By 1880 the Milwaukee Road had bought rights to this corridor and constructed a spur from Brodhead to Albany, but it was still 16 miles from New Glarus.

New Glarus offered $20,000 to the Milwaukee Road to build a track to town, but the railroad wanted a $40,000 contribution for that favor.

[3] In 1886, the Chicago, Madison and Northern Railroad started building a competing line which missed New Glarus by four miles.

Concerned about the competition, the Milwaukee Road finally extended its line from Brodhead, making New Glarus its new terminus.

At New Glarus, the Milwaukee Road built a turntable, an engine house, stockyards, and other structures along with the depot.