Western Railroad Discussion > Double Trouble (Continued):

May 28, 1981

BN B+B crews on special pile driver trains from Spokane, Wash. (right) and Glendive, Montana (left) work 'round the clock to link steel together and close the last flood-damaged gap 1 mile east of Cardwell, Montana. The line was opened five days before the main line was restored between Garrison and Helena. Most of this 4th sub-division is slated for abandonment, in particular the portion between Butte and Whitehall. This trackage sees only 1 train of one or two cars every two weeks. These movements consist of high-wide loads prevented from passing through Mullan Tunnel on the main line due to clearance restrictions.

The Milwaukee Road had been abandoned a little over a year. This line was restored to Whitehall and later up to a quarry in Pipestone by MRL The portion between Pipestone and Butte is owned by BNSF which, according to rumor, is afraid to give MRL access to Butte. The rail is still there but is badly deteriorated over the Rockies

Long Bell Bob
Bob Bassett
Missoula,MT

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You really should put stuff like this on the Nostalgia and History page. You can see the MILW line in the background of the first pic. Here is the location of the washout;

http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=45.85771,-111.92769&z=17&t=S

None of the MILW line was restored by the MRL, the Pipestone Pit is actually on the ex-NP line.

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/16/12 11:42 by funnelfan.