This was RR r-o-w that:

• The City purchased from CN for a "Steal", an astronomically HIGH amount for such a short section of r-o-w. CN had to laugh all the way to the bank on that one. No wonder Canadians think all Americans to be Rubes!
• There are still unanswered question as to HOW WC ended up with this r-o-w when the Soo Line (Later CP) was paying taxes on it, right up to 1996. The Abstracts & Deeds are simply whited-out and "WISCONSIN CENTRAL Ltd" pencilled in in the "Owner" slot. No record exists of any transaction between WC purchasing & CP selling this Land, at least, not that I have heard of, and it wasn't for lack of looking on the part of the Parties opposed to this trail idea.
• 20 of 25 residents signed a petition against the use of the G-Line r-o-w for this, but were ignored by the Loathsome Asps at City Hall. Gee, like that NEVER happens in Marshchestersau!

This will be one hell of a trail route by the time the city gets done throwing money away at it: Fully Lit (Better than all the streets in Marshchestersau, save Central Avenue) and underground Storm Sewer! Much better for Bikers and Hikers to enjoy everyone else's Back Yards more, in addition to a secluded place to dump off excess Shopper's Guides, Smoke Dope, and a litany of things I can't print----but use your imaginations.

I'd be curious to see if there will be a Chain-link Fence going up along the CN/WC r-o-w where the Trail climbs up to meet the G-Line, since they are in close proximity to one another. Although the City claims otherwise, I'm sure the "Little Darlings" in the City will venture along that Trail after Dark, during the time span when the City's Ignorant Whistle Ban is in effect, and wander out on the tracks. Eastbounds are akin to "Whispering Death" around here since the hike in overall speeds on WC/CN through Marshchestersau and the Whistle Ban after 11 p.m.

Oh----it's "Marshchestersau" now, because, everything Wausau has, Marshfield wants, too.

Keith Meacham

Went through Veefkind; except for the Township ditching out where the r-o-w had crossed Veefkind Road, the r-o-w is still a very noticable scar on the Landscape. Head-high weeds cover the Greenwood Line r-o-w.

The Waist-high Iron fence around the Veefkind Cemetary is gone, however. Must've finally rusted off!! Still tended, and looks better than 20+ years ago.

I couldn't find the Veefkind Church. I either missed it or it finally collapsed and was carted off. The last time I saw it was 1977, and it was being used as a Hay Barn then.

You can see where the tracks ran east of Mill Street in Loyal, but to the West, the Village of Loyal expanded Bear Creek into a wide shallow pond which encroahes upon where the r-o-w was. Northside Elevator has grown into a unbelievable Complex of Grain Bins & Elevators. Two of their latest Grain Bin Additions now sit in the middle of where the tracks were.

The Loyal Canning Company Warehouse still stands, and is used by Northside Elevator. It has become a grassy field where the Canning building stood.

O.W. Trindal's is now owned by Vita Plus, still operating as a Feed Dealer. The Sliding Doors on each side of the Enclosed Rail/Truck Dock are still there, closed forever now to Rail Traffic that will never come. Where the Trindal Spur sidled up alongside Trindal's building, there are a pair of Truck Loading Bins now, but you can still see where the track was.

Bordens, across the Street, is closed and for sale. It looks much the same, except that the previous owners added an Enclosed Truck Dock juxtaposed from the Angle the Borden Spur came in, although you can still make out the way Borden's Spur ran by the way the Building stands.

Over in Greenwood, where the Soo Line Depot, Turntable, Main Line, House track & the Greenwood Mobil Oil Bulk Dealership were, it has been redeveloped into New $$$ Homes.

Stewart's Redville Dairy still stands, looking mostly unused but still in fairly decent shape. The Greenwood UBC is still in business, although they now have a Chain Link Fence all the way around their Property now, and have added an out door Lumber Shed behind the old Main Lumber/Showroom/Sales Building. The r-o-w where the Spur that serviced the Greenwood UBC ran is inundated with Trees & Head-high weeds, so I couldn't get a shot.

Clark Electric removed their Pole Yard where the Soo delivered New Creosoted Power Poles. However, there was a stretch of Concrete Paving left where the Steel Stands the poles were rolled onto & stored were.

Cooperative Services looks the same, except they have added a large Grain bin where the former Fairchild & North Eastern Main line was. This bin also eats up where the Spur that serviced Cooperative Services Feed Mill & Fertz Plant once ran.

They still use the Underground Unloader installed to unload Covered Hopper cars, only now to unload Semis carrying fertilzer.

Greenwood Milk Pool is now Land O' Lakes, and they are busier now than I remember when Dad was Traveling Agent on the G-Line. The Trackside Dock Doors are still there, and look to be used by Trucks.

E.J. Crane & Sons Feed Mill across Highway 73 to the east of Cooperative Services has been demolished. The Used equipment dealer east of E.J. Crane is gone also. The Greenwood Standard Oil Dealer Warehouse STILL stands next to Highway 73, marking where the F&NE Main Line crossed 73.

The CLASSIC Mobil Oil Gas Station just up the street on the Hill is gone.

Far back to the West where the F&N-E & the Soo Line joined, Greenwood has a new Wastewater Treatment Plant built right smack-dab in the middle of BOTH Railroad r-o-w's.

In all, it was a nostalgic Trip out along the Greenwood Line today; I hope to use the Photo's I took on a project later on.

Keith Meacham