At the turn of the 19th century, the 36-mile railroad line between Fairchild and Mondovi impacted the eight communities it served. Sixty-three-year-old Arlyn Colby grew up in Eleva and Strum, both on the railroad line, and he remembered that line sparking his interest in steam locomotives as a child. The now-retired Barron High School teacher decided to translate that interest into a book called The Mondovi Line, a complete history of that section of tracks. Colby spent four years contacting local historians and railroad associations to gain details like timetables, photos, letters, and diagrams related to the Mondovi Line. Each chapter of the 148-page book spotlights one community on the railroad. The book documents the change in these communities as the railroad progressed. Colby isn’t seeking a profit on his work, only to cover his expenses and preserve history.