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<p>In 1872, the Milwaukee & Northern Railway (M&N) constructed 16 miles of track between Hilbert, Wisconsin and Menasha, Wisconsin. In 1880, an additional 5 miles were constructed from Menasha, north to Appleton, Wisconsin; with a 1 mile branch into Neenah, Wisconsin opening in 1881. In 1893, the M&N was acquired by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway (Milwaukee Road). This line served as a branch line for the Milwaukee Road, allowing access to major cities along the Fox River and Lake Winnebago. Throughout the late 19th and early 20th Century, the Milwaukee Road greatly expanded throughout the Midwest, acquiring and constructing numerous lines. In addition, the Wisconsin Central Railway (later Soo Line) utilized trackage rights over the Neenah to Hilbert segment to reach their Hilbert to Manitowoc branch. By the early 20th Century, the Milwaukee Road was among the largest railroads in the United States, operating a network of railroad lines over 10,000 miles in length. 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. </p><p>The railroad remained afloat through much of the 20th Century, although it remained in financial trouble. The railroad again entered bankruptcy in 1977 and was forced to liquidate unprofitable lines. In 1981, the segment was abandoned between South Appleton and Appleton. A segment between the north side of Menasha and South Appleton was likely abandoned in the mid-1980s. 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. In 1987, the line was sold to the Wisconsin Central, Ltd. (WC). The WC was formed to purchase a number of secondary routes in eastern Wisconsin from the Soo Line, which included Soo Line and former Milwaukee Road trackage. In 2001, the WC was purchased by Canadian National Railway. Today, CN continues to operate the Hilbert to Neenah segment, as well as a remaining spur to the north side of Menasha. </p>
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