The World's Longest Electrified Railroad

[Hiawatha Pete]

Last edited Sun Apr 12, 2020, 05:34 PM - Edit history (2)

Hello again DU'ers!

About two decades ago, I went on a road trip across the Pacific Northwestern U.S. to photograph what remained of what was once the world's longest electrified railroad, and thought I might share a few pics here for trivia's sake and to offer a little distraction from the somber news about the global pandemic.

The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad, also known as the Milwaukee Road, was the last transcontinental railroad to be completed across the Western United States in 1909.

In 1914 it also became the only transcontinental railroad to be electrified. By 1927 approximately a third of the route between St. Paul & Seattle, a total of 660 route-miles, was under the wires - making it the world's longest mainline railroad electrification at the time!

For nearly six decades, smooth, silent hydroelectric power was used to power both passenger & freight trains through the Rocky & Cascade mountains of Montana, Idaho and Washington - with a fleet of 116 electric locomotives of five different types ultimately placed into service. There were two electrified sections - the 440 mile Rocky Mountain Division and the 207 mile Coast Division - separated by a 216 mile un-electrified section known as "The Gap".

In the 1970's the Milwaukee Road, facing bankruptcy, became interested in selling off instead of renewing the electrification assets and, in the midst of an oil embargo, made the controversial decision to phase out electric operations in June of 1974.

However the Milwaukee's pulling of the plug on its electric operations was to no avail. The railroad entered bankruptcy, and in March 1980 the Milwaukee Road abandoned its Pacific extension- thus becoming the largest railroad to disappear from the map of the United States.

In my pictures below (originally shot on Kodachrome 64 slide film and which can also be seen on my website, https://northamericabyrail.info/ ) I've attempted to show both what was lost and also what remains of the Milwaukee Road's Pacific extension:
The bridges, tunnels, and rights-of-way; the engines and rolling stock preserved in various museums; the stations that served the passengers and the substations that supplied the power - frozen in time waiting for a train that will never come.

Also - in addition to my pictures below - I've included links to vintage images from other photographers that I found on the web, so that viewers may do a "now versus then" comparison.

Hope you enjoy.

My photograph of a Milwaukee Road boxcab electric locomotive on display in Harlowton, MT. Harlowton was the beginning of the 440 mile electrified Rocky Mountain Division which extended to Avery, ID.


A vintage photograph of a pair of boxcabs in the Deer Lodge, MT locomotive shop - still in revenue service (photographer unknown)


My photograph of a Milwaukee Road shunting locomotive used at Deer Lodge, now on display in Harlowton, MT


A vintage photograph of the same Deer Lodge shop switcher in operation (photographer unknown)


My photograph of a Milwaukee Road wedge plow on display in Harlowton, MT


A vintage photograph of another plow when it was a functioning part of the Milwaukee's once-vast system (photographer unknown)


My photograph of the former Milwaukee Road roundhouse in Harlowton, MT - now a home for 4-legged horses instead of iron ones


A vintage photograph of the Harlowton Roundhouse serving in it's originally intended purpose (John Rust)


My photograph of the former Milwaukee Road engine facilities, water tower & freight yards at Harlowton, MT


A vintage photograph of the Milwaukee Road engine facilities at Harlowton, MT (Michael Sol)


My photograph of the old Milwaukee Road depot at Ringling, MT


A vintage photograph of a Milwaukee Road freight passing the depot at Ringling, MT (Steve Schmollinger)


My photograph of the Milwaukee Road bridge over the Missouri River at Lombard, MT


A vintage photograph of a Milwaukee Road passenger train crossing the bridge at Lombard, MT (Sanford Goodrick "Under Milwaukee Wires" )


My photograph of a Milwaukee Road class EF4 "Little Joe" electric locomotive on display in Deer Lodge, MT
(These General-Electric-built export locomotives, originally destined for Russia & named after Joseph Stalin, were undeliverable after the 1948 embargo of the Soviet Union so instead the Milwaukee Road bought them in 1950)


A vintage photograph of a pair of "Joe's" in revenue service at Deer Lodge, MT (photographer unknown)


My photograph of the east portal of the Milwaukee Road's old Pipestone Pass Tunnel


A vintage photograph of a Milwaukee Road freight exiting the west portal of Pipestone Pass tunnel (Ron V Nixon "Museum of the Rockies" )


My photograph of an abandoned Milwaukee Road boxcar at Vendome, MT


A vintage photograph of a Milwaukee Rd freight beginning its climb to the continental divide at Vendome, MT (John Dziobko)


My photograph of the Milwaukee Road depot in Missoula, MT


A vintage photograph of a Milwaukee Road freight passing the Missoula depot (photographer unknown)


My photograph of a Milwaukee Road bay window caboose on display at Alberton, MT


A vintage photograph of a Milwaukee Road bay window caboose in operation (photographer unknown)


My photograph of a Wylie Controller from a "Little Joe" electric locomotive on display in the Alberton Museum
(Named for its inventor, Milwaukee Road electrical engineer Lawrence Wylie, this controller enabled the Little Joe electric locomotives to run together in multiple unit lashups with diesels)


A vintage photograph inside the cab of a "Joe", the Wylie controller's handle is immediately to the left of the two gauges (used to show traction motor amperage and train speed) (photographer unknown)


My photograph of the Milwaukee Road depot in Alberton, MT


A vintage photograph of a Milwaukee Road freight passing the depot in Alberton, MT (Ron V Nixon "Museum of the Rockies" )


My photograph of the Milwaukee Road trestle at Saltese, MT


A vintage photograph of a Milwaukee Road freight crossing the trestle at Saltese, MT (Chris Bradley)


My photograph of the Milwaukee Road's Dominion Creek trestle at Bryson, MT


A vintage photograph of a Milwaukee Road freight crossing the Dominion Creek trestle at Bryson, MT (photographer unknown)


My photograph of the Milwaukee Road's St Paul Pass tunnel at East Portal, MT


A vintage photograph of a set of Milwaukee Road engines running light at East Portal, MT (Bill Hooper)


My photograph of the Milwaukee Road's St Paul Pass tunnel at Roland, ID


A vintage photograph of the Milwaukee Road's St Paul Pass tunnel at Roland, ID (Ron V Nixon "Museum of the Rockies" )


My photograph of Milwaukee Road trestles in the Bitterroot mountains, St Paul Pass, ID


A vintage photograph of a Milwaukee Road freight crossing a trestle in the Bitterroots (Michael Sol)


My photograph of a Milwaukee Road Tunnel in the Bitterroots


A vintage photograph of a Milwaukee Road Tunnel in the Bitterroots (Victor Hand)


My photograph of the old Milwaukee Road depot at Avery, ID


A vintage photograph of a Milwaukee Road freight passing the depot at Avery, ID (Steve Schmollinger)


My photograph of the site of the former Milwaukee Road yard & right of way at Avery, ID


A vintage photograph of the Milwaukee Rd yard at Avery, ID, with tracks and trolley poles still in place (photographer unknown)


My photograph of the Milwaukee Road trestle over Lake Chatcolet. This location was in the un-electrified gap between the electrified Rocky Mountain and Coast Divisions.


A vintage photograph of the Milwaukee Road trestle over Lake Chatcolet (photographer unknown)


My photograph of the former Milwaukee Road yard at St Maries, ID, now in use by the St Maries River RR


A vintage photograph of the Milwaukee Road yard at St Maries, ID (photographer unknown)


My photograph of the Milwaukee Road bridge over the Columbia River at Beverly, WA. This was part of the Coast Division electrification.


A vintage photograph of a Milwaukee Road freight crossing the bridge over the Columbia River at Beverly, WA (Rob Leachman)


My photograph of the Milwaukee Road substation at Cle Elum, WA
(These substations converted 100,000 volts AC from the hydro companies into 3,000 volts DC for the locomotives)


A vintage photograph of a Milwaukee Road freight passing the substation at Cle Elum, WA (photographer unknown)


My photograph of the Milwaukee Road's Snoqualmie tunnel


A vintage photograph of a Milwaukee Road freight exiting the tunnel at Snoqualmie, WA (photographer unknown)


My photograph of a Milwaukee Road trestle in Snoqualmie Pass


A vintage photograph of a Milwaukee Road passenger train crossing a trestle in Snoqualmie Pass (photographer unknown)


My photograph of Seattle's Union Station


A vintage photograph of a Milwaukee Road passenger train departing Seattle's Union Station (Michael Sol)

[elleng]

1. Thanks! Great to see these!

One of my first 'rail matters,' upon beginning career as a Federal bureaucrat, involved the Milwaukee's 'bankruptcy.'

[Hiawatha Pete]

4. Wow! That's interesting

Last edited Sat Apr 11, 2020, 05:45 PM - Edit history (1)

Not that I'm in a position to confirm or deny these statements myself, but I've heard opinions, in print from former railroad employees as well as in person from locals when I visited the area, theorizing that the Milwaukee actually had more assets than liabilities and was intentionally 'bankrupted' by its holding company in order to sell off the assets for a huge profit.

I've also heard other theories that it was an inside job by officials who had formerly worked at rival railroads.

And other viewpoints state that the electrification should never have been scrapped, with diesels costing twice as much to operate as the electric locomotives they replaced: http://www.trainweb.org/milwaukee/article.html

BTW, Thanks for viewing my post!

[elleng]

6. Wish I could confirm (or deny) what you've heard,

but as a newbie at the time, I wasn't in on it all, and my friends who might have been able to do so are no longer available.

Looks to me as like there may have been many valuable assets, and of course 'rail barons' were not among the most honest of businessmen.

HUGE country, with quite a history, and sorry so much of it's gone.

[MyOwnPeace]

11. From my limited knowledge of some of the history.......

you are correct. Not all of the "owners" were concerned about their favorite railroads, they had visions of $$$ dancing in their heads. The rivalries were nasty, as were the maneuverings through whatever means necessary, including political (just try to keep up with what Amtrak has to go through!) and you'll get a pretty good idea - its not an easy thing to sort through.

[Hiawatha Pete]

15. Thanks!

Last edited Sun Apr 12, 2020, 04:48 PM - Edit history (1)

I for once can certainly appreciate what Amtrak has had to go through with various Republican administrations trying to defund it and am glad it has so far weathered the storm.

In 2009 the Obama administration explored the possibility of restoring Amtrak's 'North Coast Hiawatha' which ran on the ex-NP route paralleling the old Milwaukee line. Here's the link to the study:
http://nrvrc.org/nrvpassengerrailstudy/resources/research/national/Amtrak_North_Coast_Hiawatha_Study.pdf

Too bad the Repubs took control of Congress, it would have been amazing if they had restored it. Good heavens how I miss Obama - even as a Canadian!

[MyOwnPeace]

16. YOU miss Obama?

Imagine how WE feel!!!!

[Hiawatha Pete]

19. I don't know if I can even begin to imagine...

I wouldn't wish upon any nation the nightmare of having the orange menace as their president, especially not the U.S. - our good friends and neighbors south of the border. Good luck to Dems Nov 3rd and stay safe!

[Thunderbeast]

2. Is there a map of this route?

Is this paralell or incorporated into the Northern Pacific or Great Northern lines? Is some of it now part of BNSF?

[elleng]

7. BNSF and UP, I think,

but my rail maps, books, and old 'decisions' aren't available to me any longer.

Here's a bit of the story, currently alive:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montana_Rail_Link

[Hiawatha Pete]

8. Here's an old company map at the link below

Last edited Sun Apr 12, 2020, 05:05 PM - Edit history (1)

https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/8725793000148003/



Only the Milwaukee Road's Eastern lines were acquired by Soo line. The Lines West were abandoned except for a small section in Idaho operated by the St Maries River Railroad.

The ex Northern Pacific (now Montana Rail link) route ran parallel to, & often in sight of, the ex-Milwaukee Road mainline & also served the same general locales.

As part of my road trip I also rode the MRL's now-defunct "Montana Daylight" tour train and you could see the Milwaukee's right-of-way as the NP line ran right beside it. You can see the pics on my web page at https://northamericabyrail.info/usa-west/the-montana-daylight/ if you're interested

[elleng]

9. FAB MRL had a tour train!

THANKS for MORE memories! After I left the ICC (which shrank and almost disappeared,) my first job was @ a law firm representing MRL!

And after that matter ended, I took my family west, and visited my old 'client,' including Missoula office. I never rode MRL, but felt close to it!

[Hiawatha Pete]

12. What an interesting career you've had!

With the Interstate Commerce Commission and dealing with the railroads.

BTW, on that same web page of mine I have a youtube video I shot onboard that now-extinct Montana Rail Link passenger train. It showcases the route from Sandpoint to Missoula to Livingston. It was filmed in Super 8mm as I was determined to not enter the 21st century at the time.

It's 13 minutes if you're interested...

&feature=emb_logo

Regardless thanks again for checking out my pics and for sharing that interesting piece of your career & family history.

[elleng]

13. Perfect! Thanks!

Just have 13 minutes, before I shoot sunset!

[elleng]

21. P.S., VERY interesting career, which I surely didn't plan!

FYI, I was significantly involved in all the major rail mergers/consolidations (after Milwaukee!)

[MontanaMama]

31. I loved seeing the Montana Daylight train

parked in the rail Yard just a mile from my house here in Missoula. I used to take my then toddler son down to look at it when it was in town. What a beautiful train!

[Hiawatha Pete]

37. It was a great train

Last edited Sun Apr 12, 2020, 04:46 PM - Edit history (1)

Great service, food and the heritage rolling stock including dome cars. I was lucky to have ridden it. The route is all freight-only now.

Missoula is such a gorgeous town. I was back in the area a few years ago with my wife on a trip by Amtrak & rental car to Whitefish, Yellowstone Park & Seattle.

[MyOwnPeace]

3. Great stuff!

Being a "semi-serious" rail fan, I don't have the depth and knowledge that so many do (apparently, you're one of them!), but I truly appreciate the history of the railroads and how they helped America to grow. As a PRR fan (live in western PA) I grew up watching the end of the "Standard Railroad of the World" and as a kid loved the Lionel GG1, especially because it was a PRR product.
All of this certainly makes wonder "what could have been.."

Thanks!

[Hiawatha Pete]

14. No way!

I'm a big fan of the PRR myself and in my model train collection I have an O gauge Williams (Lionel-compatible) GG1.

I've also been to the Pennsylvania RR museum in Strasburg and got pic of PRR GG1 #4935 on my website at: https://northamericabyrail.info/usa-east/strasburg-railroad/

BTW thanks for the compliments and for checking out my pics, always a pleasure to meet a fellow rail aficionado, serious or not!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. Wow, what a fabulous grouping!

These are phenomenal photos. You have really got something great here.

I love how you pair your new photo with an old photo of the same thing. Sometimes you can hardly tell the difference, but mostly you can. Time leaves a mark for sure.

Please keep posting! I look for your photos.

[Hiawatha Pete]

17. Thanks CaliforniaPeggy!

Last edited Sun Apr 12, 2020, 04:54 PM - Edit history (1)

It's as close as I can get to building a time machine.

Thanks again for your compliments & support, and for viewing my pics. I enjoy posting them!

Best Regards,

Pete

[alfredo]

10. Once again you bring the kid out of me.

[Hiawatha Pete]

18. Then mission accomplished!

Thanks again for checking out my pics!

Cheers,

Pete

[alfredo]

20. WhenI had electric trains, my favorite was the Pennsylvania Electric

Mine was dark green and was shaped like this.

[Hiawatha Pete]

25. Cool! I have the Milwaukee Road version of the Lionel electric

Last edited Tue Apr 14, 2020, 01:27 PM - Edit history (2)

(pic from https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/ )

[alfredo]

47. That's lovely

[BunnyMcGee]

22. Loved the set of pictures and captions

The Little Joe's mostly went to the CMStP&P (Milwaukee Road), but the CSS&SB (South Shore) took three of these from GE #801, 802, 803. One still runs occasionally here at the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, Il, #803.
Here is a look at her a few years ago.
[link:http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3617795]

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=4798223

I've always missed the days she ran at IRM, always found her in the barn. Massive locomotives.

[Hiawatha Pete]

27. Thanks for the links

Last edited Sun Apr 12, 2020, 04:58 PM - Edit history (2)

I've been meaning to get to the IRM someday. Would be awesome to see a "Joe" in operation.

I've seen South Shore #802 in Northeast, PA, both when we visited the Lakeshore RR Museum and also when passing through on Amtrak's Lakeshore Limited:

(From my site https://northamericabyrail.info/ )

And thanks for checking out my pics!

[pansypoo53219]

23. very cool.

my retired railroad epal would have drooled over this. shame he passed away. but i think my uncle-in-law's dad was in trains + i gotta send this to him.

[Hiawatha Pete]

33. Thanks for the compliment!

And for sharing my post. Condolences about your friend.

[pansypoo53219]

41. he was a sweet danish man. he even visited USA in 2012 for a month.

1 week in nyc, 1 week in DC, 1 week in chicago + his last week he visited me in MILWAUKEE. we hit the green bay train museum, went to madison, drove to mcgreggor, iowa(spotted lots of train stuff on the way), to the family northwoods cottage, a state park + the pabst mansion. and our pets speak danish cause they all loved him.

[pansypoo53219]

24. very cool.

my retired railroad epal would have drooled over this. shame he passed away. but i think my uncle-in-law's dad was in trains + i gotta send this to him.

[GemDigger]

26. What an amazing set of pictures.

Thank you for sharing.

I am reposting your link in the Montana forum.

[MontanaMama]

32. Thank you for reposting

this thread in the MT group. I would have missed it otherwise.

[Hiawatha Pete]

35. Thanks for sharing my post in the Montana forum

And thanks for checking out my post!

[Blue Owl]

28. K&R

Wish I would have been alive to have ridden the Hiawatha from Chicago to Seattle -- a shame that it is no longer possible.

Here in the Twin Cities an organization called "Friends of the 261" have restored some vintage MILW engines and passenger cars. Always a treat to see them out a few times a year when they do their excursions...

https://261.com/gallery/

[Hiawatha Pete]

36. Thanks!

Last edited Sun Apr 12, 2020, 05:01 PM - Edit history (1)

On that same road trip, I rode a tour train on the MRL known as the Montana Daylight.

You could see the Milwaukee's right-of-way as the MRL line runs right beside it. It was as close as you could come in modern times to riding the Milwaukee's Olympian Hiawatha.

Unfortunately it doesn't run anymore.

If interested I got pics & video on my website at: https://northamericabyrail.info/usa-west/the-montana-daylight/

I've heard about the Freinds of the 261, thanks for the link & for checking out my pics!

[AllaN01Bear]

29. jimmy carter was prez and there was again a do nothing republican majority

in the senate . also the socalled arab oil embargo was contrived by the big oil cos . also greed and idiots at the helm of the cb and q caused its demise .

[Hiawatha Pete]

38. To me it's inconceivable

Last edited Sun Apr 12, 2020, 05:03 PM - Edit history (1)

That those do nothing congresscritters at the time chose to let it die, rather than step in to help like was done did with Conrail. And yet that's what happened.

[AJT]

30. These are wonderful.

[Hiawatha Pete]

39. Thanks for the compliment & for checking out my post!

Last edited Sun Apr 12, 2020, 05:08 PM - Edit history (1)

[burrowowl]

40. WoW! Didn't know the US had one

Thanks for post!

[Hiawatha Pete]

42. No problem,

thanks for checking out my post!

[littlemissmartypants]

43. Wow, I love this. Thank you for sharing it. ❤ nt

[Hiawatha Pete]

44. You're most welcome!

I enjoyed posting it.

[Julian Englis]

45. Wonderful pictures.

Thank you for posting.

[Hiawatha Pete]

46. Thanks for the compliment!

And for checking out my post