posted
A minor point, but Mr. Norman's list incorrectly lists Minneapolis as the capitol of Minnesota. St. Paul is the capitol, and the Amtrak depot is within the city limits of St. Paul. In the future, Amtrak will move back into the magnificent Union Depot in downtown St. Paul, and the capitol will be both within walking distance and a short hop on light rail.
Posts: 1572 | From: St. Paul, MN | Registered: Dec 2002
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posted
From what I have read, it looks like the chances of restoring Amtrak's North Coast Hiawatha are very poor. However, should the route make a comeback, Helena would probably be a stop as the route could not go through Butte. The track through "Homesteak Pass", east of Butte, has been out of service for a long time and would be very costly to restore. Thus, Helena would be the alternative stop.
Does anyone know of the status of the closing of the Amtrak Station in Sandpoint, Idaho? I thought it was already closed, but cannot confirm on the net. I know it is in need of repair. I hope it remains..a last remnant of the Northern Pacific RR.
Richard
Posts: 1909 | From: Santa Rosa | Registered: Jan 2004
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quote:Originally posted by yukon11: From what I have read, it looks like the chances of restoring Amtrak's North Coast Hiawatha are very poor. However, should the route make a comeback, Helena would probably be a stop as the route could not go through Butte. The track through "Homesteak Pass", east of Butte, has been out of service for a long time and would be very costly to restore. Thus, Helena would be the alternative stop.
Richard
You are correct. If the North Coast Hiawatha were to return, it would now have to operate via Helena rather than Butte.
In July 2002, working with the Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps, I drove a bus over 'Homesteak Pass' and noted that the railroad was still in place......but with lot's of scrub brush growing in the right of way and numerous places where the tracks dangled in the air over little washouts. The integrety of that roadbed is pretty much shot and the whole thing would have to be rebuilt for it to handle trains again.
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
Is it "Homesteak Pass" or "Homestake Pass?" The former sounds like a back yard barbecue specialty..........
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
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posted
My error: the spelling should be "Homestake Pass".
Chris: I did not think of towns, east of Montana, that the NP might have shared with the Great Northern. I tried to find a map of the Great Northern route and could not find one with good graphics. Here is a map of the Northern Pacific route:
If the North Coast Hiawatha does make a comeback, it would also be nice if they had a branch to Gardiner, like the old days, for people travelling to Yellowstone. I don't know if there are even old tracks, in place, for that old branch.
One of my favorite old NP stations is the one in Wallace, Idaho. I believe it is now a museum:
posted
All stations in Minnesota west of St.Paul are ex-Northern Pacific. BNSF chose to use the ex-NP mainline instead of the ex-GN from St.Paul to Fargo. GN's mainline, and both the GN and original Amtrak Empire Builder used to run via Wilmar, and this is still an operating secondary route for BNSF. There was another GN line from the Twin Cities to Fargo that followed the current route of I-94 and was used by the Western Star to Seattle, but that route has been mostly torn up and turned into a trail. When Amtrak's Empire Builder ran via Wilmar, the North Coast Hiawatha ran on the current route of the Builder.
Would Livingston no longer be on the route of the North Coast Hiawatha? That is sad. I had a wonderful bicycle trip through Yellowstone coming off the NCH once. The ride up to the park from Livingston on an unused old paved highway with a strong tailwind was delightful.
Whoopee! My 1,000th post!
Posts: 1572 | From: St. Paul, MN | Registered: Dec 2002
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quote:Originally posted by yukon11: From what I have read, it looks like the chances of restoring Amtrak's North Coast Hiawatha are very poor. Richard
Given that no Congresscritter is pushing Amtrak to study the route through an amendment to appropriating legislation, I think that's a safe statement.
Posts: 1404 | Registered: Oct 2001
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Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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