| A CN container train traverses the S-curve at the north end of the former SOO yard at Neenah, WI, on 27 Jun. '20. Train had two locomotives, CN 3850 pulling as well as CN 3236 mid-train. The remnants of the foundation from the ca. 1955 masonry SOO depot lie on the other side of the train. There are rail sections supported by concrete blocks and railroad ties stacked upon it. It was built to replace the wooden depot built in 1891 on Sherry St., about 850 ft. to the southeast, which was torn down soon after the new one opened. The historic Neenah Stove Works, currently occupied by Hafemeister Machine Corp., 635 Main St., and International Children's Fund, 619 Main St., is partially visible in the background to the left. The oldest part of the facility dates to 1857, when the Moore & Wells foundry was established. Arrowhead Park, a closed paper sludge landfill, is partially visible to the right. Before the landfill was opened in the '50s, the south shore of Little Lake Butte des Morts came right up to the north leg of the wye. Eggers Div. of VT Industries, 164 N. Lake St., Neenah, WI, an active rail customer, stands near the center of the background. Founded at Neenah, WI, in 1910 as Hardwood Products Co., construction of the facility commenced in Oct. ’10. It was renamed Hardwood Products Corp. as a result of a merger with Mississippi Veneer & Lumber Co. on 20 Apr. ’22 (the latter company was formed by the same businessmen who founded the Neenah company). Eggers Industries acquired Hardwood Products Corp. in 1965 and renamed it Eggers Hardwood Products Corp. Eggers was founded by Fred W. Eggers at Two Rivers, WI in 1884 to make wood baskets used by farmers. They later started making plywood and other wood veneer products. The name was changed to simply Eggers Industries at some point. It was acquired by Holstein, IA, based VT Industries, Inc., on 2 Oct. ’18 |