Wow, what a great post, and great pic's, thanks Hemi. Everytime I see MILW stuff I always have thoughts about a what if the MILW did survive and was still operating. I have thought about modeling a combined BN/MILW from Lind to Elensburg as if the BN had gotten trackage rights for there Hi priority trains that did not need to go through pasco. My time frame would be somehwere in the 90's and the MILW would be just getting there new SD80M's. Mabey someday I can do this. Kevin
Kevin- Greg (popularthinks) was doing just this, as he built his Renslow Bridge modules. But now he seems to be drifting back a little. To more Milw prototypical stuff. :thumbs_up: Boxcab E50
Well I would have to do it around 95 at the latest cause no matter what I can not give up my BN but I do not want to do BNSF. So I figured somewhere around 95 would be fine. Im my world the MILW lines west would have survived but only parts of it. For example they would have negotiated trackage rights over BN in parts of Montana that bennifited both RR's by eliminating duplicate trackage and givin BN trackage rights over MILW from Lind to Renton there by allowing BN to abandon Stampede pass in favor of Snoqualmie. This whole idea is a work in progress so mabey later when I get it all down I will post the specifics. Kevin
Kevin- The idea of coordinating trackage is one that many of us have talked about. I don't know if they would have been able to give up Stampede Pass completely. One situation the Milw never faced, was being at absolute capacity. So as things have been for the last almost 20 years, the Snoqualmie Pass tunnel may have eventually had limits to clear the fumes. As with Stevens Pass and Flathead tunnels. BN actually had trackage rights as far east as Cedar Falls. This was an agreement signed in 1972. If not for the above, trackage rights over Snoqualmie might only have been needed to Ravensdale. They could have built the "cutoff" that was actually surveyed in the mid-1980's. From BN(NP) Ravensdale, across the Cedar River to Milw at Trude. Omitting the cutoff, the BN already owned as far east as Maple Valley. So that's the maximum they'd have needed for rights. Milw always operated from Black River to Maple Valley on trackage rights. A lot of theoretical stuff. Many a possibility. Who knows..... Boxcab E50
More ghosts! The overpass of 25th st north was built in 1914, and is well-preserved. The rails beneath are used to this day, the branch to Malmstrom AFB is served by BNSF via MILW tracks.. The MILW's crossing of the mighty Missouri River is now a walking path...
Didn't I hear something a while back- About a person swimming in that area who died. Possibly diving off that bridge? mg: Boxcab E50
Was it recent? I thought it was out in Sun River, but I could be wrong--yeah, some guy dove in, and never came up. He was quite enibriated,(sp) IIRC. The cold water and shallow depth also had something to do with that.
Does anybody know of any photos of the belt creek tressle and tunnels take from further away when they were still being used? Thanks Rob
So let me ge this straight, hemi- MILW tracks used to be where that "road" is now? BTW, I coulda swore a heard the ghost of a MILW S3 4-8-4 coming down the old CGW line near me, but there hasn't been tracks there in over 20 years.
I've seen pictures. But right now, cannot think of where to look. MRHA has done a couple of articles on the NMD. The most recent issue in fact. But, it does not have photos of that specific place. Boxcab E50
That's the old NMD ROW. BTW- Milw 261 is supposedly coming to Iowa. Believe late this summer. Might be worth a check of their web site! Boxcab E50
New pics!!! Today was 'Winter Sports Day' at work, and if you ski, or did some winter sport, you didn't have to go to work.... Naturally, I rounded up a buddy, and I visited Belt Creek area again; this time with about 10" for fresh snow!! I rented some snowshoes, and we set out on the east end, since I know the road in on the west side would be treacherous for my tires. In summer it's easy, but with 10" of white stuff, it may be impassable. The snowshoes would be OK with deeper powder, but they were quickly ditched, as they required a lot more effort to slog along. The views were incredible! The snow blanketed the area, and the sun shone clear and the cobalt sky accented the cloudless day. Here's dinner on the hoof at Lacey Tunnel 3: At the west end of the tunnel the telltale is still proudly standing: Looking west from Lacey #3, we get a breathtaking view of Belt Creek Canyon: (sharp-eyed viewers will note Amphiteatre Tunnel 4's remains in the gash in the ridgeline to the right) A zoomed-in view:
Another shot, as we encountered Tunnel #4, we bagged this shot: We went to the west end of the tunnel, and chowed down some MRE's for a great warm dinner. With the wind whipping briskly along, it was nice to be out of the wind. On the way back, I bagged some shots of the tunnel interior, to show just how unsafe the structure is: Some train crews back in the 70's chalked in the east portal of #4 a shocking record of a warm, wind-free day in December--a calm day in this part of Montana is about as rare as hen's teeth! The trip back to the truck was uneventful, but we were quite glad we didn't go much farther, as we were worn out!
A gorgeous view of the Highwood Mountains greets us as we head back to the truck, exiting Tunnel #3: And a final shot, a telltale that formerly guarded the east portal of Tunnel 3 rests silently among the sagebrush:
Not all that unusual, to see temps such as that. In your area, there can be wild swings, any time of year. mg: That's some nasty spalling of the tunnel lining! Boxcab E50
