Illinois Railroads

Overview

Stunning original photographs of this great state's railways, from Chicago to Chester, and from the tunnel at East Dubuque to the high bridge at Metropolis.

The Midwestern state of Illinois, known as the Prairie State, is not known for its varied topography, but this mostly flat land was indeed very conducive to the construction of railroads. It is located at a place where east meets west as railroads interchange huge amounts of traffic at Chicago, the railroad capital of the nation. Because it hosts smaller industrial cities and huge agricultural areas in the northern and central parts of the state, combined with coal, petroleum and other natural resources in the south, it’s no surprise that today the ‘Land of Lincoln’ is crisscrossed by 7,151 miles of rail lines. Illinois is also at the center of the nation’s rail network, and an incredible variety of railroad companies can be seen traversing the state.

Through a collection of incredible color photos, Mike Danneman takes the reader on a tour of the railroads of Illinois – from Chicago to Chester, and from the tunnel at East Dubuque to the high bridge at Metropolis.

Author Biography

Mike Danneman is a freelance photographer, writer and artist with a lifelong interest in trains. Mike was art director for Trains Magazine from 1990 to 1995, and is also the author of eight books. Mike and his wife Katie, also an artist, live in Colorado, where they enjoy spending time with their two horses and two dogs.