Episode 4, North Coast Limited in western Montana
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- čas přidán 15. 07. 2024
- This is the third of four videos examining the 1960's westbound transcontinental trip of the Northern Pacific Railroad's flagship passenger train, the streamlined North Coast Limited. This episode covers the area from Bozeman, Montana to the Montana-Idaho border. The North Coast Limited originated in 1900 with its final run under the NP being in 1970, when the NP merged with a few other railroads to form the Burlington Northern. There has not been a scheduled passenger train along this line since 1979. Forunately, we have footage taken from a 1998 NPRHA fan train.
Great programs. I road both the NP North Coast Limited in 1967 and then Amtrak's North Coast Hiawatha in 1973 (I think). The greatest memories on this southern route were the badlands of eastern Montana and wild horses running along beside the dome car at sunset.
A wonderful film, Dan. Thanks for posting. I had the pleasure of riding the Amtrak North Coast Hiawatha from Bozeman to Butte (in a dome coach) and Bozeman to Minneapolis (in a Vista Dome sleeper) back in 1973. It was my first visit to the US (from England) to see my sister and family and I built in some rail riding to my otherwise all air travel itinerary. Had I known the Amtrak service would cease in 1979 and the Homestake Pass route be mothballed in 1983, I would have taken more notice (and taken more photographs). On my next visit in 1982, my only rail activity was visiting the BN shops in Livingston which was good, but it was sad to see the abandoned station building. On subsequent return visits there was always speculation in the local newspapers about the passenger service being reintroduced, which of course never happened. Sadly, my sister and brother-in-law died recently, so the chances of my returning to ride the NP rails (on a charter which I always look out for) are slim to zero, but your video has kept the dream alive. Good luck with your efforts to recreate the glory days of the NP.
Outstanding, brought back all the memories riding this train years ago many times! Thank you
In 1961 took this train to Chicago for summer school. I wore a jacket and a tie anytime I stepped out of the compartment. Damn near died when the train arrived there from the heat and humidity. But flying now has sure erased the fun.
I have been a member of the NPRHA on and off since the mid-1980s. From 2006 to 2015, I lived in Bozeman and Helena, MT all along the original NP mainline. I appreciate your presentation. The NP needs this kind of exposure to all train fans, and NP fans especially!
Thanks, Redbarnz! The importance of the NP to colonizing and then serving the northwestern states cannot be overstated. Living in Bozeman in the 1950's, we didn't have freeways for trucks, just two-lane country roads (Eisenhower hadn't yet signed the interstate highway bill). Nearly everything came by train including our mail. I am hoping to finish building my house soon and will get back on doing more NP videos.
Really beautiful photography and interesting too. Glad I found your channel. That private train has me curious.
You look at Homestake Pass track from the highway and wonder at how they built it in the 1880's.
The 20th Century Limited went to La Street Station in Chicago not Union Station. The PRR Broadway Limited went to Union Station.
Beautiful country around Butte. Three railroads Northern Pacific, Great Northern and Milwaukee Road chasing the northwest business is too much. James J. Hill > Jay Cooke and the dorks who extended the Milwaukee Road to the coast.
Ijust found this and i had to go back to the earkier episodes of this and wow, how great way to kill about an hour of the New years day! Very, very interesting and a well done documentation. Now I will when I am done, pick up my few H0 scale NP engines from my storage and give them a run....
Thanks for posting this. I hadn't known where the colour scheme came from, but one can certainly see the landscape that inspired it. What a marvellous project you are bringing to fruition.
Just stumbled onto your ch. The North Coast Limited was one I missed although I had the privilege of riding the Super Chief and original California Zephyr. There’s one minor correction-the NP passenger trains traveled west of Missoula via Evaro Hill which were steeper grades but shorter distances to from the west.
Thanks for your experiences, Jim. I don't think the northern route (formerly Great Northern, now Amtrak) holds a candle to the southerly (NP) route. It is unfortunate that people can no longer take the NP route, which is why I did this video. I've been building a house for myself so haven't posted anything for quite a while but I hope to move-in in a few months and get back to making videos.
The Amtrak North Coast Hiawatha was down to 3 or 4 days a week when discontinued. Had this train become a Superliner, it may have remained to this day. Hard to match the Montana scenery anywhere by rail in America.
chuu chuuu ,,nice drone footage
I’d love to see Amtrak or some other passenger rail operator reopen and restore Homestake Pass one day.
Me, too! A group called Big Sky Rail Authority is actually making serious progress on running passenger service on the former NP mainline. I don't know if they've designated either Mullan Pass or Homestake Pass as their route. The NP used both routes but limited Homestake to passenger service due to short sidings, radical track curvature and steep grades. Their website shows both routes although I have to think they would go over Mullan as it is already in use. It would take a pile of dough to get Homestake back in operation. I plan to check out Homestake next month.
AMTRAC, boo hiss.
The Milwaukee Road by most accounts was a better place to work then your Railroad . too bad they hired former N.P. brass to run it . and run it they did into the ground ..
Rail passenger service worked, now government managed 😢, FUBAR