Welcome to the
Duplainville Homepage
"Where the Old Soo crosses the New Soo,"
Duplainville, Wisconsin
Serving Proudly Since 1886
An Official Wisconsin Railroad Commissioner ( Uncle Rodney ) Approved Train Watching Location
Sometime between 1911 and Jan 1, 1929 when it burned down.
Dean Kedinger Collection from "The Soo" Magazine
Photo looking west. Thomas Manz Collection, circa 1930
The above picture is courtesy of Tim Snopek, Photographer www.timsnopek.com
Both are history now!
Photo by "The Lake Country Reporter" - Hartland, WI
History
Duplainville, Wisconsin, an unincorporated community within the Township of Pewaukee, is located about 15 miles west of Milwaukee at Milepost 102.2 on the CP main or Milepost 102.6 on the WC. It is between Waukesha and Sussex, Wisconsin. In about 1855, the Milwaukee Road built its track west from Brookfield Junction toward Portage and Minneapolis for a faster route than what had been over the Prairie du Chien Line to the Mississippi river or the Northern Lines thru North Milwaukee, Rugby Jct, Hartford, Horicon and Beaver Dam. In 1885-86, the Wisconsin Central Railroad built south from Rugby Jct to Chicago. Hence their tracks crossed in Duplainville.
A tower was erected in the northwest quadrant of the diamond in 1890. William Alvord was the chief operator for many years. He lived a short distance from the crossing. With heavy winter snow, additional help was hired to keep the tracks and switches clear. Although there were signals and gates at the Duplainville Road highway crossing, there were numerous accidents and some lives were lost. The tower burned down on January 1, 1929. A new brick building was then built. It was finally torn down in 1987 after a much needed connection track to the old Soo was built and CTC was installed. The diamond was then controlled from Milwaukee. During 1962, the Wisconsin Central, DSS&A and Soo Line combined to what is now known as the Soo Line. After the SOO Line purchased the Milwaukee Road in 1985, the Old SOO ( former Wisconsin Central ) crossed the New SOO (former Milwaukee Rd. ) at Duplainville.
Trains
Today, there are numerous trains that cross the diamond at Duplainville. The Wisconsin Central runs about 25 trains per day as well as a Fond du Lac-Milwaukee turn. There are also moves by the WSOR between Slinger and Waukesha. The CP runs about 22 trains per day in addition to Amtrak 7 & 8.
Radio Channels
CN/WC 161.295 mc/s & 160.260 mc/s
CP/SOO 161.520 mc/s
WSOR 160.575 mc/s
FRED 452.9375/457.9375 mc/s
Ham Radio Trainwatching Frequencies
146.490 mc/s
146.565 mc/s
223.620 mc/s
442.100 mc/s
446.050 mc/s
1294.426 mc/s
How to Get Here
Getting here is rather simple. Take Interstate I-94 west from Milwaukee to State Highway F ( AKA Redford Blvd ) at Waukesha (American TV ). Exit and go north on Hwy F to the 3rd stop and go lights ( just north of Albe Ready Mix ). Bear right on Duplainville Road and go north about 3/4 mile to the CP tracks. You may park on the south side of Marjean Lane or just south of the tracks on Dupy.
To get to the CN/WC tracks, continue north on Duplainville Road across the CP double main to Green Road. Then right ( east ) to the tracks. To get to North Duplainville on the CN/WC, just continue north on Duplainville Rd about 1 1/2 miles to Lisbon Rd ( Hwy K ).
WARNING: Please watch your speed when in the area. The City Police run RADAR and LASER, especially on Hwy F/Redford Blvd. They are also on Dupy Rd occasionally.
CP-2816 at Sturtevant on September 2, 2007
Railroad Crossings Updated 7-26-08
Little Pewaukee Oops 7-4-08
2nd Train Thru Reeseville Marsh Flood 6-29-08
Remodeled Hartland Freight House
CP Shoo Fly at Brookfield 6-1-08
UP 6936 Xtra at Sussex 4-17-08
Ken's Milw Rd X-5000 Chili ( an unsolicited ad )
Andy's Duplainville Meatloaf Recipe with Ken's Chili Flavoring New
Nashotah Action 2-28-08
Loram Opps 11-6-07
Opps with the WC 7518 at Payne & Dolan at Waukesha
Empire Builder #7 Anniversary Trip
Dropping some CWR in Brookfield, WI
CP 584's Crew--at Least the Conductor
Dupy Passenger Train Crash of 1956
Opps with Amtrak #7 7-20-02 A Darwin Award candidate.
North Waukesha Derailment on 1-31-02
Truck vs Train Crash near Duplainville
More local Milwaukee Road History
Milwaukee Road History in Pewaukee
The Railroad Comes to Pewaukee ( 1856-1971)
Emergency RR Crossing Telephone Numbers
Cross Crossings Cautiously
For more information about Duplainville or any other questions/comments, I can be contacted by E-mail on the World Wide Web. Constructive criticism is always gratefully accepted.
Email: andymueller at dupyrail dot com
Site Updated 7-26-2008
Note: The Duplainville Homepages are Copywritten© material in 1997 - 2008 by Andrew Mueller. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.
