News: Clark County - Soo Line Railroad abandons service

Contact: Kathleen E. Englebretson
Email: kathy@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

---Source: Marshfield News-Herald (15 December 1981)

Soo Line Railroad Company hereby gives notice that on or about December 31, 1981, it intends to file with the Interstate Commerce Commission, Washington, D.C. 20423, an application for a certificate permitting the abandonment of a lie of railroad known as the Greenwood line extending from railroad milepost 0.0 in Marshfield, to the end of the line in Greenwood, a distance of 22.66 miles in Wood and Clark Counties, Wisconsin. The line for which the abandonment application will be filed including the stations of Spokeville at milepost 13.1, Loyal at milepost 16.4 and Greenwood at milepost 22.66.

Traffic originating or terminating at Soo Line stations on the line in recent years has declined to a level that fails to support a serviceable operation. During each of the years 1979 and 1980 and a base year ending June 30, 1981, total avoidable costs incurred in operating the line exceeded total revenue attributable to the line. Abandonment of the line will permit the Soo Line to avoid these losses in future years.

Granting of said application will permit the Soo Line to eliminate 11 bridges, 29 public grade crossing, 25 private grade crossing and 141 culverts and miscellaneous structures, It will also permit the Soo Line to recover a return of at least $50,000 per year on the net market value of assets current;y occupied by the track structure; a concept commonly referred to as "opportunity cost."

This line of railroad has appeared on the system diagram map since March of 1977.