Regarding "State on the wrong track" Wisconsin was one of the early track purchasers as South Dakota was to save the old MILW properties. Knowing that someday by railbanking and directed service operators that the RRs would servive in those states.

Now 27 yrs later directed service RR WSOR who owns little of the trackage but reaps the rewards of all the business has the arrogance (Bill Gardner) to act like a "19th century rail barron" or was it robber barron! Needless to say the WSOR organization has done a great job in turning the old MILW lines into a thriving business. This was possible of course by the state owning the lines and paying for 80% of the costs. Bill was rich when he came in but he has grown alot richer thanks to the Wisconsin tax payers.

Maybe its time that Wisconsin follows South Dakota in the sale of its rail lines. The sale in SD put agood chunk of cash into the state coffers showing that their 1980 investment was well worth the effort. Selling 600 miles of rail lines in Wisconsin would generate some serious cash fo the taxpayers who are themajor investors.

Time to privatize is here. Bill Gardner can purchase the lines and spend all the money he needs to get the track back to the safe condition that he needs to operate his trains. If Bill is not interested in the purchase I'm sure there are a number of operaters out there that alreadyown their own shortlines and would be willing to invest in the 600 mile Wisconsin rail system.