Riverside & Great Northern Railway in Wisconsin Dells — Live Webcam Traffic

History of the Narrow-Gauge Railway

Wisconsin Dells is known for its natural beauty and amusement parks, but its transport infrastructure is no less interesting. Originally, this unusual railway was founded in Janesville, Wisconsin, in the late 1940s as a demonstration site for locomotives and rolling stock by Sandley Light Railway Equipment Works. In 1952, the facility was relocated to the former right-of-way of the La Crosse and Milwaukee Railroad near Wisconsin Dells, where it continues to operate to this day, attracting tourists from around the world.

Technical Features and Rolling Stock

The Riverside & Great Northern Railway is a heritage tourist railway with a narrow 15-inch (381 mm) gauge, classified as a miniature narrow-gauge railway. The route spans 2 miles (about 3.2 km). The core of the traction fleet consists of Atlantic-type 4-4-2 steam locomotives (numbers 128, 127, 1916), built at the Sandley Light Railway Equipment Works. These compact yet powerful machines are exact replicas of their full-size prototypes, adapted for narrow gauge.

Geographical Location and Surroundings

The route passes through picturesque rock formations, forests, and canyons along the Wisconsin River. The railway is located along the former right-of-way of the La Crosse and Milwaukee Railroad, near the Wisconsin River. The online video surveillance shows not only the tracks but also the parallel road and an overpass bridge, allowing you to assess the traffic in this area of Wisconsin Dells.

Tourist Significance and Infrastructure

The railway is one of the key tourist attractions of Wisconsin Dells, operating as a living railway museum with an educational center, exhibitions, and a gift shop. It is operated by the Riverside and Great Northern Preservation Society and includes the former Sandley Light Railway Equipment Works — a manufacturer of miniature locomotives for zoos and other companies. The site also houses one of the best technical libraries dedicated to the intricacies of steam equipment production.

What You Can See on the Camera

This live webcam broadcasts a railway section with two blue locomotives and a passenger car on the tracks. Surrounding them are green vegetation and trees. In the foreground is a road running parallel to the railway tracks. On the right, an overpass bridge/transition is visible. In the lower left corner, an information block displays the dates and times of the last five trains that passed. The live traffic on this section allows you to assess the intensity of tourist trips and the movement of miniature trains.