WINONA, Minn. – In the heyday if railroading, Winonans had five lines to choose from to get out of town.
> Milwaukee Road. To LaCrosse, Milwaukee and Chicago and to St. Paul and Seattle. Later the Soo Line. Currently Canadian Pacific.
> Burlington. From Bluff Siding across the Mississippi River. To LaCrosse and Chicago and, switching to the Great Northern or Northern Pacific, to Seattle. Currently the Burlington Northern.
> Green Bay and Western. To Arcadia and Green Bay. Later the Burlington Northern. Currently Canadian National but deadends near Bluff Siding.
> Winona and St. Peter. To Stockton, Lewiston, Stewartville and Minnesota River points. Later the Chicago & Northwestern. Later still the Dakota Minnesota & Eastern. Currently Canadian Pacific to the South Dakota border.
> Winona and Southwestern. To Rollingstone, Altura and Osage, Iowa. Abandoned.
All had passenger service.
Northwestern’s grand station. Near riverside at the current Huff and Second Street, just off its bridge across the Mississippi.
Blocked crossings
There was a downside: It was virtually impossible to get across town without at least one train blocking a crossing on your way. Or more. And, lordy, all that smoke and soot.