Product Description
Fascinating history of the Chicago, Bellevue, Cascade & Western Railway, tracing its story from 1847 until the last piece of equipment was disposed of in 1972. Covers the construction and operation, the years when he railway had too much freight to handle, its relationship with the Milwaukee Road, and the financial woes from competition with trucks and automobiles. Born of a need to link a small eastern Iowa community with the outside world, this narrow gauge was one of those colorful, down home little railroads that filled a special niche during the years when America was pushing west across the Mississippi. Illustrated with over 250 black and white photos and drawings. With rosters (locomotives and rolling stock), maps, and bibliography. 258 pages with index.