Episode 1, Northern Pacific Railroad History
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- čas přidán 20. 08. 2024
- Volume 1 and Intro to the series. This was on the other channel and just now putting it up here after posting nine other videos. Discusses my interest in the Northern Pacific and shows train shots throughout the Northern Pacific route, from the Twin Cities (St. Paul & Minneapolis) 2,300 miles west to Seattle.
Dan, here. I was born (1951) and raised in Bozeman (25 miles west of Livingston). Upon completing my final exam for a business degree from Montana State University, I left so fast that I was in California before the graduation ceremony took place. Not that I didn't love Montana, but there was not much opportunity in the state at that time (1973), And it was colder than all get out. And the bright lights & big city of Los Angeles beaconed. I made my mark here and am now retired. I did get thru the backdoors of many Livingston businesses when I helped my dad deliver laundry to motels, restaurants and other establishments (and Yellowstone Park in the summers). He made the drive from Bozeman to Livingston - over an often snow-covered Bozeman Pass on a busy and winding two-lane road - five or six times a week for around 25 years. What a sacrifice for his family! I tagged along to help him during summers and any other time I could do so. At that time, the Livingston Laundry occupied half the current Industrial Towel building. Dad and I would often have lunch at the Sport Bar which was at that time (1960's) a hangout for NP railroaders to play poker and cuss while they waited for their next assignment. What a treat for me that place was! There were card games on the left and (as it is today) the bar on the right. I never saw a woman in the place. Now, of course, it is a socially acceptable type of place. I'm told that some of the women who now dine there have even been to finishing school. Delivering laundry to the place so often, I was on a first-name basis with just about everyone at the old Murray Hotel (which had a good restaurant at the time). Anyway, I always loved Livingston and would have my eyes glued to the NP depot, shops and yard whenever possible. There were always handsome EMD F-units to be seen, and we'd often see the beautiful westbound North Coast Limited resting there while its domes were washed and the three-unit diesels were switched out for four-unit diesels to handle the upcoming grades in the Rocky Mountains and the Cascade Range.
The NP used to run passenger service down one of their spur lines, well into the 1960's. South out of Spokane, through many small towns, to both Moscow, Idaho and Pullman, Washington. They used one of those all-in-one Budd cars. Engineer could drive from either end, and had a nice passenger compartment and baggage room.
In Grade School, we even got to go on a class trip, riding from Pullman to Moscow. We always referred to it as The Bug.
The farmhouse I grew up in, was up on a hillside above the Palouse River, and just across the river were the NP tracks, heading to and from Spokane. Big picture window in the living room, so I could sit next to the window while waiting for the school bus and count the cars on an NP freight going north.
My loyalties were divided, however, because the Great Northern also came through, and also the W, I & M. And it seems as though all three were quite active in those days.
Thanks for the memory, Jeffrey. My grandmother lived on the hill in the western part of Helena, Montana and overlooked the mainline which was probably a half-mile away. I, too, counted freight cars as the trains passed. As I remember, there were several trains that had a little over 100 cars. The freights always had black EMD F-units in the lead, and a caboose at the end. I remember seeing just a few of the Budd cars you mention. I don't know where they were when I saw them but we didn't have any around Bozeman (where I was born and raised). They were quite a surprise when I did see them.
Thank you for your passion and hard-work preserving American history. Your love for the railroads is appreciated.
Thanks for your nice comment, Scott. I did a number of interviews of NP vets in the late 1990's and it would be very sad if these tapes got thrown away before they could be published and history preserved. I have boxes of NP books and other historical records but very little time. I'd like to be posting here more regularly and am always hoping I can put more time into this project right after the next time-consuming event comes up but like those hits, they just keep on coming.
i could say this on each but thank you for the work, Dan.
in fact, if you ever have time to connect, send me an email at theliteraryhangover @ gmail . com. Im from Mandan and am an amateur history enthusiast with a podcast called Literary Hangover. Very interested in NPRR for exactly the reasons you say. Would love to do what I can to help this project.
wonderful history
My late sister and family lived in Bozeman for many years and first experience of riding a US train was from Bozeman to Butte in 1973. This was, of course, after the Amtrak takeover, but there was still plenty of NP equipment being used. Then, a week later, I rode from Bozeman to Minneapolis in an NP Vista Dome sleeper car. As an Englishman, train travel for me was natural but my US relations thought I was almost mad not to fly or hire a car.
Hey Dan! Amazing video, and the mention of Duluth MN got my ears up! I'm a volunteer at that railroad, and I hope to see you in Duluth sometime later on.
I grew up along the Northern Pacific here in Little Falls, Mn. Just to the north the Brainerd shops.
Fine presentation. Father worked for the NP until a few months after the merger in 1970. Thankfully I was able to use the family rail pass and saw the waning days (1968-1970) of the North Coast Limited #25 and #26) and Mainstreeter (#1 and #2) before BN, and before the arrival of Amtrak.
Thanks, Mark. That train with the scenery it traveled thru is something that most people today never have and never will experience. Larry Schrenk, who has written several books on the NP and is one of the most knowledgeable historians regarding the line, told me that he'd never traveled on the North Coast Limited.
@@danoc51 You're welcome Dan. I am inspired by continued and widespread interest in the Northern Pacific not only here in You Tube, but elsewhere.
I grew up in St. Paul (except for three years in Duluth) and lived about 2 miles east of the Como Shops in St. Paul. A double-track NP line that connected downtown St. Paul (Mississippi Street Yard) and Northtown Yard (bypassing the Great Northern Depot in downtown Minneapolis) provided excitement from 1955 forward, with occasional upgraded passenger equipment observed on some of these trains.
Keep this amazing videos coming!
RE: Your "The Northern Pacific was unique in that it had two color schemes." Unique means like no other. AT&SF, CRI&P, D&RGW, MP, N&W, SP, SSW, NYC, and other RRs all had one (or more) diesel color schemes for passenger service and another (or two other) diesel color schemes for freight service.
Hi Randy. No, I don't have any information on the high rail trucks. Occasionally the NPRHA journal features articles about the NP:'s off-rail vehicles but I can't remember anything about what you are looking for. The best place to look would be at the Minnesota Historical Society museum in St. Paul, which is where NP keeps it company records which include quite a few photos. That would be a big trip, though, and the last time I was there the records weren't sufficiently organized to find what you need. Most of the NP photographers shot trains and depots almost exclusively. Your project sounds very interesting...I am always in when it comes to fixing up old vehicles.
Dennis Washington , the "Dome King"
Really glad to have come across this channel. I wouldn't have cared for the Northern pacific if it weren't for Ron V. Nixon's photography collection. I use to surf that website all study hall long and it showed me some of the most beautiful rolling stock set in some of the prettiest American backdrops. Super great to see the culture surrounding this railroad, too.
Excellent presentation Dan! Loved the quick shot of the 'Black Bridge' over the Yellowstone at Glendive! Next time you are out this way, get in touch and we can show you more of the NP stuff here in Glendive and I know of one NP/BN vet still willing to talk about it. There are more though, I am sure!
nice video, i live by the st. croix valley railroad skally line in haris MN
Thanks for dropping by! I know where Harris is...between twin cities and Duluth. I assume you've been to the museum in Duluth. I've been watching some of the many short videos they've been putting out...they are all excellent. You can find them thru their channel name, North Shore Scenic Railroad. At the moment, I'm working on a video regarding the three most important railroads in regard to opening up the Western USA in the 1800's. I am trying to put everything into the context of how they opened the USA...plenty of old photos and newer video footage showing the areas as they look today. I'd wanted to travel the NP mainline and shoot video for a good part of last summer but ended up staying home because of the virus. So many things are not open.
👌🇺🇸
Do you have any info or photo's on the NPR High Rail Trucks? I currently own a NPR High Rail Truck that was put into service June 1966. It was in the area of Billings & Yellowstone best I can find. I recently recovered it after sitting for minimum of 31 YRS
Grap he ne.
I want to get a np kato n scale
hi Dan - I am from Livingston and am wondering who you are..... thankyou,
Hi, see my reply below.
惡疫苗.