|
The Chicago Great Western Railway
Author(s): David J. Fiore Sr.
ISBN: 9780738540481
# of Pages: 128
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
On Sale Date: 07/24/2006
Read the Reviews
Search Inside
|
Click on the state flag for other books located in "Illinois"
|
Book Description:
The Chicago Great Western Railway (CGW) was a Midwestern line that operated in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, Kansas, and Nebraska. Although this territory was served by much larger systems, the CGW was able to retain its share of passenger and freight business for 83 years through aggressive management, dedicated employees, innovations, and efficient operations. By the early 1960s, however, the growth of the trucking industry and airlines had taken away a substantial amount of the business previously handled by railroads. The CGW would not survive as operating costs increased while revenues declined. The only solution was to consolidate with another railroad, and a favorable agreement was reached with the Chicago and North Western Railway (C&NW). At 12:01 a.m. Monday, July 1, 1968, the CGW ceased to exist, as it became part of the C&NW. Since that time, much of the system has been abandoned, and today only a few segments of former CGW trackage remain in service. This book provides nostalgic images and photographs of the operations, employees, locomotives, and stations of a little railroad that is now only a memory.
Author Bio: David J. Fiore Sr. is a member of the Chicago and North Western Historical Society and author of several articles on the CGW published in North Western Lines, the society’s journal.
|
