Wisconsin & Upper Michigan Rebuilt in 2026!An HO Scale Railroad by Bob Welke
The W&UM is set in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in the fall of 1982. It is protofreelanced based on the “what if” scenario that instead of the Canadian Pacific gaining control of the DSS&A, local interests purchased it and it, renamed it the W&UM and it remains an independent railroad relying heavily on bridge traffic between Superior and St. Ignace / Sault Ste Marie.
The modeled area is around Marquette, Michigan, the railroad’s operating headquarters and features iron ore operations from several mines to the dock in Marquette not only on the W&UM but the LS&I and C&NW as well. There are several mainline freights and local trains to fill out operations. The railroad is double decked with an approximately 425 foot mainline. The railroad is currently dispatched by track warrants (CTC is coming) with radio and phone communications.
Jobs include a Dispatcher (overseen by one of my regular dispatchers) a footboard Yardmaster at Euclid Yard (Ishpeming), a Yardmaster, two switch engines at West Yard (Marquette), two ore pool engineers (that operate several ore trains during the session), two local engineers and several road crews.
The W&UM runs a variety of first and second generation units using NCE controls and radio throttles and car card/waybills for car movements. Crews keep in contact with the Dispatcher and Trainmaster via radios and phones.
The railroad is located south of Baraboo and will be running two sessions (AM and PM) with crews swapping with Alan Schroeder’s BN Maria’s Pass midday. Lunch will be provided before heading over to Reedsburg (about a half hour drive). Railroad is in the basement (accessed by stairs) and the bathroom is on the main floor.