How many of ya'll knew about the North Montana Line having an electrified district? I think I found some trolley supply poles.... They sure look identical to the ones lining the RMD mainline for hundreds of miles.
I'm aware of Great Falls having an electrical district (thanks to Boxcab) were did you find them? I posted a picture showing Boxcabs at the Lewistown station but we all figured it was just for advertisement since they were behind a steamer.
Outside of the Great Falls electrification, there was nothing else on the NMD. Do you have a picture of those poles? Boxcab E50
I thought you might never ask... The poles I found are at West bank park, alongt he river. They lead to the refinery, and according to a friend in town, possibly all the way to the smelter site. They sure look Milwaukee to me.
Definitely similar. Hard to say with all certainty. Could be coincidental. A utility corridor located alongside the RR. Or ex-RR. Years ago I viewed a map of Milw in GF. It indicated those specific tracks which were under wires. Thought I had a copy of it. But am not finding that sheet in my messy files.
Additionally, a mile or so of the NML was electrified from Harlowton, so the electrics sould service the various customers on the end of the branch... Yes, I know, smartypants! Ken, I think it's odd, on my couple of MILW books, I see no photos portraying the trolley supply poles with the angular crossarms, like the ones I saw on 200 plus miles of RMD, and in Great Falls. What gives?
Ha ha. Yes. That was essentially the tail track of the wye. Which was also the beginning of the NMD. The freight house, and a couple of other odds and ends were switched off that lead. I hid them, just to make you wonder! Ha ha. It's because those aren't Milw. The Milw used two horizontal arms. Boxcab E50
Then who/what/when/why are these ones all over the RMD along the mainline and in GTF? If these odd crossarms are not MILW, then have I been chasing the wrong railroad? Or did I just miss a joke....:tb-nerd:
Their 100 KV transmission line was sold to the Montana Power Company. Which thereafter made some some changes. Boxcab E50
So, those odd crossarms are not MILW-built, but are modified by MT power after the MILW pulled out? Even if so, that tells me that the modified ones are still MILW heritage? I'm somewhat lost here...
This just in: Falls Yard coverage! Not much still exists, but what I could find, I documented... Coming soon to a thread near you!
OK- Let's see them! BTW- Do you take requests? ha ha... Have you explored the branch NW from GF, toward Agawam? I'd like to know if the Fairfield depot still exists. Also, at Choteau. the GN is still around. And I want to end rumors some day about the Milw depots there. That's Milw depots, plural. The story goes the original was moved, and is somewhere nearby as a house. And the second building was also moved somewhere, so I am told. It was a small square structure. Two rooms, with a flat roof that pitched down from front to back. I took pictures of it, and later than day, my camera failed. As I was far away, I never got back again... Boxcab E50
I would love to explore the line leading to Agawam someday. I might go with my buddy Gary, a bigtime MILW nut, who lived near Choteau when he was younger. He'd be the one to know where these items would be. This tour will start from east Falls Yard, and work westward. At the east end of Falls Yard was a wye connecting to the GN. It is severed today at 57th St South, but the wye is clearly evident:
The eastern end of the mainline to Harlowton is still in use as a BNSF branch to service the air base coal power plant (seen in the distance), the CHS elevator, and the Johnson-Madison Lumber facility: This is the view west from the same point:
All the way to 38th St S. Beyond that, the ROW is bare all the way to 25th St. I have pics of that coming as well. As for these depots you mention, I'm betting they are small, like the Haugan or Drummond depot?
I'm about to nod off, with these pain pills. Choteau first depot was a full sized affair. I cannot think clearly enough to describe. I have a view of it in my collection. It's replacement was that small square box described earlier. About 15' by 15'? Fairfield was not a Class D. At least not what I recall. Will need to get out pix tomorrow. Zzzzzzzzzz. I must sign off now, before I face plant on the keyboard. More in the morning! Boxcab E50
