MILW Fitz, Boxcab

I was down near Drexel last year seeking the snowshed which was the only one east of the Taft Tunnel on that Division. There is enough room for the line to swing into the mountain for the shed but the current right of way is near the river. Can't imagine why it would be near the mountain in the first place because the river is at the same elevation for that stretch.
Nice overpass hidden east of Superior and what I believe to be the mill for the Nancy Lee mine on the r.o.w. (?) for the Milwaukee in that area. Those mill concentrates for the Nancy Lee were shipped to the Bunker Hill smelter in Kellogg. Shipped by the Milwaukee they would have transferred to the NP at St Regis then to the UP at Wallace??? Just speculation on the transfers. Nancy Lee was rich, rich, ore.
Have been up on the by pass of the NP where the S Bridge was located which was a series of switch backs. Camped below the rails and woke up to a freight train passing in 1980. Below that area is a debris area which I believe the site of the S Bridge.
East of Lookout Pass on the NP the r.o.w. is in pretty good condition excepting a large pit. A tunnel for the Silex mine runs under the r.o.w. and must have caved.
Regards

 

Take the Ward Creek exit. That exit has been closed off and on the last few years. On the right is a railroad bridge over Ward Creek. Follow the r.o.w. over the bridge to the west. At one time you could see the ruins of the Drexel Power House from the freeway. It sits out near the river in an open field. Look for an open field abt 1/2 mile west of the bridge. There is broken brick. The mountains to the rear slope away from Drexel and that is the area I would believe is the shed but it is very tangled in there. I believe there is a pic somewhere of it. Very rare.
Just took some pics of the NP depot in Wallace and went searching for the highline from the mill to the smelter for the Bunker Hill Company.

 

Yes, welcome to Trainboard! Pics would be great, love that area and what's left of the Milwaukee.

 

Take the Ward Creek exit on I90. The last few years the exit has been closed or difficult to get over from the west. Follow the right of way over the railroad bridge over Ward Creek. Travel about 1/2 mile and on the right the undergrowth will open. Look for a debris field near the river. Lots of broken brick but may find a few good ones. That's the Drexel powerhouse. At one time could see the powerhouse from the freeway so look near the river.
The snow shed is still to be located. Lots of brush and trees on the south side of the row so that wasn't fun.
There is still the bridge over the river near Henderson to be located.
The snow slide on the NP in 1903 at the S bridge is interesting and the runaway on the first curve east of Lookout Pass. When those cuts were made for the NP east of Lookout a car of 30 (?) standard size rail tipped and buried a worker. The ground was wet and soft and that saved him.
The NP row east of Lookout has a large depression or hole. Directly under that area is a tunnel for a mine at Sildex. That tunnel must have caved.
Regards