After the Milwaukee's sad demise nearly 3 decades ago, the North Montana Division, from Harlowton to Agawam, MT, was pulled up in the mid 80's. A portion of it from Geraldine to near Lewistown are still in use by Central Montana Rail; and the spur from Great Falls to Malmstrom AFB is still intact to the coal power plant on base, but nearly all else is all gone.. This thread is going to give you a glimpse of what once was. I have explored a small portion of the Belt Creek area, near Waltham, MT. I plan on exploring a bit more of that area this weekend, and will report my progress as time allows. There are many large trestles and many tunnels along the NMD, and I plan on exploring and documenting as many as possible. Nearly all the trestles still stand, and many of the tunnels are intact. This thread is not mine alone--please add your comments and photos if you have any to share!! A teaser:
I have a project for you!!! If you get near Square Butte, would be interesting in learning what happened to the depot. My info is that it was cut in half, and both halves moved to a nearby site. And have seen photos that imply this is true. But also am told only part was moved. Which really makes no sense. mg: Boxcab E50
Northern end of the track still in operation, is Geraldine. South by seven miles, is Square Butte. Sure wish there was a train order or two stashed in the attic......!!! Boxcab E50
What a HIKE! I'm estimating 2.5 miles one way, from Red Coulee Trestle (we could drive from the main road clear to the trestle, saving at least a mile or 2 of hiking) to Amphitheatre Tunnel 4's remains.. BEAUTIFUL day for a hike, too. I have 83 shots to sort thru, and most will be posted.... stay tuned!!!!!
That was brilliant! After the Cruisin' the Drag event, and walking 20 city blocks plus, then that hike, it certainly was!
Starting at McKinnor Rd, looking back to Great Falls: Looking back east--it's straight now, but not for much longer: The beginning of a massive curve, and a downgrade; looking west: More of the same, looking east again:
Interesting how green it is along the route. Despite the fairy tales otherwise, you note there is a fair amount of ballast present.... Boxcab E50
The ballast is badly fouled, but most of it is intact. The ballast on the trestles looked like river gravel..... More Q's: Amphitheatre Tunnel 4 is collapsed, and daylighted. When did the daylighting happen, and what led to that? Did the tunnel daylighting/collapse lead to the abandonment of the line, or a shutdown? The total lining is not colapsed, but much of it is. The East portal is nearly gone. Derailment? Pics forthcoming, when I get to that point. Until then, you can see my album for a sneak peek. For now, Im sticking to following the ROW east, in the order it is seen.
Again, we head east, around the curve.. We look behind us west: And east: Further along, looking west, upgrade: And east, a slight jog in the alignment:
Looking west, from a bit further around the curve: The first view of Red Coulee Tunnel 6, from way across the coulee: First view of Red Coulee trestle: Beautiful scenery in Red Coulee canyon:
The alignment starts to reverse curve to the left: Red Coulee Trestle, a better broadside view: The road takes a sharp nosedive off to the east?? And we see why--an abandoned trestle of some sort:
More views of the trestle's bents: What's left of some sort of retaining wall, I'm guessing: View of the trestle, from the east side of the trestle:
The first deep cuts are ahead--they won't be the last: Milepost 181, near the top of the cut, is the only MP I could verify: Looking west from the same point: And east, further downgrade--this is where the ROW starts to get rutted:
Looking west thru the cuts: A sharp curve east.... ...Leads to Red Coulee trestle: The dilapidated wood approach to RCT--note the collapsing timbers: This was the most spooky part of the hike!
But fear not, we didn't chicken out here! We continue east, looking west to where I parked: The disintegrated refuge--not in my right mind would I try it out: The east end of the trestle, minus handrails... A large cut east of the trestle:
Looking west, thru that cut: And east again, toward another curve: Looking across the coulee, at the trestle remains: A sharp, rocky cut ahead to the east: More to come, stay tuned!!
Right. That's the truth about Milw ballast. It became fouled. It's dry and windy in eastern eMpTy. But the ballast was still there. Many people have perpetuated the falsehood about Milw not using ballast. But a quick kick next to a tie would reveal it there. That's what held the track in line. :angry: The Milw had a bunch of places between Lewistown, and Great Falls, where the line would constantly settle, slip, slide, etc. It did cause some trouble before the Milw quit Lines West in 1980. And that maintenance cost is why the line was severed by BN. The customers/car loadings at those few stations abandoned, would not have even made a dent in upkeep expenses. BN had it's own lines around Great Falls, to serve the rest of the area. The Northern Montana was a very good money maker for the Milw. Until the late 1970's, when Chicago ordered no maintaining. :sad: Boxcab E50
Grain and livestock, right? What's the story about the abandoned trestle? The ballast was dirt with rocks dumped in.. Sadly, it wasn't very good for drainage. Maybe that was Amphitheatre Tunnel 4's largest issue?
