Looking for photos and information on the Hillsboro and Northeastern Railway

Trains Magazine General Discussion
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Hello,

I’m looking for any photos and information that anyone may have on the Hillsboro and Northeastern railway, a little railroad that ran from Hillsboro to Union Center Wisconsin from about 1906 to the 1980’s. I especially need photos, and if anyone has any that they can e-mail me, I’d really appreciate it. My addess is: hofrichter@jvlnet.com Thanks for your time.

Noah Hofrichter
Reedsburg WI

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Chartered on Oct. 9. 1901 and opened in 1903. Bought by Raymond S. Knower during Jan. 1978. Had a Plymouth 35ton #5 built in 1933 and a Davenport 45 ton #6 built in 1942. Embargoed April 1985 and abandoned Feb. 1987. Is that any help ?

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Does a little, I didn’t know someone different bought it in 1973, and I didn’t know the exact opening dates. Thanks alot.

Noah

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Have you tried Google lately? I just found pictures of 2 steam engines as well as ##5 and #6

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http://donsdepot.donrossgroup.net/dr121.htm

Noah: When you get on the above link “Wisconsin Short Lines” AScroll down to the section labeled Hillsboro and Northeastern. There is a description of the railroads operation and construction. also the first of several photos shows H&N’s 4-4-0 #! in some kind of altercation with a boxcar, and several of some of their eaquipment and Corporate shops and HQ.

Here’s a links to photo of H&N #6 on (fallenflags.org/NE Rails)

http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/misc-h/hne6m.jpg

Hope this will help.

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Mr. Hofrichter, I noted this post while doing a search on the H&NE. I have a few photos (copies) that I have gathered over the years. Other than that I depend on very vague memories of the line. It so happens I am right up the road from you in Lyndon Station. Feel free to contact me if you wish to obtain copies, and perhapes you have photos as well.

A side note. I am considering entering the ‘open class’ at this years Juneau County Fair with a layout of the H&NE / CNW conection at Union Center. To emphisise the one time, and future need for rail roads. Thought this may seem of interest to you.

Thanks, John Hersil.

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I got a ‘ride’ on the H&NE in the mid 70’s - they had a small end cab switcher(#6), and another small ‘critter’ that was dead in the engine house(6 wheel). At that time they were making money by ‘storing’ tank cars all over the railroad.

At one time, the Mid Continent tourist railroad actually used their trackage for about a year(1962) before they acquired the ex-C&NW branch down the line at North Freedom(1963).

Jim

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Noah, through a Google search on the H&NE I saw your request for photos on the Trains discussion board dated 2005. I have 17 B&W photos I took on a visit to the railroad in July 1959. I plan to scan them for the trainorders.com Nostalgia & History board. Are you still interested?

Dave Haynes, ejeoperator@gmail.com

http://members.trainorders.com/nkp759/EJE1963/EJEindex.html

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I got a ride too, my first cab ride; round trip Hillsboro to Union Center in the morning and a walk one way in the afternoon. I had walked over from Wonewoc to see the C&NW steamer that i had read was being stored in Hillsboro for the Mid-Continent but what i got was way more exciting than a dead steam engine.

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I am interested in seeing any pictures of your County Fair display. I took pictures while on my hike (perhaps in 1957) but i did a poor job of keeping negatives or prints (as in did not keep any) and i would like to refresh my 77 year old brain.