I am looking for people who know things about Butte,Montana.I may live here but i do not know about the history.i am wanting to know anything about the railroads,etc.i was born in butte 10 yars ago.13 years after near all railroads withdrew.im also wanting to know what types of steam,diesel and electric trains passed through Butte.would appreciate alot.
thanks
sorry.i left out something.i am trying to model Butte.i am looking for people who are related to or did serve on th B,A,&P.
Butte’s main claim to fame was the world’s largest open pit copper mine. Railroads serving Butte were NP, CMSP&P, and UP. CMSP&P is now defunct but their right of way and tunnels can be seen south east of town. NP’s trackage is being leased by Montana Rail Link, and UP still comes up from SLCity to get copper.
Your local library has ton’s of books on Butte’s history and book’s of the Milwaukee Road and Nothern Pacific would have to include Butte with maps and pictures in it. To me, the history with the original Northern Pacific and the electrified Milwaukee St Paul & Pacific would hold my attention, as well as seeking out their grades and tunnels by car - if I lived there.
Start with book’s with pictures. You’re where it all happened - gunslinger’s and all - and TWO trancontinental railway’s!
The Anaconda Copper Company is responsible for the founding of both Butte and Anaconda. The mine was at one time the largest open pit mine in the world. As it fills with water it will become the largest man-made lake in the world, if it is not reopened(there has been a rumor to that effect). The company was very powerful in the early years of the state, some saying determining who would and would not be elected. One story goes that the original state line was to be the continental divide, which would have left Butte in Idaho.(and more square than it is now) The company bribed the surveyers with wiskey and women and hence the new state line and the little neck in Idaho.
greeting from a former Montana native
Randy
thanks!![^]