The tracks disappear again several miles around a lake as US 2 takes the opposite side--but just before it does, the head-end shot was unusable--but I bagged a neat tank train, with some old BN Fuel Tenders in the consist: Malta was next, with elevator row: And the cool depot:
On the way to Chinook, we pass thru Zurich (waitaminnit--how'd we get into Switzerland??) and a stack train hustling containers east: In Chinook, the Depot: And a neat Frisco hopper:
On the road to Havre, this piggyback train was making some money just east of town: East of town, this elevator goat was sitting in the warm sun: In Havre, a cool tourist trap next to a gas station:
When in Havre, you just GOTTA stop to see GN 2584, an S-2 Northern class engine, built for speeding the GN's first-class varnish across the transcon! Still has Christmas lights!
South of Havre on US 87, the trains are gone--but the rails are not empty! Remember the strings of empty intermodal cars I mentioned earlier? The glint was neat in this shot, and so the tour ends... I hope you enjoyed it, I sure did!
Ha ha. Probably because there was a lot of emigration, of people from Germany and Switzerland, to the Dakotas, and Montana. Both as farmers, and RR workers. In this instance, it's pronounced ZURR- rich. Boxcab E50
If the CHS is Cenex Harvest States, they're big in Montana. And growing larger. Building a new distribution facility down in the Bozeman vicinity. Boxcab E50
These parts sure ain't seen that scheme or anything like it in over 35 years... I'm glad you all enjoyed the trip--I just wish I culd have gotten better photos on some of those trains. As you can see, there's still no scenery, but it still agood ride just the same.
