Milwaukee Road Stories

[coborn35]

James will love this thread. (not you ***)

[coborn35]

James will love this thread. (not you ***)

[packers97]

The first train I ever remeber seeing was in Columbus Wisconsin in 1982. We were waiting for my aunt to arrive on amtrak, and an orange and black locomotive led a freight train through. MY mother took a picture, and I still have it today (GP40). I was hooked. I spent alot of my time growing up wondering where that train went, and started reading about the milwaukee. The pictures through montana fascinated me and I always wanted to go there to "se what was left". A few years ago, on my second solo backpacking trip to the old mainline, I hiked the Hiawathat trail through the adair loop. I camped at adair that night, right at the tunnel entrance next to the stream. It was a positively eerie experience being right next to the right of way, by myself, thinking about the history and of the men who built, maintained, and ran trains over that section of ground. I only wish I had been there sooner, and had the time to meet them.
I will say this, Richard Steinheimer's "Electric Way Across the Mountains" is a MUST HAVE for anybody remotely interested in the Milwaukee, or the story of men who made railroading happen.

P.S. Anybody in this thread who is not a memeber should check out the MIlwuakee Road Historical Association. (www.mrha.com). Their quartlery publication is EXCELLENT - and full of such stories and invaluable information. Membership is cheap.

[packers97]

The first train I ever remeber seeing was in Columbus Wisconsin in 1982. We were waiting for my aunt to arrive on amtrak, and an orange and black locomotive led a freight train through. MY mother took a picture, and I still have it today (GP40). I was hooked. I spent alot of my time growing up wondering where that train went, and started reading about the milwaukee. The pictures through montana fascinated me and I always wanted to go there to "se what was left". A few years ago, on my second solo backpacking trip to the old mainline, I hiked the Hiawathat trail through the adair loop. I camped at adair that night, right at the tunnel entrance next to the stream. It was a positively eerie experience being right next to the right of way, by myself, thinking about the history and of the men who built, maintained, and ran trains over that section of ground. I only wish I had been there sooner, and had the time to meet them.
I will say this, Richard Steinheimer's "Electric Way Across the Mountains" is a MUST HAVE for anybody remotely interested in the Milwaukee, or the story of men who made railroading happen.

P.S. Anybody in this thread who is not a memeber should check out the MIlwuakee Road Historical Association. (www.mrha.com). Their quartlery publication is EXCELLENT - and full of such stories and invaluable information. Membership is cheap.