Title: Milwaukee Road Condensed Track Profiles Collection
Inclusive Dates: 1914-1981

Creator:

• Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul, and Pacific Railroad Company.

Call Number: Milwaukee Road Archival Collection 18

Quantity: 2.2 cubic ft. (11 boxes)

Repository:

Milwaukee Public Library, Frank P. Zeidler Room

Archival Location:

Milwaukee Public Library (Map)

Abstract:

This collection contains condensed track profiles of various divisions from the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul, and Pacific Railroad Company.

Note:

To request materials from this collection, create/login to your Special Collections Account.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.mwpl-mrac0018

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Commonly referred to as the "Milwaukee Road" (or simply "The Road"), the origins of this railroad began in 1847, when the Milwaukee and Waukesha Railroad was incorporated. Three years later its first train operated between Milwaukee and Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, and by 1857, its track reached Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. In February 1874, the name changed to the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway as it continued to expand throughout the Midwest. By 1887, it reached into Iowa and South Dakota, as far west as Kansas City, Missouri, and north into the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

In 1905, the Milwaukee Road decided to expand west again, this time to Puget Sound in Washington. The "Lines West" were built between 1906-1909, from the middle of South Dakota to Seattle and Tacoma in Washington. Even though the lines were technological marvels, they were never successful, and were a major contributor to the bankruptcy in 1925. In 1928 the Road reorganized as the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad, but went bankrupt again in 1935 and 1945. In 1977, in financial trouble once more, it reorganized and sold off two-thirds of its trackage. It was acquired by the Soo Line Corp. on February 21, 1985, which operated it as the Milwaukee Road, Inc. until merging it with their own lines on January 1, 1986.

This collection contains condensed track profiles of the Milwaukee Road. They show the lines of various divisions and list the different stations along the line. The profiles are small booklets showing details such as miles, grade, track diagrams, and rail charts. Most are originals, but a few are photocopies. The books were produced by the Office of Chief Engineer. This is not a complete set and division names changed over time. Some books contain more than one division in them.

The collection is in alphabetical order by division.

Milwaukee Road Condensed Track Profiles Collection, 1914-1981, Collection 18. Milwaukee Road Archives, Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Select materials from the Milwaukee Road have been digitized and are available in this digital collection: Milwaukee Road Archives.

Archival Collections

• Engineering Department Records. Milwaukee Road Archival Collection 2.

• Milwaukee Road Map Collection. Milwaukee Road Archival Collection 15.

Publications and Other Items

Annual Report

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Company Map Showing Trackage at Milwaukee, Wisc.

Other Repositories

Additional Milwaukee Road materials are also available at the Milwaukee Road Archives in the St. Louis Mercantile Library located at the University of St. Louis.

Access Restrictions

Some of the employee records are restricted; please consult a staff member for more details. There are no access restrictions on the rest of the materials. The collection is open to all in accordance with state law. The public may view the Milwaukee Road Archives by appointment at the Central Library. To request an in-person appointment, create/login to your Special Collections Account. If you have any questions, please contact the Archives and Special Collections Department at mplarchives@milwaukee.gov.

Use Restrictions

The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

Acquisition Information

The Milwaukee Road Archives was received by MPL from the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad (Milwaukee Road) formally on January 13, 1981 as stated in the donor’s agreement signed by acting City Librarian, Henry E. Bates, Jr. and President of the Milwaukee Road, W.L. Smith.

Processing Information

Processed by Bob Jaeger, 2022.

Box   1 Folder   1	Aberdeen Division, circa 1937
Box   1 Folder   1	Aberdeen Division, includes Hastings & Dakota Division, 1973
Box   1 Folder   2	Chicago Division, 1973
Box   1 Folder   2	Chicago Terminal Division, circa 1943
Box   1 Folder   3	Chicago - Various Lines, circa 1920-1950
Box   2 Folder   1	Coast Division and Idaho Division, undated
Box   2 Folder   1	Dakota Division, 1976
Box   2 Folder   2	Dubuque Division, circa 1930
Box   2 Folder   2	Dubuque Division, circa 1960
Box   2 Folder   2	Dubuque & Illinois Division, circa 1940
Box   2 Folder   3	Hastings & Dakota Division, circa 1945
Box   2 Folder   3	Idaho Division, 1957
Box   3 Folder   1	Illinois Division, circa 1941
Box   3 Folder   1	Illinois Division, 1976
Box   3 Folder   1	Illinois Division and Iowa Division, 1980
Box   3 Folder   2	Iowa Division, circa 1930
Box   3 Folder   2	Iowa Division, 1965
Box   3 Folder   3	Iowa Division, 1973
Box   3 Folder   3	Iowa Division, 1976
Box   4 Folder   1	Iowa & Dakota Division, 1930
Box   4 Folder   1	Iowa & Dakota Division, circa 1945
Box   4 Folder   1	Iowa & Minnesota Division, circa 1929
Box   4 Folder   2	Iowa & Southern Minnesota Division, circa 1940
Box   4 Folder   2	Iowa, Dakota & Minnesota Division, 1959
Box   5 Folder   1	Iowa, Dakota & Minnesota Division, 1962
Box   5 Folder   1	Iowa, Dakota & Minnesota Division, 1970
Box   5 Folder   2	Iowa, Dakota & Minnesota Division, 1973
Box   6 Folder   1	Kansas City Division, circa 1930
Box   6 Folder   1	Kansas City Division, circa 1943
Box   6 Folder   2	La Crosse Division, 1968
Box   6 Folder   2	La Crosse & River Division, 1942
Box   6 Folder   3	La Crosse & River Division, circa 1946
Box   6 Folder   3	Madison Division, 1929
Box   6 Folder   3	Madison Division, 1943
Box   6 Folder   3	Madison Division, 1951
Box   7 Folder   1	Milwaukee Division, circa 1936
Box   7 Folder   1	Milwaukee Division, circa 1942
Box   7 Folder   1	Milwaukee Division, 1947
Box   7 Folder   2	Milwaukee Division, 1948
Box   7 Folder   2	Milwaukee Division, 1953
Box   7 Folder   3	Milwaukee Division, 1973
Box   7 Folder   3	Milwaukee Terminal Division, circa 1936
Box   8 Folder   1	Minnesota Division, 1976
Box   8 Folder   1	Minnesota Division and Dakota Division, 1981
Box   8 Folder   2	Montana Division, 1976
Box   8 Folder   2	Northern Division, 1930
Box   8 Folder   2	Northern Division, circa 1951
Box   8 Folder   3	Racine & South Western Division, circa 1920
Box   8 Folder   3	River Division, 1932
Box   9 Folder   1	Rocky Mountain Division, circa 1943
Box   9 Folder   2	Rocky Mountain Division, 1964
Box   9 Folder   3	Sioux City & Dakota Division, 1930
Box   9 Folder   3	Southern Minnesota Division, circa 1920
Box   9 Folder   4	Superior Division, circa 1943
Box   9 Folder   4	Terre Haute Division, circa 1942
Box   10 Folder   1	Trans-Missouri Division, circa 1940
Box   10 Folder   1	Trans-Missouri Division, includes Rocky Mountain Division and Coast Division, 1946
Box   10 Folder   2	Trans-Missouri Division, 1958
Box   10 Folder   2	Trans-Missouri Division, undated
Box   10 Folder   3	Twin City Terminal Division and Duluth Division, circa 1942
Box   11 Folder   1	Washington Division, 1976
Box   11 Folder   2	Wisconsin Division, 1976
Box   11 Folder   2	Wisconsin Division, 1981
Box   11 Folder   3	Wisconsin Valley Division, 1914-1927
Box   11 Folder   3	Wisconsin Valley Division, circa 1928
Box   11 Folder   3	Wisconsin Valley Division, undated
Box   11 Folder   4	Wisconsin (unidentified division), undated