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<p>Between 1855 and 1858, the Watertown and Madison Railroad (W&M) constructed 24 miles of new railroad, extending from Watertown, Wisconsin to Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. The W&M was sold at foreclosure to Russell Sage in October 1858, and the railroad line was sold to the Milwaukee, Watertown and Baraboo Valley Railroad (MW&BV) shortly after. The railroad changed its name to the Milwaukee and Western Railroad (M&W) in 1861, and was sold to the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway (M&StP) in 1863. By the end of 1869, the M&StP would complete an additional 18 miles from Sun Prairie to Madison. In 1874, the M&StP was reorganized as the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway (Milwaukee Road). This line would serve as a connecting line for the Milwaukee Road, and provided an alternative route between Watertown, Wisconsin and Portage, Wisconsin.</p><p>The Milwaukee Road was often in financial trouble, especially after the costly Pacific Extension was completed in 1909. In 1925, the company declared bankruptcy, and reorganized as the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad in 1928. Throughout the 20th Century, the railroad often was in debt. The railroad again entered bankruptcy in 1977. By 1985, a suitor for the Milwaukee Road was being sought, and the Soo Line Railroad, controlled by Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) purchased the Milwaukee Road in 1986. Because the line was excess, it was leased to the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad (WSOR) in 1998, and WSOR acquired the line in 2003. Since being acquired by WSOR, the line has seen numerous upgrades. WSOR continues to operate the line as the Watertown Subdivision.</p>
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