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The Model: Dredgby DivisionThe Milwaukee Road owned a unique and colorful branch that was referred to as the Chestnut Street Line. Once the starting terminal of the Milwaukee and LaCrosse railway on Chestnut Street, it became a branch line when Milwaukee’s first two railroads (Milwaukee & Mississippi and the Milwaukee & St Paul) merged – but what a branch it was! Per ton-mile, this section of track produced more revenue for the railroad than any other. At one time, the area of Milwaukee near Walnut Street and the west side of the Milwaukee River was known as Brewery Hill. Two of those operations, Schlitz and Pabst, went on to become great national shipping breweries. On the east side of the river, the Blatz Brewery was also destined to grow into a national leader. This was made possible by the efficient and timely transportation provided by the Milwaukee Road on it's Chestnut Street Line. The Dredgby Division represents Bill and Tom's link between the Chestnut Street Line's Humboldt Yards, the Menomonee River Valley, and the high iron of the Milwaukee Road Lines East. The division is a fine example of the transition years when diesel locomotives were replacing steam engines. Occasionally, passenger trains are seen on the line. Often, they are VIP specials for the railroad, major shippers, or for some other special event. Passenger service on the Dredgby Division usually consists of older, but well maintained, heavyweight cars. Freight transfer runs to the Chestnut Line are frequent and heavy and consist mostly of refrigerator cars (reefers) and boxcars of grain and supplies. They are part of the steady parade of action on Bill and Tom's model that features freight destined to all points on the system. While the Milwaukee Road and Chicago & Northwestern competed aggressively in Wisconsin and the Midwest, on the Dredgby Division, a wheel agreement allows Chicago & Northwestern trains to utilize Bill and Tom's railroad. Transfer runs from the Dredgby Division to the Mitchell and Butler yards are usually pulled by an old, but modernized mogul steam locomotive. Occasionally, F-units (curiously enough, in passenger livery) and an EMD switcher work the line. For special events, a streamlined C&NW passenger set makes an appearance. The Milwaukee Road is now just a memory, though parts of it are operated profitably by other lines, most notably, Canadian Pacific. The story of Bill and Tom's Dredgby Division is only known by a few. You can now consider yourself one of the initiates into this tight circle of Milwaukee Road fans. [ Back to Top ] |
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