Hillsboro and Northeastern Railway

A small look at a small railroad located in Hillsboro, Wisconsin. All photos were taken by JL Krotzman between 1974 and 1985.
Music: www.bensound.com

[@John1995wis]

I have some images of the line in my mind.
Live only 20 or so miles from Union Center. I do remember clearly the hopper sitting on the siding waiting for the H&NE to pick up in Union Center .... after the railroad closed.

[@paulbergen9114]

Thanks for putting this on the screen. Only once did i see it in operation and ithat was the engine just sitting waiting for the CNW. In the mid 80s was at a café in Hillsboro and the man sitting by me wondered why I had stopped. When he heard. I was checking out the rr he got some keys and opened up the engine house. They looked like orphans but it was a thoughtful goodbye

[@ianr2003]

Great video, thank you for sharing.

[@bjkrotzman8767]

Made special for you.

[@barabbastrebuchet1417]

I remember climbing up on one of the ore cars and looking in. It was full of dead animals. I don't remember exactly what they were. Sheep or goats?

[@bjkrotzman8767]

Interesting.

[@captainhuggyface6731]

what did the H&NE even carry, grain, home goods, what?

[@bjkrotzman8767]

Mostly fertilizer and misc ag products.

[@captainhuggyface6731]

@@bjkrotzman8767 thanks, i've been trying to make a theoretical map of the line, i cant find any maps online, so this may help

[@bjkrotzman8767]

@@captainhuggyface6731 dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/hillsboro/maps
This link is to a map of the state trail that was built on the rail bed.

[@captainhuggyface6731]

@@bjkrotzman8767 thanks

[@loritobin2578]

Besides the obvious deterioration of track conditions, what was the reason this railroad closed down anyways?

[@bjkrotzman8767]

The railroad was owned by the local co-op. Carloadings were minimal and they wanted to get out of the railroad business. They tried selling it but found no buyer. The CNW was the only outside connection and abandoned their line between Reedsburg and Camp Douglas soon after.

[@captainhuggyface6731]

@@bjkrotzman8767 this is such a quaint railway, and the engineers sounded friendly, too bad it closed