what is the best train whatching spot in great falls? and is there a steam locomotive in a park somewhere? thanks big boy
The BNSF yard is on the west side of town. I do not know if you can get a line up there or not. Staking out either end of the yard would give a view of most trains. The west/north end is more open. The GN roho is still lettered for that road, very early morning is the best lighting. The MILW depot is a classic with a nice herald in the brick tower.
There is not a lot of traffic through town so it might be slow. The tracks towards Shelby and Laurel are active through routes. The line to Ft Benton is hauling some grain. The track to Helena is for car storage only. Probably the best plan is to chase a train either towards Shelby or Laurel and see what that scares up in opposing traffic. A drive to Helena or Shelby will get you on a busy mainline.
This site does not list Great Falls-
I cannot think of any steamers stuffed and mounted in Great Falls. There may be something at the fairgrounds where there is the start of a railroad museum. They do have an operating model railroad layout which may be open now and then. The hobby shop downtown Gr’Flls would know.
Missoula and Helena have NP 4-6-0s and Missoula also a Willamette geared loco. Butte has an NP 2-8-0 and a BA&P electric. Havre displays a GN 4-8-4. Billings has a sugar plant 0-6-0 which may still be operating or on display. Sidney has a pre 1900 MILW 0-4-0 which was converted to a shop switcher then a sugar plant loco. Deer Lodge has a MILW Little Joe and Harlowton has the MILW Deer Lodge shop switcher and boxcab switcher. Depending upon how you will be traveling to Great Falls you might score one or more of these units.
At least back in the 1970’s, Billings had an NP 4-6-0 on display by the airport. Don’t know if it still there or not.
any one familler with the carl memkee museum he is located 10 miles out of great falls he has and i have seen with my own eyes a 0-4-0 saddle tank it looks like a porter but all markings are gone its number on the cab is 124 any one familer with this locomotive big boy