Customer Reviews

The NORTH WESTERN: A HISTORY OF THE CHICAGO AND NORTH WESTERN RAILWAY SYSTEM (Railroads in America)

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This publication covers the complete history of the Chicago & North Western Railway from the initial charter of the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad in 1836 through the final years before the C&NW was absorbed by the Union Pacific in 1995. This work is one that a reader will come away having learned the evolution of the former C&NW and the reasons for its prominence in railroad history. It is a must have reference text for any fan of Midwest rails. Professor Grant has included numerous illustrations and b&w photographs from his personal collection and from others that have been crisply reproduced and concisely captioned. The generous footnotes and ample bibliography provided are illuminating and will offer any student of Midwest rail history an excellent starting point for a research endeavor of their own.

My comments will be brief, as the fine review already provided by James Heidel is accurate and complete. I intend only to convince any of those who are unsure of buying this book that this really is a great value. Simply excellent writing combined with ample information has resulted in the best book I have read about railroading.

This is undoubtedly the best book on the history of the CNW I have ever read - if not the best railroading book altogether. It is complete and thorough, from the railroad's inception to merger with the Union Pacific. It is a bit dense, but I've read it in its entirety. Focuses more on the corporate side of the CNW, is a bit short on locomotive rosters and track maps, although it does have lots of B & W photographs. Definitely recommended.