Special thanks to Chuck for the pictures and information on this line.
The former depot in Mason, Wisconsin, looking north. Fortunately the depot and the flag signal has been preserved.
This branch of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway (subsidiary of the Chicago & North Western) extended from Hudson just east of St. Paul, MN, on the still-active Union Pacific mainline from St. Paul to Milwaukee, through Turtle Lake, Spooner, Hayward, Benoit, Ashland Jct, Washburn, and ending at Bayfield, WI. A short branch extended from Ashland Jct to Ashland, WI. This was the route of Namekagon, a three car doodlebug train. Today, only the Hayward to Hayward Jct section (connecting with the ex-Soo Line main line to the west of Hayward) is in use today for revenue service. The section between Spooner and Hayward Jct has been preserved as the Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad. The WGNR offers passenger excursions between Spooner and Springbrook along the Namekagon River. Spooner was once a major hub of the Omaha Road, located at the center of the "Omaha X". See this link. The majority of the remainder of the line was abandoned in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
This is at Turtle Lake WI on the south side of town looking south.
This is the same location at Turtle Lake only now looking to the north.
This is in Mason, WI, looking south. The depot has been saved. This is the same railroad route that goes through Turtle Lake, however Mason is about 15 miles south west of Ashland, WI.
This is all that is left of the Chicago & Northwestern's yard complex in Ashland, WI. Redevelopment is in full swing. Today nothing remains and it is difficult to find this location.
Here are other links to photos and information on this line:
http://www.jlindquist.com/mapsupp4a.html
http://www.spoonertrainride.com/Downloads/History_of_the_Line.pdf