The Great Northern Railway: A History (A Fesler-Lampert Minnesota Heritage Book)

The definitive history of one of the nation’s great transcontinental railroads In the sprawling Northwest, from the upper Mississippi River valley to Puget Sound, no railroad shaped the landscape and society like the Great Northern Railway Company.This is the complete history of that enterprise, from 1856, when the first charter was granted, through the era of James J.Hill-known as the Empire Builder-to its maturation and eventual merger in 1970, when the eight-thousand-mile Great Northern was incorporated into the massive Burlington Northern. The Great Northern Railway highlights the changes brought on by economic, political, social, and technological advances, including world wars, increased competition from other modes of transportation, and tighter government restrictions.The first part of the book (1856-1916) examines the railway’s early strategies and philosophy, relations with employees, and vigorous campaigns to develop the service area.The second part of the history (1916-1970