chicago-Twin Cities. However, the steeps grades and tunnels north of Reedsburg could not compete with the table flat profile of the Adams Cutoff from Milwaukee to Wyeville. Thus, in the 1980s this line was severed as a through route from Reedsburg-Camp Douglas (south of Wyeville). Up high on the West Bluff of the Devils Lake gorge we see L463 with WSOR 4007 and 4 cars. While this measly train is a far cry from the glory days, the Reedsburg Sub still sees 6 day a week service.
Devils Lake
Situated in the South Baraboo Range is a crystal clear spring fed lake called Devils Lake. Devils Lake sits in a narrow and steep gorge which geologists believe was cut by an ancient river (presumably a predecessor to the Wisconsin River). This river would have flowed through a gap North East of Baraboo WI (where the Baraboo River exits the North Baraboo Range), down through the current day Devils Lake, and then through the valley in the center of the image. This river exposed the underlying layers of a hard, pink rock called Baraboo Quartize. An Ice Age 15,000 years ago deposited layers of earth and rock which dammed the north and south entrances to the Devils Lake Gorge, effectively rerouting the Wisconsin River to the east through Merrimac. This gorge was then filled with spring water forming Devils Lake.
The gorge and former river valley gave the CNW an easy way to cross the South Baraboo Range. After crossing the Wisconsin River at Merrimac, the CNW climbed the former river valley to the south entrance of the Devils Lake Gorge. Once in the gorge, the CNW skirted Devils Lake before exiting the South Baraboo Range at the north entrance of Devils Lake. Luckily for the CNW, there was also an easy exit point for the North Baraboo Range by using Ableman's Gorge at Rock Springs WI (A decent map can be found here: pages.uwc.edu/keith.montgomery/baraboo/oblq.htm).
The pink Quartzite is very characteristic of the surrounding area. Ableman's Gorge, situated in the North Baraboo Range, is the location of the quarry which supplied CNW their famous "Pink Lady" ballast. Unfortunately, it seems that last year was the quarry's last year of producing ballast. Hopefully this isn't true, but the future looks bleak.
At one time, this line was the double track mainline of the CNW from Chicago-Twin Cities. However, the steeps grades and tunnels north of Reedsburg could not compete with the table flat profile of the Adams Cutoff from Milwaukee to Wyeville. Thus, in the 1980s this line was severed as a through route from Reedsburg-Camp Douglas (south of Wyeville). Up high on the West Bluff of the Devils Lake gorge we see L463 with WSOR 4007 and 4 cars. While this measly train is a far cry from the glory days, the Reedsburg Sub still sees 6 day a week service.