posted
Hi, I'm new here. I live in Butte, MT and was wondering if anyone here has any links to info on the Old Milwaukee Railroad line that ran through Butte.
I'm looking for dates of construction, and the last time it was used, and what its primary uses were.
Any help would be greatful.
Thanks.
Posts: 2 | From: Butte, Montana, USA | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
I don't have a link, but I think the Milwaukee Road Pacific extension closed in 1980. Some small sections further west are still in use as branch lines connected to other carriers (UP, etc).
Posts: 874 | From: South Bay (LA County), Calif, USA | Registered: Aug 2000
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A book that you will find interesting is "Guide to the Milwaukee Road in Montana" by Steve McCarter (published by the Montana Historical Society Press in Helena, ISBN 0-917298-27-6). It is a great book that describes the entire Milwaukee Road line (including branches) in the state of Montana, including major stations, directions on how to reach the right-of-way, and preserved artifacts such as depots, signals, bridges, and equipment.
I live in Kalispell which is Great Northern territory; however I have explored a bit of the Milwaukee in the Missoula area. The old Milwaukee yard is now a city park; the ROW is a bike trail, and the depot remains as a community center (with a train order signal out front). I have yet to make it to Deer Lodge to see the Little Joe, however...
Also, Pentrex has a series of videos on the Milwaukee electrics which focuses on the track in Montana and into Idaho - I would probably recommend this to you as well.
Posts: 15 | From: Kalispell, MT - USA | Registered: Mar 2001
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Thanks alot guys! My daughter will be very happy to read into the history of these rails. We were out on Homestake Pass this last weekend and her and I walked about two miles of the old Milwaukee which runs to the north side of the interstate. She was facinated at how the rails were put together. She is 8 years old, and this was the first time she had been this close to the rails.
I have always loved history, and it excites me as well to find that she also has a love for it.
Again, thanks for the info
------------------ John 3:16 Romans 13:4
Posts: 2 | From: Butte, Montana, USA | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
Another source you might find interesting is Steam Powered Video's Railroad Atlas of the Mountain Plains (Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming). It shows detailed routes of existing and abandoned rail lines. It was published in 2000, ISBN 1 874745 13 7. Steam Powered Video is a British firm and they have done a great job in mapping the US rail lines, region-by-region. According to the atlas, Homestake Pass is in fact on a former Northern Pacific line. A segment east of there is still active, but as part of Montana Rail Link. Evidently the Milwaukee Road went through Pipestone Pass, which is several miles further south of Homestake Pass. According to the atlas, a segment of the Milwaukee Road survives as the "Montana Western", between the city of Butte and the Butte Industrial Park south of town. I don't have a large scale road atlas, but it appears that Montana State Route 2 follows this line. Happy exploring!
Posts: 874 | From: South Bay (LA County), Calif, USA | Registered: Aug 2000
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