Wisconsin Central was a friendly railroad to be around with a camera. I frequently wandered around the engine facility, as well as locomotive and car shop at North Fond du Lac, Wisconsin—or “Shops” as it was commonly called. Sometimes it was on an officially sanctioned tour, but many times it wasn’t, and I don’t ever recall being asked to leave. It probably didn’t hurt that I occasionally bought a WC sweatshirt out of the merchandise closet from one of the managers. The one thing I do remember is how dark and sooty it was inside most of the steam-era buildings, especially when using Kodachrome 64 and 200 to photograph interiors. I did what I could with the tools of the day.
On October 8, 1994, WC EMD GP30 No. 815, acquired from the merger with Fox River Valley railroad, is about to head into the roundhouse on the wheel track, equipped with a drop pit and wheel lathe. One track over, WC SW9 No. 1231 slumbers the day away.
