Chicago & North Western System Archives - Southern Pacific Railroad History Center

Chicago Northwestern Railway MBI Color Book Series Tom Murray (JD)

Chip Savoye — Sat, 25 Jul 2026 20:27:13 +0000

By the time it was merged into the Union Pacific in 1995, the Chicago & North Western was one of the nations oldest surviving railroads, a testament to the Midwestern stoicism with which it had gone about its business since 1859. This illustrated history chronicles how C&NW emerged from a collection of regional carriers to become a strategic link between eastern railroads and the West.

Author Tom Murray traces the railroads expansion as it extended secondary lines throughout the Midwest. He also explores C&NWs joint ownership of UP passenger trains and describes how the railroad answered challenges from regional rivals with the “400” series of passenger trains. As fascinating as the story are the hundreds of accompanying illustrations–historical photographs, archival images, route maps, and period print ads.

The result is an entertaining and informative history of an iconic Midwestern railroad–a narrative that spans the decades from the 1850s to the 1990s and takes in steam and diesel motive power, freight and passenger operations, and all the key characters, events, and deals that figured in the Chicago & North Westerns rise and eventual demise.

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The Chicago & North Western Cowboy Line by William Kratville (W18B)

Gene Harmon — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 17:41:13 +0000

The C&NW once had a West Coast ambition and the Cowboy Line was a result of this effort. Lander, WY was as far they got and this book recounts the line in 64 B&W pages with a bibliography, maps text and well done captions. Published in 1998 by the South Platte Press, this softbound book is in fine condition.

Locator box 18B

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The Chicago & North Western Memories by Preston Cook (W 100)

Gene Harmon — Wed, 24 Jan 2024 02:25:56 +0000

In 128 pages the author provides an all color depiction with exceptional captionsof the C&NW between 1970 and 1980covering the entire system. Maps, a locomotive roster, and text support the images. Published in 1989 by Old Line Graphics on glossy paper, this book is in fine used condition.

Locator Box 100

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Pioneer Railroad The Story of the C&NW System by Casey & Douglas (W 8)

Gene Harmon — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 15:22:30 +0000

Published by McGraw Hill in 1948, this 334 page history covers all aspects of the C&NW System development and progression into the largest of the granger roads. It has 14 B&W prints including one of Kate Shelley at work. The book is in good used condition with a well worn jacket with edge tears.

Locator box 8

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Southern Pacific Passenger Trains (Interline Dining & Lounge Cars) Cauthern & Munger (W 18 28)

Gene Harmon — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 15:22:13 +0000

Every interline diner and lounge car with the C&NW, Rock Island, Milwaukee Road and Union Pacific is described with color or B&W images, floor plans, rosters, and histories including a bibliography and index in 208 pages and printed on very high quality glossy paper. Published by Union Terminal Publications in 2018, these books are new.

Locator boxes Locator Box 28 and Box 18

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