Being in a state with many fallen flags allows for some good hikes, and documenting the defunct Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific is high on my priority list. My first project, begin documenting the old Milwaukee east of Great Falls, MT. While hiking every mile of it is not feasible nor desired, I wanted to document the more scenic parts. For this outing, I wanted to start closer to home. About 20 miles from Great Falls is a little town called Waltham. Well, it's really just a few houses.. But anyways, the Milwaukee had to bridge a large gully cut by Belt Creek. Several large cuts and fills were required to get the line to Highwood, MT, a couple more miles east. A pair of large steel trestles and 4 tunnels were also required to complete the right of way. Everything is gone now; rails, ties and the line is overgrown with weeds. The area is all privately owned, and acquiring permission is always advisable. I procured the necessary permission to head from where I parked, to Lacey Tunnel #3. About 2 miles hike out and back, total. Much more is possible to be seen and hiked, but contacting the right people is a bit more difficult. This tour will increase in size, when I get out for more hikes. Well, by I, I mean we, all 3 of us. My wife, son and I! Here's a Terraserver map, I stitched it together to show the basic track arrangement. It is HUGE, 321K. Old MILW route Pics to come soon!
Glad you were able to get permission. Looking forward to your photo documentation! Watch that grass. As weather warms, it's where you might pick up a tick. Or stumble across a snake. Boxcab E50
Just off of Waltham Rd, we parked,a nd from atop a cut is this view of the line eastbound towards Highwood, MT: And the view westbound--you'll see it close-up soon! After bulking up on water, and other necessities, our new child backpack was loaded on my back, and off we went! Here's where we started: Here's Glen and his daddy on their first family railfan outing! More soon!
It was tough to see where everything was, in the pic, till I hiked in and saw some of it. Since the rails and ties are all gone, it was hard to discern in the USGS photos.
In sequential order: Milepost 177 was somewhere in this general area, yet I neglected to shoot the sign.. Doh! More, coming soon...
Continued: At last--Lacey Tunnel 3: East Portal: A refuge in the slighly curving tunnel, estimated at 450-550 feet in length--this hot also shows the details in the interior lining: West portal: The view from the west portal: A closeup of the original telltale, also MP 178 (the one on the east portal side is on its side, having collapsed into the grass): Way off in the distance another half mile or so is an unknown tunnel, on another person's land to which I did not have permission, and we chose to turn back at this point: More, coming soon...
In a matter of seconds, a person begins to visualize what once was there. Excellent pictures! Boxcab E50
Was the tunnel passable?? I mean, did you., or were you able to hike through the bore?? Gotta see if I can locate my MILW pics from Harlowton and post 'em! On that side, the SIGNALS are still in place!! Lenses shot out, but still there! As are the power substations! Have some interesting shots from inside sub station #2, plus a few from track level. Gotta get back up there again and explore some more.
Hikable, and we did. It was clear, no weeds or anything--seemed maintained somehow. This is not exclusively my thread, PLEASE feel free to post pics and all!
So was I close with directions?????? Glad you got on the right of way. You can play tour guide next time I'm down. grant
It'll be easy next time, since I know what dirt roads to take! The main roads you were on, the dirt roads were a challenge. Getting permission for the other portions will also be harder, not all the folks live all in the same area.
Continued: A closer shot of Ampitheater Tunnel 4: And the only trestle was got a visual on, WAY off in the distance, extreme telephoto shot: Maybe after Easter, I can get out to get more coverage!
Tunnels in that area, from west to east: #6 Red Coulee #5 Belt Creek #4 Amphitheatre #3 Lacey All within roughly a couple of miles.... Boxcab E50
Round two! I have secured permission to hike the remaining portion of Belt Creek, and Saturday I will be your railfan reporter. Hopefully I can reach it all!
