Rail development in this area began in 1871 from Hudson, Wisconsin, by the North Wisconsin Railroad Company and was completed by the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railroad Company to Ashland, Superior, and Eau Claire by 1890. The Chicago and Northwestern Railway Company acquired the Omaha in 1892, but did not operate the Omaha lines here under the Chicago and Northwestern name until 1956. In 1882, division headquarters were moved from Chandler, two miles north, to Spooner, the center of this area, which was named for Senator John C. Spooner. A large passenger depot, freight depot, express office, restaurant, switching yards, roundhouse, locomotive and car shops, lumberyards, and division offices for the superintendent, trainmasters, dispatchers, master mechanic, road masters, and bridges and buildings supervisors were built here. Altogether, about 600 people worked here during this period, including depot and freight agents, engineers, firemen, conductors, brakemen, switchmen, repairmen, baggagemen, expressmen, and office workers. Every day, eighteen passenger trains, eleven logging trains, ten freight trains, four section crews, and fifty-five chain gang crews ran out of Spooner. Passenger service ended in 1961. Wood-burning engines were used from 1871 to 1885, standard coal-burning hand-fired engines until 1912, Mikado heavier engines began to be used in 1913, stokers in 1930, and diesels in 1950. Spooner continued as an important Chicago and Northwestern railroad center, handling tremendous tonnage, and its large payroll was a vital part of the area's economy.