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<p>In 1855, the Milwaukee and Horicon Rail Road (M&H) began building a 42-mile railroad line from Horicon, Wisconsin, north to Berlin, Wisconsin. The line would be completed in 1857, connecting to the La Crosse & Milwaukee Railroad (LC&M) line at Horicon. Soon after completion, communities in the area advocated for railroad service to be extended to their communities. The Ripon & Wolf River Railroad (R&WR) constructed a 10 mile branch line between Rush Lake, Wisconsin and Omro, Wisconsin in 1860. All three railroads became part of the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway (M&stP) in 1863. An additional 5 miles of railroad was constructed between Omro and Winnecone, Wisconsin by the M&StP in 1868. In 1871, the Oshkosh and Missisippi River Railroad (O&MR) constructed 19 miles of new railroad, extending from Ripon, Wisconsin to Oshkosh, Wisconsin. In 1874, the M&StP became the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad (Milwaukee Road). In 1883, the Markesan & Brandon Railway (M&B) constructed 12 miles of new railroad, extending from Brandon, Wisconsin to Markesan, Wisconsin. In 1893, the O&MR was acquired by the Milwaukee Road, followed by the M&B in 1903.</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, financial conditions for the Milwaukee Road continued to deteriorate. This line began to fall into disrepair, and traffic over the line began to lighten. In 1973, the Rush Lake to Winnecone segment was abandoned. The railroad again entered bankruptcy in 1977, and was forced to liquidate unprofitable lines. The lines from Horicon to Oshkosh and Brandon to Markesan lines were sold to the State of Wisconsin in 1980, which leased it to the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad (WSOR) the same year. A segment east of US Highway 41 (now Interstate 41) in Oshkosh was abandoned in the 1980s, as was the Ripon to Berlin segment. Since being acquired by the State of Wisconsin, the lines have seen a number of upgrades, including replacement of rail and ties. Today, WSOR continues to operate the Horicon to Oshkosh segment as the Oshkosh Subdivision, and the Brandon to Markesan segment as the Markesan Subdivision.</p>
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