GN Flathead Tunnel

HemiAdda2d Apr 14, 2006

  1. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    When was it constructed? With as much press as the Cascade Tunnel got, Flathead nearly got forgotten, it seems. Why was it built? What line did it replace?
     
  2. Kurt Moose

    Kurt Moose TrainBoard Member

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    Started around 1968 and finished around 1970 when BN took over?
     
  3. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Wow, I didn't think it was so late in GN's existence?!
    Can anyone confirm this?
     
  4. Kurt Moose

    Kurt Moose TrainBoard Member

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    According to Annual reports from GN on Lindsay Korst's site, it was first planned in early '65, drilling started mid-'66, and finished winter of '70. :D
     
  5. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Finished before the merger?
     
  6. Kurt Moose

    Kurt Moose TrainBoard Member

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    Nope. First train thru had a BN green F45 on the point thru the "first train thru" banner across the tracks. If you have access to the GN book from Pacific Fast Mail, it has several picks of the construction and that pic of the first train thru.
     
  7. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Another book added to the 'Gotta have' list....
     
  8. SDP45

    SDP45 TrainBoard Member

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    It was built because of a dam being constructed along the river, which would flood a lot of the then current line.
     
  9. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    It was built due to the Libby Dam project. Which created Lake Koocanusa. (Name is a creative combination of Kootenai River, Canada, and USA.) There was a major line relocation also involved. The old line ran north to Eureka, before turning south along the Kootenai River. The new line cut off at Stryker, and continued to near Jennings. The old main line Stryker to Eureka beacme a branch. Which is today operated by Watco as part of their oddly named Mission Mountain Railroad.

    The contractor was Morrison-Knudsen. Who built the track, using their own RR engines, etc. There is even some paperwork (train orders) on this in the Stumptown Museum, Whitefish, Montana.

    Sorry. It was not finished before the BN merger. If that web site says so, it's wrong.

    Boxcab E50
     
  10. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Never knew that!!
    M-K built the Rio Grande's Potash branch in the 60's as well. They seem to be well equipped for such heavy construction.
    Couldn't find much data on FT on the internet, so I came here! :)
     
  11. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Something else. I'd forgotten. At Stryker, with the change in alignment, there was a new depot (train order office) built. Which was quite a waste of money. As when the new line was activated, it went in as CTC. They only kept an operator on duty about a week. And that job was pulled.

    I just talked to a retired GN man. And as far as he remembers, there was never a train order copied at the new office. It was just used by m-o-w people, etc.

    When the CTC went in, all train order jobs between Sandpoint, and Whitefish were eliminated. Libby, Troy, Eureka, Stryker. Gone.

    Boxcab E50
     
  12. Geared Steam

    Geared Steam Permanently dispatched

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    Sorry to dig up an old thread...

    I grew up in Libby, born 1963. Remember this project well believe it or not. Our population almost tripled overnight, dam and railroad workers. Seems like most of my memories growing up was watching the progress of the dam, bridges and railroad realignment, it seemed odd when it was all complete, because many of my friends left town for a new project somewhere else. The railroad left the river and proceeded up the Fisher River Valley, the thru Wolf Praire, the tunnel, Eureka. I did not know this but the ORIGINAL GN alignment went close to this same location, up the Fisher River ( which part the Fisher River Road is obviously a RR grade) Not sure where it left the valley but it went thru the area called Lost Praire(I think?) around McGregor Lake, along HWY 2 into Kalispell. Does anyone know of a pictures of this orignal alignment ?
     
  13. Geared Steam

    Geared Steam Permanently dispatched

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    The old alignment going north up the river.
    http://wikimapia.org/#lat=48.362964&lon=-115.320847&z=17&l=0&m=a&v=2

    The old RR grade that is now the Fisher River Road. The "new BN track is east of the Fisher River.
    http://wikimapia.org/#lat=48.272854&lon=-115.305204&z=16&l=0&m=a&v=2

    The old GN grade east of Kalispell

    http://wikimapia.org/#lat=48.196163&lon=-114.370363&z=18&l=0&m=a&v=2

    Trestle remains a little east of Kalispell, across a marsh, Hwy 2 is clearly visible.

    http://wikimapia.org/#lat=48.107109&lon=-114.469997&z=17&l=0&m=a&v=2

    It gets hard to track after this point.
     
  14. Mr. SP

    Mr. SP Passed away August 5, 2016 In Memoriam

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    The Flathead Tunnel is transited by Amtrak's Empire Builder. East bound you get to the tunnel around 05:30 West bound it is about 21:00 or so.
    Make the trip from Seattle to Havre and back and you get the two longest tunnels in the US. Cascade and Flathead.
     
  15. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Those two grades parted at Jennings. The old was actually slightly north of the Lost Prairie area. Passing through Pleasant Valley. Somewhere out there, was a (train order) telegraph office. Which must have been a very lonely job.

    Boxcab E50
     
  16. Kevin M

    Kevin M TrainBoard Member

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    Where is Peterson? Why did the GN change the alingment in the first place, I am guessing it was so they could have a river grade but was there another reason?
    Kevin
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 16, 2008
  17. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    This is the west side of Kila. A little less than ten miles west of Kalispell. I've been across that road bridge at right a fair number of times. Between Kila and Kalispell, the old RR grade is now all a hike/bike trail.

    Further west, you can see the old r-o-w, as it clings to the rock face above Highway 2. You can also still see the r-o-w in Marion. Although construction is fast obliterating that. And on north past Little Bitterroot Lake, you can see it, all the way up to where the former east portal tunnel mouth is buried. On the east side, part of the road is atop the old r-o-w, through Pleasant Valley.

    Boxcab E50
     
  18. Geared Steam

    Geared Steam Permanently dispatched

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    LOL, a very lonely job, but Paradise Valley was (and still is I'm sure) great hunting country.

    Thanks for that info Boxcab, I've always traced the old ROW going home to Libby, but never have really ventured up in that area (Lost Praire and Bitteroot Lake) that I can remember anyway.
     
  19. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Actually, Lost Prairie is a ways south of where the old r-o-w was located. You need to drive north/west, and over another hill, into Pleasant Valley. The way roads exist in there, you can make a loop off Highway 2. Pleasant Valley Road starts at Hiway 2 in Marion. Follow it over Haskell Pass, and in Pleasant Valley, just west of Dahl Lake, you junction back to Lost Prairie, then over the hill and down to 2 at McGregor Lake.

    BTW- Lost Prairie these days is known as a place where skydivers congregate. There's a little airfield. Last summer, sadly, there was a multi-fatality accident....

    We have a friend up there. If I memory works tonight, they even attended grade school at Pleasant Valley. Might recall enough, to show us where that train order office once stood. Perhaps when the snow is gone the wife and I can go visit. Sounds like a good excuse...

    Boxcab E50
     
  20. Geared Steam

    Geared Steam Permanently dispatched

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    If you go, the restaurant at McGregor Lake has great food (at least they did in 2006)
    I heard about the plane crash, pretty tragic.
    I plan on visiting the parents again in Polson this summer. Last year we spent most of our time in Yellowstone country, this year I would like to just hang around NW Montana, go up to Frank Lake (by Eureka) , Glacier Park, etc. I need to go to Libby for an X-ray of my lungs. I'm sure you know the story about Libby, my dad worked that mine from 68 till it was shut down.

    EDIT: Found the website I have been looking for, thanks Boxcab, "Haskell Pass" was the search I needed. Pretty interesting site on the pass.

    http://www.goatlick.com/chasing/haskell/may02.htm

     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 18, 2008

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