| An interesting and unique CN train heads north past the north end of the former SOO yard at Neenah, WI, on 24 Oct. '20. This view would have been prevented by the dominating silhouette of the original Neenah Foundry facility, later known as Plant 1, which stood here for over ¾’s of a century. Established in 1872 as Aylward Plow Works (a.k.a. Aylward & Sons) at 120 N. Lake St., they erected a new foundry at 500 W. Winneconne Ave. in 1918 “in a rural area of southwestern Neenah.” The name of Neenah Foundry was adopted in 1922. Expanded numerous times over the years, it became Plant 1 in 1960 when Plant 2 was constructed in the then rural area at the intersection of Byrd Ave. and the aptly named Aylward St. (followed by Plant 3 in 1967). Plant 1 was closed in 1994, the corporate overlords didn’t want to spend any money to update the plant. It stood abandoned for a while and was eventually demolished. Galloway Co., Inc., an active rail customer along a remnant of the former C&NW main line, is partially visible in the background. The facility was started in 1927 at 601 S. Commercial St. as Neenah Milk Products, Galloway took it over in 1955. The facility has been expanded over the old right-of-way since some portions of the main line were pulled up. |