The Milwaukee Road Racine & Southwestern Division: The Rest of the Story continues Jerry Pyfer’s previous Tales from the Racine & Southwestern,
his firsthand account of life on one of the Milwaukee Road’s most
memorable divisions during its final years. Rather than a traditional
corporate history, this book captures the everyday reality of
railroading in southeastern Wisconsin and northwestern Illinois through
personal stories and a wealth of photographs, many published here for
the first time. Pyfer draws on his own experiences working train service
between 1971 and 1978, presenting railroading as it was lived —
imperfect, demanding, and deeply human.
Arranged largely in chronological
order, the book allows readers to follow the evolution and decline of
the Racine & Southwestern Division as the Milwaukee Road faced aging
infrastructure, power shortages, and financial collapse. Richly
illustrated and candidly told, The Rest of the Story is an essential companion to Tales from the Racine & Southwestern
and a compelling read for Milwaukee Road enthusiasts, railroad
historians, and anyone interested in the working railroad of the 1970s.
