The line would be continued in 1874 to Wausau.
Meanwhile, far south of Wausau, the Necedah and Camp Douglas Railroad Company built north from New Lisbon in 1877, connecting to the main line in New Lisbon.
The new line would meet up with the existing Wisconsin Valley Line at Babcock.
In 1879, the Wisconsin Valley Railroad Company would continue north to Merrill from Wausau.
In 1878, the Necedah and Camp Douglas would be absorbed by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, which had since absorbed the east/west mainline to which it connected.
The same thing happened to the Wisconsin Valley Railroad Company in 1880.
In 1887, the extension from Merrill Was opened to Minoqua by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul.
A connection from Babcock to Necedah was built in 1890 by the Lisbon, Necedah and Lake Superior Railway, which was effectively bought by the emerging CM&StP in 1891.
The idea of expansion continued as the CM&StP continued to Star Lake in 1895. In 1914, a branch was opened from Merrill.
Both expansions served as logging railroads to cut lumber from the rich forests of northern Wisconsin.
The CM&StP became the Chicago, Milwaukee St. Paul & Pacific Railway in 1912 during an expansion to the Pacific.
The road became known as the "Milwaukee Road". The Milwaukee Road was often a weak railroad, although the infrastructure would suggest otherwise.
The first abandonments came in 1925 and 1934 when the Tomah-Norway Ridge and the Norway Ridge-Babcock Sections were removed, respectively.
By 1942, a cash-strapped Milwaukee Road decided to scrap both the line from Merrill, and the line north of Minoqua.
In 1972, the Milwaukee Road abandoned everything until 1972, which became the Bear Skin Trail near after.
Once the Milwaukee Road entered bankruptcy in 1985, which would eventually be purchased by the Soo Line.
By 1987, the Wisconsin Central Ltd bought a ton of former Soo Line lines, this one being one.
The WC was purchased by Canadian National in 2001, who continues to operate this line as the Valley Subdivision, under the Wisconsin Central Ltd brand.
10/25/22
Located near the long forgotten station of Pine River south of Merrill, this pony truss crosses the Pine River.
Originally built in 1900 as part of a three span bridge over the Wapsipinicon River at Olin, Iowa; this span was here in 1913. The other two spans were moved to the New Wood River line north of Merrill.
The bridge consists of a 6-panel, pin connected Pratt Pony Truss, set onto timber piers and approached by trestle
At least one other span from Olin is known to exist, located near Menomonie, Wisconsin. The third span was reused at Bridge #G-1904 across the New Wood River on the same line as the Copper River Bridge, but it is unknown what happened to that span.
Railroads oftentimes reused material, particularly along branch lines. This truss design was a standard design, and dozens were constructed. Today, many still exist.
The author has ranked this bridge as being moderately significant, due to the truss design.
The photo above is an overview.