Chicago and North Western Railway

Chartered in 1859, the Chicago & North Western Railway survived as an independent transportation icon until 1995, when it was merged into the behemoth Union Pacific. In this illustrated history, author Tom Murray expertly explains how C&NW grew out of a collection of granger roads to extend throughout the Midwest and become a strategic link between east and west. Murray also assembles a wonderful collection of archival photos, route maps, and period ads to illustrate an informative and compelling history that covers steam and diesel motive power, freight businesses, passenger services—including the legendary “400” series trains—and the personalities and economic climates that informed the railroads rise and fall.

Chartered in 1859, the Chicago & North Western Railway survived as an independent transportation icon until 1995, when it was merged into the behemoth Union Pacific. In this illustrated history, author Tom Murray expertly explains how C&NW grew out of a collection of granger roads to extend throughout the Midwest and become a strategic link between east and west. Murray also assembles a wonderful collection of archival photos, route maps, and period ads to illustrate an informative and compelling history that covers steam and diesel motive power, freight businesses, passenger services—including the legendary “400” series trains—and the personalities and economic climates that informed the railroads rise and fall.

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 Rail Stock Watch, Murray is also a columnist for Trains magazine and the author of five previous MBI Railroad Color Histories: Canadian National Railway, The Milwaukee Road, Canadian Pacific Railway, Illinois Central Railroad, and Southern Railway. He lives in Santa Maria, California.