Does anyone know where I might find photos/info for the MLS&W beyond what is available at the Wisconsin Historical Society? The MLS&W was a short line logging road serving north central Wisconsin in the late 1800’s. Thanks for any insight.
I would try the Chicago & Northwestern Historical society, as this Railroad merged into the C&NW in 1893. I’ve seen scattered photos in books about the C&NW, but can’t really say I remember any detailed account of this road. Another book might be “The Northwestern,” by Roger Grant. This is a fantastic book that covers much of that time frame. I assume there would probably be of something of intrest to you in there. I hope that helps a little.
Eric
Istella, have you correctly identified the railroad you are interested in? The Milwaukee Lake Shore & Western was hardly short – 757 miles – nor a logging railroad although it handled lots of logs in Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, but it also hauled plenty of iron ore and agricultural products, as well as passengers
It began in the 1870s as the Lake Shore Road, combined with the Milwaukee, Manitowoc & Green Bay, the Appleton & New London, and other short lines (one or more of which may well have been true logging railroads) reaching such Wisconsin cities as Ashland, Marshfield, Wausau, Rhinelander and Hurley. It came under Chicago & North Western control in 1891 and the absorbtion was more or less complete by 1893.
The CNW and UP have since abandoned a great deal of this trackage, alas.
Eric Manke is correct that H Roger Grant’s book on The North Western has some information and a couple of pictures. But what you really want is Bulletin No. 121 of the Railroad and Locomotive Historical Society, where Prof. Ray Specht wrote two major articles, with tons of information and lots of pictures. One was on the Milwaukee Lake Shore & Western and the other was the Milwaukee & Northern (a very similar rail line acquired by the Milwaukee Road – the MLS&W was built, according to Grant, in opposition and reaction to the M&N).
The MLS&W is interesting to me because that is the UP line that goes near my house in Fox Point Wisconsin, mostly carrying coal to Sheboygan but also some general freight.
Just for completeness sake there was still a third line with a roughly similar route, basically north south along the Niagra Escarpment in the eastern half of Wisconsin, and that was the Wisconsin & Northern, later acquired by the Soo Line. Bulletin 116 of the Railway and Locomotive Historical Society has Charles Nelson’s article on the W&N and if you have those two Bulletins – I have seen them for sale at the better swap meets that feature rail books and collectibles – you’ll
Ah yes, Bulletin #121. I remember seeing a heavily water damaged copy of that in my college’s library. I also think the Milwaukee Public library’s Humanities reference section has that one as well, probably no help to you though Istella. I’m going to see if I can find a copy @ Trainfest.
Thanks very much Dave and Eric for setting the record straight re: the MLS&W and for the very informed and helpful background. I am a C&NW fan and am interested in the predecessor lines for modeling purposes. I have spent a good bit of time in north central Wisconsin although I now live in Houston.
Larry Stella
Actually Eric, and Larry, it would not surprise me to learn that a well equipped research library or large public library in Houston might well have the Bulletins of the Railway and Locomotive Historical Society on their shelves – and the further you are away from Wisconsin the more likely it is that this Bulletin has not been “permanently borrowed.” Good luck. Eric, hope to see you at Trainfest in a few weeks. I usually chat with the guys at the C&NWHS booth.
I wager that Larry Bunce has Bulletin 121 for sale – cash in that 401(k)!
Dave Nelson
I will check it out…the library that is!
Larry Stella