Wisconsin, known affectionately as America’s Dairyland, is in the upper Midwest, bordered by Lake Michigan on the east and the Mississippi River to the west. By nature of its geography, Wisconsin has a variety of secondary and branch lines serving an interior of forests and farms, as well as main lines connecting cities like Milwaukee and Minneapolis/St Paul. Trains traverse 3,253 miles of rail lines in Wisconsin hauling everything from agricultural products, ore, and coal to finished goods in containers. Probably best known as the home of the Milwaukee Road, the state’s railroads have continued to go though some amazing transformations over the last few decades. Colourful railroads like Milwaukee Road, Soo Line and Chicago & North Western have transformed into today’s Canadian Pacific, Canadian National and Union Pacific, with some dazzling spinoff railroads along the way.

Wisconsin may be well known because of its cheese, beer and Harley-Davidson motorcycles, but with a stunning selection of photographs Mike Danneman ensures the reader doesn’t forget about its fascinating railroads.