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<p>In 1894, William Bradley organized the Marinette, Tomahawk & Western Railway Company (MT&W) to construct a short line railroad to serve the paper mills of the Tomahawk, Wisconsin area, located along the Wisconsin River. The Bradley organization constructed 14 miles of new railroad, extending from Tomahawk, Wisconsin to Harrison, Wisconsin in 1896. In addition, the Wisconsin and Chippewa Railway (W&C) constructed 6 miles between Tomahawk and Bradley, Wisconsin in 1898; as well as a 14 mile branch between Jersey City, Wisconsin and Spirit Falls, Wisconsin. The W&C was acquired by the MT&W in 1898. In 1912, the railroad lines were consolidated into a new MT&W company. This series of lines provided access to lumber operations east and west of Tomahawk, as well as access to paper mills in Tomahawk and connections to other major railroads. On the south end, the railroad connected to the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad (Milwaukee Road) line, which ran north from Wausau, Wisconsin. On the north end, the railroad connected to the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railway (Soo Line) line that ran between Minneapolis, Minnesota and Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. </p><p>The railroad was a small operation, and was generally not considered to be a common carrier company. Instead, the Wisconsin Railroad Commission classified it as a logging railroad. After William Bradley died in 1903, the line between Tomahawk and Harrison was leased to the Tomahawk & Eastern Railroad (T&E). The line between Tomahawk and Spirit Falls was abandoned in 1932, and the line between Tomahawk and Harrison was abandoned in 1948. The MT&W continued independent operations until 2005, when it was purchased by Genesee & Wyoming, a conglomerate of short line railroads throughout the United States. Upon purchase by Genesee & Wyoming, the name was changed to the Tomahawk Railway (TR). Currently, the TR operates 6 miles of track, extending from Bradley into Tomahawk. The railroad mainly serves a pulpboard mill, as well as some other industries in Tomahawk. </p>
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