|
A History by Ralph W. Hidy, Muriel E. Hidy, Roy V. Scott, and Don L. Hofsommer |
|
| In the sprawling Northwest, from
the upper Mississippi River valley to Puget Sound, no railroad shaped the
landscape and society like the Great Northern Railway Company. This is
the complete history of that enterprise, from 1856, when the first charter
was granted, through the era of James J. Hill — known as the Empire Builder
— to its maturation and eventual merger in 1970, when the 8,000-mile Great
Northern was incorporated into the massive Burlington Northern.
The Great Northern Railway highlights the changes brought on by economic, political, social, and technological advances, including world wars, increased competition from other modes of transportation, and tighter government restrictions. The first part of the book (1856–1916) examines the railway’s early strategies and philosophy, relations with employees, and vigorous campaigns to develop the service area. The second part of the history (1916–1970) offers an assessment of a dramatic period of transition for the railroad — international conflicts, the Great Depression, the rise of motor vehicles, increasing labor costs, and stronger unions. Illustrated with more than 200 maps, period photographs, and drawings, the volume also includes appendixes listing the original track-laying history, track removals, ruling grades on main freight routes, and main line ruling grades from Minneapolis to Seattle. |
The Last Frontier A History by Ralph W. Hidy, Muriel E. Hidy, Roy V. Scott, and Don L. Hofsommer University of Minnesota Press, 2004. Order a copy. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
