WISCONSIN CENTRAL SEES RECORD 4TH-QUARTER EARNINGS

WISCONSIN CENTRAL SEES RECORD 4TH-QUARTER EARNINGS       Wisconsin Central Transportation Corp. said net income for the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31 was a record $18.3 million, up from $17.4 million in the fourth quarter of 1998.
      North American operating income was $25.5 million, flat with last year's results. Operating revenues of $91.4 million were up nearly 6 percent from the year-earlier period, showing increases in nearly every commodity group.
      For the year, the company saw net income of $66.9 million, down from $76.3 million for 1998. Wisconsin Central's 1999 results were impacted by a pretax personal reorganization charge of $3.9 million in the third quarter. 1998 results were improved by a pretax income of $5.4 million related to the sale of rights under a transportation agreement. Without the 1999 charge and 1998 income, the income would have been $46.7 million for 1999 and $45.8 million for 1998.