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Railroads were key to Rockford's rise as a thriving manufacturing and commercial center. With an area population of over 200,000 residents and a reputation for manufactured goods, Rockford had a critical need for railroads into the bust years of the 1970s. Eventually four railroads rose to prominence in Rockford, all of them Class 1 carriers: the Chicago and North Western; Chicago, Burlington and Quincy; the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific (the Milwaukee Road); and Illinois Central. For nearly a century, these four roads--all of them esteemed Midwestern railroads--carried the bulk of freight and passengers arriving and departing Rockford, Davis Junction, and Loves Park by rail. Two other smaller railways, the Chicago, Milwaukee and Gary and the Rockford and Interurban, also played a part in Rockford's railroad history and are spotlighted in this volume.
About the author
Author and Rockford native Mike Schafer is a transportation historian and photographer who has spent most of his life observing and documenting the North American railroad scene. Assisting in the preparation of this book is Brian Landis, a Machesney Park resident and longtime aficionado of Rockford region railroading. Together they present a fascinating pictorial history of Rockford's days as a railroading center for northern Illinois.
