<PAGE>
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Amendment No.: 5*
Name of Issuer: Wisconsin Central Transportation Corporation
Title of Class of Securities: Common Stock
CUSIP Number: 97659210-5
Check the following line if a fee is being paid with this statement . (A
fee is not required only if the filing person: (1) has a previous statement
on file reporting beneficial ownership of more than five percent of the class
of securities described in Item 1; and (2) has filed no amendment subsequent
thereto reporting beneficial ownership of five percent or less of such
class.)(See Rule 13d-7).
*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting
person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of
securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which
would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be
deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section
of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however,
see the Notes).
<PAGE>
CUSIP No.: 97659210-5
1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
Janus Capital Corporation
EIN #84-0765359
2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
a. ___
b. _X_
3. SEC USE ONLY
4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Colorado
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:
5. SOLE VOTING POWER
-0-
6. SHARED VOTING POWER
2,912,825**
7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
-0-
8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
2,912,825**
9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
2,912,825**
10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
N/A
11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
5.7%**
12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
IA, CO
** See Item 4 of this filing
Page 2 of 9 pages
<PAGE>
CUSIP No.: 97659210-5
1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
Thomas H. Bailey
SS ####-##-####
2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
a. ___
b. _X_
3. SEC USE ONLY
4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
USA
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:
5. SOLE VOTING POWER
-0-
6. SHARED VOTING POWER
2,912,825**
7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
-0-
8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
2,912,825**
9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
2,912,825**
10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
N/A
11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
5.7%**
12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
IN
** See Item 4 of this filing
Page 3 of 9 pages
<PAGE>
CUSIP No.: 97659210-5
1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
Janus Venture Fund
EIN #84-0964425
2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
a. ___
b. _X_
3. SEC USE ONLY
4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Massachusetts
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:
5. SOLE VOTING POWER
-0-
6. SHARED VOTING POWER
909,775**
7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
-0-
8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
909,775**
9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
909,775**
10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
N/A
11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
1.8%**
12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
IV
** See Item 4 of this filing
Page 4 of 9 pages
<PAGE>
Item 1.
(a). Name of Issuer: Wisconsin Central Transportation Corporation
("Wisconsin Central")
(b). Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
6250 North River Road, Suite 9000
Rosemont, IL 60018
Item 2.
(a).-(c). Name, Principal Business Address, and Citizenship of Persons
Filing:
(1) Janus Capital Corporation ("Janus Capital")
100 Fillmore Street
Denver, Colorado 80206-4923
Citizenship: Colorado
(2) Thomas H. Bailey ("Mr. Bailey")
100 Fillmore Street
Denver, Colorado 80206-4923
Citizenship: USA
(3) Janus Venture Fund
100 Fillmore Street
Denver, Colorado 80206-4923
Citizenship: Massachusetts
(d). Title of Class of Securities: Common Stock
(e). CUSIP Number: 97659210-5
Item 3.
Janus Capital is an Investment Adviser registered under Section 203 of
the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
Janus Venture Fund is an Investment Company registered under Section 8
of the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Page 5 of 9 pages
<PAGE>
Item 4. Ownership
The information in items 1 and 5 through 11 on the cover pages (pp. 2-
4) on Schedule 13G is hereby incorporated by reference.
Janus Capital is a registered investment adviser which furnishes
investment advice to several investment companies registered under
Section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and individual and
institutional clients (collectively referred to herein as "Managed
Portfolios"). As a result of its role as investment adviser or sub-
adviser to the Managed Portfolios, Janus Capital may be deemed to be
the beneficial owner of the shares of Wisconsin Central Common Stock
held by such Managed Portfolios. However, Janus Capital does not have
the right to receive any dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale
of, the securities held in the Managed Portfolios and disclaims any
ownership associated with such rights.
Mr. Bailey owns approximately 12.2% of Janus Capital. In addition to
being a stockholder of Janus Capital, Mr. Bailey serves as President
and Chairman of the Board of Janus Capital and is filing this joint
statement with Janus Capital as a result of such stock ownership and
positions which may be deemed to enable him to exercise control over
Janus Capital. Mr. Bailey does not own of record any shares of
Wisconsin Central Common Stock and he has not engaged in any
transaction in Wisconsin Central Common Stock. However, as a result
of his position, Mr. Bailey may be deemed to have the power to
exercise or to direct the exercise of such voting and/or dispositive
power that Janus Capital may have with respect to Wisconsin Central
Common Stock held by the Managed Portfolios. All shares reported
herein have been acquired by the Managed Portfolios, and Mr. Bailey
specifically disclaims beneficial ownership over any shares of
Wisconsin Central Common Stock that he or Janus Capital may be deemed
to beneficially own. Furthermore, Mr. Bailey does not have the right
to receive any dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, the
securities held in the Managed Portfolios and disclaims any ownership
associated with such rights.
Janus Venture Fund is an investment company registered under the
Investment Company Act of 1940 and is one of the Managed Portfolios to
which Janus Capital provides investment advice.
Page 6 of 9 pages
<PAGE>
Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class
This statement is being filed to report the fact that Janus
Venture Fund has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than
five percent of the class of securities.
Item 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person
Janus Capital's Managed Portfolios, set forth in Item 4 above,
have the right to receive all dividends from, and the proceeds
from the sale of, the securities held in their respective
accounts.
The interest of any one person does not exceed 5% of the class of
securities.
Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which
Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding
Company
N/A
Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group
N/A
Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group
N/A
Item 10. Certification
By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and
belief, the securities referred to above were acquired in the
ordinary course of business and were not acquired for the purpose
of and do not have the effect of changing or influencing the
control of the issuer of such securities and were not acquired in
connection with or as a participant in any transaction having
such purposes or effect.
Page 7 of 9 pages
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I
certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete
and correct.
JANUS CAPITAL CORPORATION
By /s/ Deborah E. Bielicke 5/8/97
Deborah E. Bielicke Date
Under Power of Attorney dated 8/8/95
On File with Schedule 13G for
I-Stat Corporation 8/9/95
JANUS VENTURE FUND
By /s/ Deborah E. Bielicke 5/8/97
Deborah E. Bielicke, Assistant Vice President Date
THOMAS H. BAILEY
By /s/ Deborah E. Bielicke 5/8/97
Deborah E. Bielicke Date
Under Power of Attorney dated 8/8/95
On File with Schedule 13G for
I-Stat Corporation 8/9/95
Page 8 of 9 pages
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A
JOINT FILING AGREEMENT
In accordance with Rule 13d-1(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the persons named below agree to the joint filing on behalf of each of them
of a Statement on Schedule 13G (including amendments thereto) with respect to
the Common Stock of Wisconsin Central Transportation Corporation and further
agree that this Joint Filing Agreement be included as an Exhibit to such
joint filings. In evidence thereof, the undersigned hereby execute this
Agreement as of the 8th day of May, 1997.
JANUS CAPITAL CORPORATION
By /s/ Deborah E. Bielicke
Deborah E. Bielicke
Under Power of Attorney dated 8/8/95
On File with Schedule 13G for
I-Stat Corporation 8/9/95
JANUS VENTURE FUND
By /s/ Deborah E. Bielicke
Deborah E. Bielicke, Assistant Vice President
THOMAS H. BAILEY
By /s/ Deborah E. Bielicke
Deborah E. Bielicke
Under Power of Attorney dated 8/8/95
On File with Schedule 13G for
I-Stat Corporation 8/9/95
Page 9 of 9 pages