July 30, 2026
VIROQUA, Wis. — Local railroad historian and author Arlyn Colby has released The Viroqua Line, the ninth volume in his series documenting abandoned western Wisconsin branchline railroads. The new book is co-authored by Brian Knudtson and Michael Hansen.
The publication serves as a companion and successor to last year’s The Coon Valley Line: The History of the La Crosse and Southeastern Railroad. The La Crosse and Southeastern Railroad was purchased by the Milwaukee Road in 1933 and subsequently operated as part of the Viroqua Line.
The railroad stretched from Sparta through Leon, Melvina, Cashton, Newry, Westby and Viroqua, with a short branch serving Coon Valley and Chaseburg. Built in 1879, the line remained in operation for more than a century before being abandoned in 1981. According to the authors, little evidence of the route remains today as vegetation has reclaimed much of the former right-of-way.
The 240-page book provides a chapter dedicated to each community along the route. Each chapter includes local history, railroad track plans and numerous historic photographs documenting the line and the towns it served.
Richly illustrated, The Viroqua Line contains 39 color photographs, 357 black-and-white photographs, 196 charts and diagrams, and 39 maps. The book is available in either perfect-bound or spiral-bound editions for $40, plus $8 for postage and handling. The authors recommend the spiral-bound version for readers who want a book that lies flat for easier reference, while the perfect-bound edition offers a traditional shelf appearance with the title printed on the spine. Payment is accepted by cash or check.
Colby, a former mathematics teacher and coach at Barron High School, is a graduate of Eleva-Strum Central High School and the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. His previous railroad history books include The Mondovi Line, The Blueberry Line, The Chippewa Valley Line, The Cornell Line, The Park Falls Line, The Spring Valley Line, The Ellsworth Line and The Coon Valley Line.
Information about all nine books, along with an order form, is available at Wisconsin Railroad Books.
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