The Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic Railway: A History of the Lake Superior District's Pioneer Iron Ore Hauler (Railroads Past and Present) [Hardcover]

John Gaertner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 19, 2008 | ISBN-10: 0253351928 | ISBN-13: 978-0253351920 | Edition: First Edition first Printing

The rise and fall of the Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic Railway from 1887 to its merger with the Soo Line in 1961 is the subject of this thoroughly researched book. The DSS&A was organized in the hope that it would become a transcontinental link between the Canadian Pacific at the Sault and the Northern Pacific at Duluth, with the major route taking passengers from the Twin Ports of Duluth-Superior through Northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to St. Ignace. The line was forced to merge because of competition from more efficient lake vessels on Lake Superior, which could carry goods of lower value at much better rates than the DSS&A.

John Gaertner's account draws on a wide array of sources, such as the Soo Line records at the Minnesota Historical Society in St. Paul, the Michigan State Archives at Lansing, the Burton Historical Collection in Detroit, and local newspaper accounts. A compelling read for history buffs and railroad enthusiasts alike.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is a solid job of scholarship and makes a number of important contributions to the field of railroad history." —Craig Sanders, author of Amtrak in the Heartland

(Craig Sanders, author of Amtrak in the Heartland 2009)

"Just the right length to be both a reference book for a historian, and a book read by someone who would have a general interest in railroad history." —James A. Welton, retired Soo Line Director of Labor Relations

(James A. Welton, retired Soo Line Director of Labor Relations 2009)

"Anyone with an interest in the iron ore roads or the Soo Line in particular will want this book." —Railfan & Railroad

(Railfan & Railroad )

"This excellent presentation is a must read for any Michigan railway enthusiast." —Michigan Railfan, March - April, 2009

(Michigan Railfan )

From the Publisher

"This is a solid job of scholarship and makes a number of important contributions to the field of railroad history." --Craig Sanders, author of Amtrak in the Heartland

"Just the right length to be both a reference book for a historian, and a book read by someone who would have a general interest in railroad history." --James A. Welton, retired Soo Line Director of Labor Relations

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Indiana University Press; First Edition first Printing edition (November 19, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0253351928
• ISBN-13: 978-0253351920
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 7.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #422,915 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thorough history of an Upper Peninsula railroad, November 30, 2008

By 

George A. Forero (Chicago, Illinois) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic Railway: A History of the Lake Superior District's Pioneer Iron Ore Hauler (Railroads Past and Present) (Hardcover)

The Upper Peninsula of Michigan (the "UP")is still relatively sparsely populated and the DSS&A had an uphill battle from the start to survive. This book provides an excellent history of its entire life, from the mid-nineteenth century construction of predecessor lines built to haul ore into Marquette to its 1961 merger with the Soo Line. The author makes a good case that majority ownership by the Canadian Pacific, although at times providing the cash to survive, in the long run sealed its fate by the parent company's favorable treatment of the Soo Line, a competitor of the DSS&A, especially for bridge traffic between Duluth/Superior and Sault Ste. Marie. As well as covering the construction history of virtually every mile of the railroad, the author does not neglect how the railroad was operated, giving details of how the trains ran and of the locomotives and cars used. Appendices provide a locomotive roster, list of stations and operating statistcs.

The black and white photos are well selected and nicely compliment the text, although generally of small size. The only color photo is on the dust jacket. A strong point of the book is in its maps that vary from single stations to complicated trackage in the Superior terminal area and the maze of narrow gauge lines in the Keweenaw Peninsula. This is one author who does not assume the reader's initimate knowledge of the gegography of his subject matter.

This is a must-buy for anybody interested in any of the subject railroads (DSS&A, Soo, CP), in the railroad or general history of the Upper Peninsula, the ore industry and, finally, with any general interest in railroad history.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Required Reading to Understand the DSS&A, April 5, 2009

By 

John P. DuLong (Berkley, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic Railway: A History of the Lake Superior District's Pioneer Iron Ore Hauler (Railroads Past and Present) (Hardcover)

The Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic Railway was not one of America's fabled railroad companies that crossed great stretches of the country over mountains and plains connecting large industrial centers, it served only the small mining and forestry communities of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Northern Wisconsin, and touched Duluth. Gaertner does a thorough job explaining the growth of the DSS&A from a complex merger of small lines into a railroad along the south shore of Lake Superior with the potential to handle traffic from points further west to the east coast through its connection at Sault Ste. Marie with the Canadian Pacific.

Gaertner explains how the Canadian Pacific's ownership of both the Soo Line and the DSS&A was detrimental to the latter. The DSS&A never lived up to its potential due to the willful neglect of the Canadian Pacific and the tango of competition and cooperation with the Soo Line, its sister corporation. The DSS&A also faced competition for the ore hauling trade with the Milwaukee Road, the Chicago and North Western, and the regional Lake Superior and Ishpeming. Despite the best efforts to reach profitability, with a short exceptional period after reorganization in the 1950s, the DSS&A was never able to sustain this goal. It was eventually merged with the Soo Line and what is left of its tracks is now owned by Wisconsin Central which in turn is owned by Canadian National.

This history contains the details that railroad fans appreciate including details of freight and passenger train schedules and shifts in these schedules as well as equipment purchases and uses. The ferries and their operation at St. Ignace is well covered. The DSS&A also owed the Mineral Range Railroad and the Hancock and Calumet Railroad, both of which started out as narrow gauge lines, and Gaertner also reviews the history of these lines. The book is well illustrated and has maps displaying the entire line and the important segments of the line. The appendixes include a roster of the locomotives owned by the DSS&A, the Mineral Range, and the Hancock and Calumet and a detailed list of all the stations in the DSS&A system. Lastly, the book contains a detailed index.

Although Gaertner does mention the work life of the DSS&A employees in passing, he does not describe the workforce in any detail, its ethnic composition, its working conditions, its pay in comparison to other occupations, etc. Unions are mentioned abruptly with no explanation of their struggle, if any, to be recognized by the DSS&A management. More coverage of the common DSS&A worker would have been welcomed. A table of the maps would have been a helpful addition.

Overall, this is an excellent corporate history of a struggling railroad that once played a crucial role in the life of the remote communities of the Great Lakes north country. Gaertner leaves you well informed and craving to learn more about this railroad, the region, and its competitors. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to know more about the history of the region and the importance of railroads for its development.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Scholarly, engrossing, very readable, January 20, 2009

By 

Rodney A. Aho (Gresham, OR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic Railway: A History of the Lake Superior District's Pioneer Iron Ore Hauler (Railroads Past and Present) (Hardcover)

John Gaertner has written an interestingly readable history of this regional railroad - an approachable style, high standards of scholarship, a very pleasant read. Highly recommended for the student of Michigan-Wisconsin history and rail enthusiast alike.