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Private company

Galena and Southern Wisconsin Railroad

Former railway company in Illinois and Wisconsin founded in 18531

The Galena and Southern Wisconsin Railroad Company was a railroad company in the United States. It constructed and operated a narrow gauge line between Galena, Illinois, and near Rewey, Wisconsin, via Platteville, Wisconsin. The railroad went through multiple reorganizations in the early 1880s before becoming part of the Chicago and North Western Railway system.2 It ceased to exist in 1879.1 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

Jan 26, 1853Founded1

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The Galena and Southern Wisconsin Railroad Company was a railroad company in the United States. It constructed and operated a narrow gauge line between Galena, Illinois, and near Rewey, Wisconsin, via Platteville, Wisconsin. The railroad went through multiple reorganizations in the early 1880s before becoming part of the Chicago and North Western Railway system. The line was unified with that of the Chicago and Tomah Railroad and rebuilt as a 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) line. As the Platteville Subdivision of the Chicago and North Western, it was eventually abandoned in 1980.2

The story

The Galena and Southern Wisconsin Railroad was incorporated on January 26, 1853, in Illinois, and on March 2, 1857, in Wisconsin. After obtaining financing, construction work began in 1872 on a 3 ft (914 mm) line. The line was completely open between Galena, Illinois, and Platteville, Wisconsin, on January 1, 1875. Also serving Platteville was the Dubuque, Platteville and Milwaukee Railroad (a forerunner of the Milwaukee Road), which had opened in 1870. In 1877, the company extended its line further north toward–but short of–Montfort, Wisconsin. The line branched from the original line at Ipswich, Wisconsin, four miles east of Platteville.

In 1879 the company was reorganized as the Galena and Wisconsin Railroad. Separate companies of that name were incorporated in Illinois and Wisconsin, each owning the property of the original company in those respective states. The two companies were then consolidated into a single company, again with the same name. The Galena and Wisconsin Railroad undertook no new construction before being consolidated with the Chicago and Tomah Railroad on August 31, 1880.

From Wikipedia’s article on Galena and Southern Wisconsin Railroad, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3

Acquisitions

  1. Succeeded by Galena and Wisconsin Railroad1
  2. Succeeded by Galena and Wisconsin Railroad1

Timeline

  1. May 3, 1879Dissolved Dissolved1
  2. Jan 26, 1853Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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