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The Fond du Lac, Amboy & Peoria Railway Company was chartered in 1874, during the years when narrow-gauge railroads were widely promoted. It was originally intended to connect the lumber and mineral wealth of Central Wisconsin with the coal fields of Central Illinois. Although begun with grand plans, only 29 miles of 36" gauge track were actually constructed, from the city of Fond du Lac on Lake Winnebago southward to Iron Ridge and a connection with the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul. The small railway endured business scandals, poor construction, and frequent accidents, until it was acquired by the CMStP on December 31st 1883 and promptly converted to standard gauge. This site is my effort to present the FAP story. A major source of information is the book "When Iron was King in Dodge County, Wisconsin" by George Frederick, an exhaustive compilation of the history of the iron industry in this area.
-Scott Monsma
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