Railroads of Wisconsin

Wisconsin, known affectionately as America’s Dairyland, is in the upper Midwest, bordered by Lake Michigan on the east and the Mississippi River to the west. By nature of its geography, Wisconsin has a variety of secondary and branch lines serving an interior of forests and farms, as well as main lines connecting cities like Milwaukee and Minneapolis/St Paul.

Trains traverse 3,253 miles of rail lines in Wisconsin hauling everything from agricultural products, ore, and coal, to finished goods in containers. Probably best known as the home of the Milwaukee Road, the state’s railroads have continued to go though some amazing transformations the last few decades. Colorful railroads like Milwaukee Road, Soo Line and Chicago & North Western have transformed into today’s Canadian Pacific, Canadian National and Union Pacific, with some dazzling spinoff railroads along the way.

Wisconsin may be well known because of its cheese, beer and Harley-Davidson motorcycles, but with a stunning selection of photographs Mike Danneman ensures the reader doesn’t forget about its fascinating railroads.

Mike Danneman is a freelance photographer, writer and artist with a lifelong interest in trains. Mike was art director for Trains Magazine from 1990 to 1995, and is also the author of eight books. Mike and his wife Katie, also an artist, live in Colorado, where they enjoy spending time with their two horses and two dogs.