It snowed the day I posted this, Feb 16, 2006.
Now central Wisconsin has 8 more inches than before.
I think we have more snow than places north of us.
The ground was almost bare in places near Chippewa Falls last week.

Last weekend we went to Rice Lake, Wisconsin, to visit our nephew. He is going to the Tech school there.
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Rice Lake

Also that weekend was the Cedar Mall train show sponsored by the Barron County Model RR club. Actually, Rice Lake has three local clubs now. And some other portable railroads were on display, too.
It's fun to see something different in Wisconsin. Most shows in the eastern 2/3 of Wisconsin have the same clubs displaying. This show in the northwestern part of the state has entirely different clubs than what I'm used to seeing.
There were about 9 clubs or exhibitors of portable railroads, and three vendors of model supplies.

And Rice Lake has a 1950's neon and music theme McDonalds.


West of downtown Rice Lake is the old Chicago and Northwestern depot.

I don't know what it is used for anymore.
Just a snowmobile trail where the tracks once were.
The railhead is about a quarter mile south of here, and that track is operated by the new Wisconsin Northern Railroad.

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And while eating at the Adventures restaurant, I saw some old historic pictures of Rice Lake. Here's a depot scene from long ago.

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Link to my main page, Bruce's RailRoad Pictures

Wrote Feb 14, 2005