Posted August 4, 2008, by J.R. Manning (thekitchenguy [at] sbcglobal [dot] net)
No one really seems to know for sure why it has that moniker.
The Bugline follows an abandoned rail right-of-way that went into service circa 1890 to service the quarry operations in Lannon. (See the category Lannon Stone for more about the quarries and stone.)
The line was built by the Milwaukee, Menomonee Falls & Western Railroad from Granville to Sussex and it was extended to Merton and North Lake about 1897. The "Bugline" was acquired by the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad (The Milwaukee Road) about 1900 and abandoned in the 1960's. (These dates are also in question but are probably accurate within a couple of years either way.)
The right-of-way from Granville to Menomonee Falls was never developed into a trail and probably never will be, since it used to cross US 41 (now a freeway) at grade, much of it is now on private property and part of it is now covered by several feet of the Omega Hills landfill in the eastern edge of Menomonee Falls.
The Merton to North Lake segment of the old short line was operated as a historic steam railroad that operated out of North Lake. That has long since ceased operation (the last run was in October, 2001) and the locomotive is now on static display in Black River Falls, Wisconsin.
Waukesha County is talking about extending the trail through North Lake and along the Oconomowoc River to Monches Park. The development is not without controversy (is any government development without its critics?) but that doesn't answer your question, does it?
As far as I know, the short line railroad was even called the Bugline and why it is called that is just one of those things lost to history.
If it was an interurban line, it may have just been a "catchy" name given to it. We had one that went through my hometown that was called the "Honey Bee" Line. Don't know that it really stood for anything, but I think it was just to promote and get people to ride it.
Hello,
I'm try to find out why the new bike trail from Menomonee Falls to Merton, Wisconsin is called the 'bug-line'. Was is because of the 'doodle bug' light gas powered passenger equipment or ?
John Miller, South Milwaukee,Wisconsin
