From the railroad lines that traverse open prairie to the wrought iron rails embedded in their wooden ties, railroads have been written into the landscape—and shared history—of Wisconsin. Yet few of us have thought about how they developed in the towns and cities we call home.

Based on the author's extensive research into the early history of Wisconsin's rails, "Steam & Cinders“ chronicles the boom and bust of the first railroads in the state, from the charters of the 1830s to the farm mortgages of the 1850s and consolidation of the railroads on the eve of the Civil War. Featuring more than 75 period photographs, historic maps, and drawings, ”Steam & Cinders" preserves the legacy of early Wisconsin railroading for railroad buffs and armchair historians alike.