Natalie Wickman

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The rail yard that contributed to the beginnings of the village of Butler will soon be pared down.

Union Pacific Railroad announced that, effective Feb. 5, the Butler Yard will reduce operations and close its mechanical shop. The yard is at 11926 W. Hampton Ave. in Milwaukee, about a block east of the Butler village limits.

Union Pacific representative Kristen South would not specify how many rail yard jobs were cut, but did say that about 450 mechanical positions are being eliminated companywide as part of a streamlining effort.

Butler Village Administrator Kayla Chadwick said she heard that about 50 jobs were eliminated from the rail yard location.

The yard's mechanical shop was used to repair and service locomotives. With that gone, South said, the yard will still have trains moving in and out to serve local customers.

"The workforce reduction is a result of completed Positive Train Control installation and a reduced locomotive fleet," South said in an email. She noted that some Butler Yard jobs will be sent to Chicago's Proviso Yard.

Positive Train Control is a system designed to automatically halt trains before certain accidents can happen, according to Union Pacific's website. It cost the company an estimated $2.9 billion.

While not actually in Butler, the rail yard and village have strong ties to one another. Chadwick said Butler was created 106 years ago as a settlement for those working on the nearby railroad.

Union Pacific even designated Butler as Wisconsin's first "Train Town USA" in 2012. The title can now be seen on signs throughout the village, in addition to being used as its slogan.

"Butler wouldn't really exist without it," Chadwick said about the rail yard. "(The reduction) is obviously sad for us, and we're sorry for those people who have lost their jobs."