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Milwaukee Road MBI Railroad Color History By Tom Murray w/ Dust Jacket
The Milwaukee Road MBI Railroad Color History By Tom Murray
Hard Cover With Dust Jacket 160 Pages
Copyright 2005
THE MILWAUKEE ROAD
Though closely identified with Wisconsin, The Milwaukee Road played an important economic role throughout the Upper Midwest. From unassuming roots, it became critical to the emergence of Milwaukee, St. Paul, and other cities as commercial centers. The inauguration of the high-speed Hiawathas in the mid-1930s further helped the Milwaukee forge an identity as strong as that of any railroad. Surrounded by the more prosperous Hill lines, the Milwaukee remained determined to provide competitive freight and passenger services at low costs. Nothing better demonstrated this grit than the 1905 decision to build its own line to Puget Sound.
In this wonderfully illustrated history, Tom Murray provides a concise and colorful look at this underdog railroad, from its genesis in a collection of Wisconsin-based granger roads to its purchase by one-time rival Soo Line in 1985. In addition to examining Milwaukee Road operations and equipment through depression, world war, and advancing technologies, Murray shows how the road came to attract a loyal following through its services and sheer determination. Marvelous photography from archives and top rail photographers, along with period ad art and timetables, illustrate how the Milwaukee carried out its mission to serve the shipping and traveling public during its 135-year history-and why its memory is still perpetuated by those who worked for it, rode its trains, or simply admired it.
About the Author
Tom Murray has worked in the rail industry since 1970. Following graduation from New York University, he held positions with the Boston & Maine, Soo Line, CSX, and Southern Pacific. The publisher of the newsletter Rail Stock Watch, he has also contributed articles to rail industry publications and is the author of MBI's Canadian National Railway. He lives in Martinez, California.
THE MILWAUKEE ROAD
The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific-more commonly known as The Milwaukee Road-was one of America's truly great railways, serving much *of the Midwest and West for more than a century until its purchase in 1985 by one-time rival Soo Line. Noted for its streamlined Hiawatha passenger trains, The Milwaukee Road also earned acclaim for its electrified Pacific Extension and its fabrication and repair shops in its namesake city.
In this wonderfully illustrated history, author Tom Murray examines The Milwaukee Road's motive power, passenger and freight operations, facilities, and financial woes, not to mention its roots dating to a collective of Wisconsin granger roads. Murray also draws on numerous archives and individual photographers from around the country to illustrate the varied scope of The Milwaukee Road, from the Windy City to Puget Sound.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
INTRODUCTION
MIDWESTERN ROOTS
REACHING THE PACIFIC
BETWEEN TWO WORLD WARS
WORLD WAR II AND THE TRANSITION FROM
STEAM TO DIESEL
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
he 1950s and 1960s
Chapter
THE FINAL
1970 -1985
INTRODUCTION
Few railroads have attracted as loyal a fol-f lowing as The Milwaukee Road. The railroad ceased to exist as an independent company in 1985, yet its memory continues to be perpetuated by those who worked for it, rode its trains, were affected by it through family or personal connections, or simply admired it.
Though it was closely identified with the city of Milwaukee and the state of Wisconsin, the railroad played an important role in the economies of all the states of the Upper Midwest. Its roots were as a granger road but it was a critical ingredient in the emergence of Milwaukee, St. Paul, and other cities as centers of manufacturing and trade.
As a passenger carrier, the Milwaukee forged an identity as strong as that of any railroad, particularly following the inauguration of the high-speed Hiawathas between Chicago and the Twin Cities in the mid-1930s.
Part of the railroad's appeal was in the fact that it put on a different face than its rivals. Much of its equipment-locomotives, as well as passenger and freight cars-was homegrown, built at the company's Milwaukee shops using its own distinctive designs.
For most of the twentieth century, the Milwaukee played the role of underdog. It was surrounded by more prosperous railroads, but it justified its existence by providing competitive service at low cost. Nothing better demonstrated The Milwaukee Road's grit and determination in the face of its competitors' economic power than its 1905 decision to build its own line to Puget Sound. The high engineering standards and partial electrification of the western extension were symbolic of the Milwaukee's conviction that it could effectively compete with the Hill lines-Great Northern (GN) and Northern Pacific (NP)-for transcontinental freight and passenger traffic.
Prior to World War II, the Milwaukee twice sought the protection of the bankruptcy
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