I have this video at home, but didn't know that it had been posted on youtube. It is a trip from Harlowtown, MT to Butte, MT. [video=youtube;-Yu09kj0HdA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Yu09kj0HdA[/video]
That set is a must have for any MILW and Lines West fans. Do you have the one released by C-Vision, a couple of years ago?
I had picked up this video a few years back as I have ridden this route numerous times and it sure brings back some memories. I beloeve that I do also have this vidoe. Have to check. I have a pile of Milwaukee videos stashed away. I was up flying last week to get some hours in and flew over the old route from Whitehall to Butte and that tracks all seem to be intact. I am wondering how often, if ever they are used.
The MILW tracks are all gone, including one of the big steel viaducts. They were removed over thirty years ago. Sounds like you were following the NP. Those are mostly still in palce, except what has been stolen. There is a ballast pit on the east side, and that is as far as any trains ever get from the east. From there to Butte has been out of service since the 1980's.
I imagine that they were the NP tracks. They came from Logan to Whitehall and then split. I did see the pit on the way to Pipestone and followed the tracks. It can get a bit difficult to pick up all of the smaller details when you're trying to maintain minimum altitude and sight see at the same time. It's suprising that the right of way isn't in use even if not on a regular basis. If there were to be a rail closure for some reason, this would be a good alternative route. I'm going to have to get up in the air again and check it out again.
It needs work. Bridges and more. Been laying fallow too long, without any maintenance. The story goes this route is OOS to block MRL from access to outside world, (UP at Silver Bow), except interchange with BNSF.
