As with my Nooksack Line stuff, these slides are packed away. I don't recall the engine number. It was an all Amtrak set of equipment that I'd suppose they'd rented. Except for the detours in late 1976-early 1977, having Amtrak there seemed very odd. Out of place. This was deep in old black and orange territory. Too bad it wasn't a nice set of electric motors under wires! BoxcabE50
Now that would have been odd. I'm glad you have pictures from there, even if they are packed away....that would have been neat to see though. If you get a chance to post the pics they would be awsome to see! But just like you, all my pics are filed away at the moment.
Boxcab, Yes, I strung the SMP line over Lolo Pass. Seemed to be the logical route. I actually drove over that pass a number of years ago (at night, though, so I didn't see a lot. It was at the end of a long day of driving). Sorry it took so long to get back to this string! Pat
AKrrnut- Lolo Pass is an interesting drive. But even in daylight, a little bit lengthy. I'd imagine you were working to keep those eyes open! It's cool that you chose the Milw for the east end of your empire. It was a unique RR. Many fascinating things to explore. Missoula was actually a busy place. Crew change. Small yard. Two local jobs. Car scales. You could probably theorize grain coming off the Northern Montana Division. Wood and paper products from the Mills at Bonner and Schilling. Just curious, ever run into folks named "Gillen" in your area? BoxcabE50
No, I haven't run into anyone with that name...that I remember, at least! The portion of the railroad I want to model is in Central Oregon, between Redmond and Madras (which will include the Crooked River bridge). I chose to connect the Santiam Pacific with the Milwaukee because it didn't make any sense to connect with the UP in Idaho (which was the original destination of the Oregon Pacific, the predecessor of the SMP) since UP-SP would have short-hauled the SMP every chance they could in the 1910-1920s; and C&NW's route to Lander was only a long branch line. Plus, like you stated, the MILW had a lot of character! I don't expect to haul a lot of wood products west, since the SMP would originate quite a bit, but I do expect to haul grain west to the port at Yaquina Bay Pat
