Northern Pacific in Gardiner, MT

montanan Aug 25, 2017

  1. montanan

    montanan TrainBoard Member

    1,153
    2,033
    39
    Gardiner 1905.jpg Here is an old photo taken of the Depot in Gardiner, MT. The Northern Pacific used to run a train from the Depot in Livingston, MT to Gardiner, MT to take tourists to Yellowstone National Park and to supply the town of Gardiner which is the north entrance to the park.This photo was taken in 1905.

    One of the members of the Livingston Model Railroad Club which is located in the basement of the old Northern Pacific Depot in Livingston modeled this depot and the surrounding area and the entrance to the park. The detail work is fantastic.

    IMAG1135.jpg

    IMAG1134.jpg

    It is nice to see this lost piece of history being modeled.
     

    Attached Files:

  2. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

    67,518
    22,598
    653
    Do you by chance know the year it was demolished? Does the freight house/depot still survive?
     
  3. montanan

    montanan TrainBoard Member

    1,153
    2,033
    39
    I don't know that it was demolished. There is a building standing right where the old depot was. The railroad continued regular service until 1955. After that they did run occasional trains during tourist season for a couple of years. The railroad also supplied the town of Gardiner, but with the road improvement by that time, truck service could supply the town. If you look on Google Earth you can still see the old right of way and where the loop was. I believe that the High School is now in the center of the old loop. The next time i get to Gardiner I'll have to check it out. A few years ago I did take a trip down the old right of was from Livingston to Gardiner. In places roads are on the old right of way and in some areas not. An interesting trip.
     
    Kurt Moose and BoxcabE50 like this.
  4. Kurt Moose

    Kurt Moose TrainBoard Member

    9,809
    14,177
    147
    Holy Moly-that layout scene is fantastic and looks just like a lot of the postcards I've seen from that era!!

    Well done!!(y)(y)(y)
     
  5. fitz

    fitz TrainBoard Member

    9,713
    2,731
    145
    And the 1905 photograph is so clear it was probably a glass negative, large size. Beautiful model re-creation of the place.
     
    Kurt Moose likes this.
  6. Ed Slanina

    Ed Slanina TrainBoard Member

    76
    30
    11
    That's a great looking photo, and I really like that scene on the layout
     
  7. EMD F7A

    EMD F7A TrainBoard Member

    1,250
    148
    26
    That is fantastic! Would be a great end loop on a shelf layout....
     
    Kurt Moose likes this.
  8. montanan

    montanan TrainBoard Member

    1,153
    2,033
    39
    Some time in the mid 50's.

    GARDINER-MT.jpg

    There were special passenger train run to Gardiner until the station was torn down.
     
    ddm502001, Kurt Moose and BoxcabE50 like this.
  9. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

    67,518
    22,598
    653
    "Lamentable decision..."

    I agree. So quick with a bulldozer. We must be just about the most history destructive nation on earth. :(
     
    ddm502001 and NScaleKen like this.
  10. ddechamp71

    ddechamp71 TrainBoard Member

    2,153
    653
    46
    Not sure whether the absolute winner of this contest is not France, my home country...:rolleyes:

    Dom
     
    BoxcabE50 likes this.
  11. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

    67,518
    22,598
    653
    :(:(:cry:
     
  12. ddm502001

    ddm502001 TrainBoard Member

    156
    141
    18
    Narrow Gauge? Seems to be in the photo.
     
  13. ddm502001

    ddm502001 TrainBoard Member

    156
    141
    18
    Probably not, I went to Google Earth and followed the road bed back to Livingston no need of NG as so fairly straight and flat. The yards at Livingston are a historic note, still has a active turntable and the old power house is still standing if at all still equipped. MT Rail Link is keeping it up relatively well.
     
    Kurt Moose likes this.
  14. montanan

    montanan TrainBoard Member

    1,153
    2,033
    39
    It's standard gauge. A number of years ago, I rode the old roadbed as much as I could between Livingston and Gardiner. That was a fun trip. I have photos somewhere and if I find them, I will post them.
     
    Kurt Moose and ddm502001 like this.
  15. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

    67,518
    22,598
    653
    Definitely all was and is US "standard" gauge track.
     
    ddm502001 likes this.
  16. montanan

    montanan TrainBoard Member

    1,153
    2,033
    39
    At the west end of Livingston there is a wye that connects to the old tracks heading south to Gardiner. The tracks now only go to the south side of Livingston to service a lumber mill on the south side of town. Here are the MRL locomotives that usually do the switching duties for the mill.

    20180809_154638.jpg
    I can remember when Montana Rail Link first started. Driving into town from the east, you could see locomotives lined up ready for rebuild in the old BN/NP shops. I have had the privilege to have been able to visit the shops a number of times. They have quite a shop. When they first started up, their equipment roster was the locomotives that they were able to rebuild.

    57a14fb032c96.image.jpg
    Now they are running modern equipment.

    MRL4307PBieber.jpg

    As mentioned, the tracks were standard gauge. Here's a photo taken near the end of the service o Gardiner with an F-7 painted in the Lowey paint scheme.

    Gardiner 14.jpg

    Here are a few more old photos of Gardiner.

    Gardiner 3.jpg
    Gardiner 9.jpg
    Gardiner 8.jpg

    Here's another photo of the Gardiner station at the club.

    20180929_201908.jpg
    The club is located in the basement of the old baggage building on the left of the photo.

    Livingston_Montana_Depot,_2005.JPG

    I really enjoy the trip over Bozeman Pass going to the club. You will usually see either an eastbound or Westbound train on the pass and you never know what you'll find sitting on the outbound tracks.
     
  17. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

    67,518
    22,598
    653
    One of these days I must get to that swap meet!
     
    ddm502001 and Kurt Moose like this.
  18. Kurt Moose

    Kurt Moose TrainBoard Member

    9,809
    14,177
    147
    My Wife and I stayed in Pray, MT for three days while we vacationed and went into Yellowstone Park thru the north entrance at Gardiner, and it was cool to trace the roadbed as we drove back and forth. Would've been a great ride on a train!!(y)
     
  19. montanan

    montanan TrainBoard Member

    1,153
    2,033
    39
    Near Gardiner, MT is a feature call the Devils Slide. Here is a video taken recently of some elk on the slide.

     
    Last edited: Nov 25, 2018
    Kurt Moose and BoxcabE50 like this.
  20. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

    67,518
    22,598
    653
    Wow. This would be a sight to watch! Your video? Or someone else's?
     

Share This Page