I came upon this line, still in place, save for a couple pile bridges, on a hunting trip to WY. 90# rails, no tie plates, heck, even a switchstand! I assume it's former NP, since it leads north out of Livingston, MT. I also guess it hadn't seen a wheel in at least 20-30 years! I have pics, to follow soon. What info does anyone have on this this little 25 mile line?
This is just a guess, but north of Livingston is Ringling, which was home to the Ringling Brothers Circus at one time. There's not much else in that area.
Dave, Ringling is about 70 miles from I-90 up US 89. Wilsall is just about 25 miles from Livingston. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=wilsall,+MT&ie=UTF8&z=9&om=1
It's the old NP Shields River Branch. AFAIK- Not abandoned. Classified as 'out of service'. And owned by MRL. Last train was? Boxcab E50
That seems to make sense--the Shields River follows the ROW. Last train must have been a couple decades ago. A local rancher near Wilsall has a PS-2 type 3-bay hopper propped up on a concrete pad on his property. Seems to me it would have been delivered via rail, and hoisted off the tracks.
That would make sense. I suppose an inquiry of him, next trip, might provide the answer. Ha ha... I believe that branch was last operated during early BN days. Would need to dig out old ETT, and see if even listed. Boxcab E50
Not much for traffic--the agriculture in this are is sparce, but prolly within the haulage of trucks. I doubt that it would increase high enough to warrant rail transport.
probably long sicne forgotten by MRL. With the rails in the condition they are, they would likely spread at the first wheel of an empty hopper. I bet those rails would be great for some of those speeder car collectors.
Of course they'd need to rebuild it all. But, ninety pounds, although too light by current standards, is still heavier than some other branch operations gimping along today. Boxcab E50
Hopefully, nobody wearing brightly colored spandex and a goofy helmet will want to pave it as a bike trail like they do here. Bob C.
Possible, but not likely. There's not much for population out there. Mostly ranchers and other hardy folks.
