The company was consolidated with the Chicago and North Western Railway (C&NW) in 1871, prior to the completion of the line.

This would connect a though line of the Chicago and North Western Railway with its subsidiary, the Winona and St. Peter Railroad.

In 1874, the C&NW reported an expenditure for its three tunnels of $476,743.32 and for the construction of 129 miles of railroad between Madison and Winona Junction of $5,342,169.96.

[6] As completed by the Chicago and North Western Railway, the line ran 129.10 miles (207.77 km) from Madison to Winona Junction.

[7] The line west of Sparta was abandoned in 1977 in favor of trackage rights over the Milwaukee Road's parallel Tomah Subdivision.