The Minneapolis & St. Louis Railway
A Photographic History
In this photographic history of the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railway (M&StL), railroad historian Don L. Hofsommer revives the memory of a storied regional railroad. Rich in illustrations, this is not just a chronicle of a railroad but also a story and a record of a way of life in the rural upper Midwest.
Don L. Hofsommer is one of the nation’s foremost railroad historians, widely known and respected among scholars and enthusiasts, and there is no question about the contribution The Minneapolis & St. Louis Railway makes to railroad and regional history.
H. Roger Grant
In this photographic history of the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railway (M&StL), railroad historian Don L. Hofsommer revives the memory of a storied regional railroad.
The Minneapolis & St. Louis Railway was created on May 26, 1870, by a group of Minnesota investors interested in establishing a railroad connection between Minneapolis and the agricultural regions to the south. While not flashy, the M&StL served Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, and Illinois over nine decades and was essential in opening new territory, providing freight as well as passenger carriage, and employing thousands of people.
Rich in illustrations, this is not just a chronicle of a railroad but also a story and a record of a way of life in the rural upper Midwest. A must-have for readers who fondly remember the Tootin’ Louie as well as rail fans, history buffs, and model railroaders in general.
Don L. Hofsommer is one of the nation’s foremost railroad historians, widely known and respected among scholars and enthusiasts, and there is no question about the contribution The Minneapolis & St. Louis Railway makes to railroad and regional history.
H. Roger Grant
The Minneapolis & St. Louis Railway is an excellent book. I can point to many illustrated histories in my personal library, but I don’t know of any one book that compiles a more evocative collection of images of life as defined by the railroads—from station interiors to snow plows at work.
Carlos A. Schwantes
This book is first rate in all respects and adds new dimension to the M&StL story.
The Michigan Railfan
It is a wonderful memory album whose images capture the history and the spirit of a struggling little railroad that fought hard, but lost.
Trains
Rich in illustrations, this is not just a chronicle of a railroad but also a story and a record of a way of life in the rural upper Midwest.
National Model Railroad Association Magazine
Will appeal to multiple audiences. For some, this photographic essay will provide the means for taking a virtual journey, back to an era when American railroads—passengers and freight—dominated transportation. . . . For others, the illustrations will provide a visual record of the onset and maturation of American industrialization, of which railroads were a key component.
North Dakota History
The book is a treasure for anyone — you don’t have to be a fan of the M&StL — who relishes good photographs and the drama and atmosphere of midwestern railroading.
The Annals of Iowa
