I rode a bicycle on former Milwaukee Road railbed --- from Taft, Montana to Pearson Idaho (about 14 miles). The bicycle trail is called the Hiawatha Trail; it goes thru tunnels (the longest: St. Paul Pass Tunnel-- about 1.7 miles long!) and over trestles of the old Milwaukee Road. I saw the same features as a kid--- when the trains were still operating over them. The scenery is beautiful; the experience of riding on a trail that has so much history is unforgettable.
As a kid i remember this line in the mountains while on holidays, it was great! Speeders would follow the Trains looking for fires, it was still old time railroading, "and it was Great"!!
You go thru Harlowton? You would never guess there was a big rail yard there at one time? Interesting running Montana and seeing where the lines once ran? There are some electrical boxes still in place along with some semaphores I've seen..
Here's why they ran diesels with electrics: There was a 300 mile gap in the electrified sections between Avery, ID and Othello, WA. The other reason as stated in this trailer, when this film was shot in 1974, electrification was at it's end and only a few electrics remained available for service. The box cabs were tired 60+ year old beasts. The electrical system was outdated and needed costly capital replacement. GE had a plan for new equip & locos, but Milw couldn't afford it...
Interesting, but I'd rather keep those diesels in use on non-electrified sections than tow them dead for hours on end. Yes, GE did have a good plan to bridge the gap (Avery-Othello electrification) and through an oil crisis, too. It seems to me oil interests played a part in preventing the federal government from stepping in. Oil burning was not in the USA's interest then. Weaning the western world off oil is now urgent. I personally believe outside interests to be part of this.
I am glad the Milwaukee road gotthose little joes however i was just in Russia where those were supposed to go too and my train had locomotives from the early 60s pulling it so if the litle joes had gone there they probilly would still be running..my trip across Siberia in the mountains looked alot like the old Milaukee roads running territory the electrified part
Sounds like a bloody good rail adventure you had in Russia: I'm sure I'd love Russian Railways sure as I would love travelling across practically uninhabited areas of the USA on the electrified Milwaukee Road.
yah it was great I had quite a time there and almost all of it was under electric wire like the Milwaukee road Mountain devision we went across the mountains in Siberia and I felt I was on the old Hiawatha in Montana imagining if I had a " Little Joe "pulling us as a few of our elecric engines were from the mid to late 60s I feel if the joes had gone there I would have most likelly been pulled by one but that part of Russia is so sparse the landscape constentlly changeing but all under wire
Perhaps too early: Hope the US gets the corporate globalist hijackers off her back for the world's sake. We suffer the same negative influence here in the UK.
it looks so funny to have seen the diesel cabs with the overhead electric...here in the east its either one or another. I can see how you miss those old milwaukee locs.
You can see Diesel looking Electrics in South America (Chile). They look US made. After all, a Diesel-Electric is an Electric loco with it's own power plant.
I grew up in Harlowton in the 70's my father was a switchman for the Milwaukee. I remember folling my father throught the yards in Harlowton, I crossed that bridge several time with my father going to the roundhouse. Some of it is still there in Harlow, but a lot is gone. How cool to visit it again.....Those were the days.
Not sure what you are referring to..... but this film is based in Montana & Idaho, not Washington state.... some of the power for the system was generated from local hydropower dams, but most were from motor generator stations along the route.
Wouldn't it be nice though, to see heavy freight moved by electric traction in the US: Powered by 100% US sourced energy: Coal, Hydro, Wind, and possibly solar! I'm English not American, but would love to see energy security like this not just in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland but in the USA, too! It's not perverse, but patriotic! I just want to see a stable world: Don't all sane compassionate civilised and good people want this?
@Isochest I couldn't agree with you more. I am an American, and i have thought this way for years. The US needs to get the railroads back in business.What a boost to the economy to put so many people to work, and also helps take the stress off our highways. Railroads are more economical, and can be used for freight, passenger, and an Idea I always had, was to use them like a Ferry.
Man,I miss the MILW. It was already gone when I was born, but as a kid I would still see their engines run through town pulling SOO Line trains. I still see the old orange and black SOO bandidt scheme on GP38-2 switchers in the West Milwaukee CP yard from time to time. The electric stuff is interesting and all, but I wish Pentrex would make a film about Milwaukee's diesel freight operations in the midwest.
In addtion to higher taxes, another problem with electric is that those in power for some sick reason feel that using electricity in the U.S. is un-american and are hell bent on using Oil! Nothing makes me cringe more than watching a diesel loco moving a train under live catenarys, kinda retarded if you ask me.
Railroads, at least here in the U.S. are making a fantastic comeback thanks to overcrowded highways and gas prices. They haven't seen such astronomical levels of freight since the days of WWII and presently are having trouble keeping up with demand. In any event, this short Pentex clip is fantastic, some very historic video shot of Milwaukee's Lines West.
One of the obstacles to electric traction in the US is the fact electrified railways pay more property tax than non electrified railways. After electric traction ended, Milwaukee's maintenance costs doubled and alas the railway is no more. Railways ought to get tax exemptions/breaks for this addition of value. Banks' involvment with the rail business stifles investment. They see it as a cost, not added value, an asset and long term cash saver.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
The railroads and their management/unions are dinosaurs. IF the railroads could get the equivelent of a Herb Keller who ran Southwest Airlines, they might make a comeback.
HOW CAN SOMEONE DISSLIKE THIS????
legotrainzman 1 week ago
Little Joes sound like a B17
niselat 4 months ago
Question: why was part of the line electrified? thanks!
pele6922 7 months ago
I rode a bicycle on former Milwaukee Road railbed --- from Taft, Montana to Pearson Idaho (about 14 miles). The bicycle trail is called the Hiawatha Trail; it goes thru tunnels (the longest: St. Paul Pass Tunnel-- about 1.7 miles long!) and over trestles of the old Milwaukee Road. I saw the same features as a kid--- when the trains were still operating over them. The scenery is beautiful; the experience of riding on a trail that has so much history is unforgettable.
aerborne929 8 months ago
What a great railroad it was..
parkman35 8 months ago
Wonderful scenery and wonderful trains. I just HAVE to get hold of those in DVD format.
tac
Ottawa Valley Garden Railway Society
tacfoley 1 year ago
Go on Google Earth and take a trip over the abandoned Milwaukee. The old main line is surprisingly easy to find except in Tacoma.
htc6600 1 year ago
As a kid i remember this line in the mountains while on holidays, it was great! Speeders would follow the Trains looking for fires, it was still old time railroading, "and it was Great"!!
48alfaone 1 year ago
You go thru Harlowton? You would never guess there was a big rail yard there at one time? Interesting running Montana and seeing where the lines once ran? There are some electrical boxes still in place along with some semaphores I've seen..
JDeereGP 1 year ago
Check out those "Little Joes". Too bad the Milwaukee Road is now a fallen flag. R.I.P. CMStP&PRR
samurai9845 1 year ago
Here's why they ran diesels with electrics: There was a 300 mile gap in the electrified sections between Avery, ID and Othello, WA. The other reason as stated in this trailer, when this film was shot in 1974, electrification was at it's end and only a few electrics remained available for service. The box cabs were tired 60+ year old beasts. The electrical system was outdated and needed costly capital replacement. GE had a plan for new equip & locos, but Milw couldn't afford it...
BudmanPackfan 2 years ago
Interesting, but I'd rather keep those diesels in use on non-electrified sections than tow them dead for hours on end. Yes, GE did have a good plan to bridge the gap (Avery-Othello electrification) and through an oil crisis, too. It seems to me oil interests played a part in preventing the federal government from stepping in. Oil burning was not in the USA's interest then. Weaning the western world off oil is now urgent. I personally believe outside interests to be part of this.
Isochest 2 years ago
@Isochest those diesels were online and pulling as well...
notalott 1 year ago
The Milwaukee Road should've merged with Rock Island to compete with BN.
RacoCooper 2 years ago
I am glad the Milwaukee road gotthose little joes however i was just in Russia where those were supposed to go too and my train had locomotives from the early 60s pulling it so if the litle joes had gone there they probilly would still be running..my trip across Siberia in the mountains looked alot like the old Milaukee roads running territory the electrified part
gaycowboy31 3 years ago 2
Sounds like a bloody good rail adventure you had in Russia: I'm sure I'd love Russian Railways sure as I would love travelling across practically uninhabited areas of the USA on the electrified Milwaukee Road.
Isochest 2 years ago
yah it was great I had quite a time there and almost all of it was under electric wire like the Milwaukee road Mountain devision we went across the mountains in Siberia and I felt I was on the old Hiawatha in Montana imagining if I had a " Little Joe "pulling us as a few of our elecric engines were from the mid to late 60s I feel if the joes had gone there I would have most likelly been pulled by one but that part of Russia is so sparse the landscape constentlly changeing but all under wire
gaycowboy31 2 years ago
Born too late.
cochranexyz 3 years ago
Perhaps too early: Hope the US gets the corporate globalist hijackers off her back for the world's sake. We suffer the same negative influence here in the UK.
G0IMB 2 years ago
it looks so funny to have seen the diesel cabs with the overhead electric...here in the east its either one or another. I can see how you miss those old milwaukee locs.
Zebraguy626 3 years ago
You can see Diesel looking Electrics in South America (Chile). They look US made. After all, a Diesel-Electric is an Electric loco with it's own power plant.
Isochest 2 years ago
EMD & GE exported a lot of diesels to South America and all over the world.. They could very well be from the US.
BudmanPackfan 2 years ago
10,000 viewer!
EvilFartHead69 3 years ago
let's see a Pentrex video about the east end of the MILW, partcularly the CTH&SE in Illinois and Indiana.
RENFEMikado 3 years ago
Wow.
I grew up in Harlowton in the 70's my father was a switchman for the Milwaukee. I remember folling my father throught the yards in Harlowton, I crossed that bridge several time with my father going to the roundhouse. Some of it is still there in Harlow, but a lot is gone. How cool to visit it again.....Those were the days.
Harlowboy 4 years ago
Take a guess,
Where do you think TMR got the power to run
Electric trains over 2 Mountain ranges?
Not a trick question.
HGK
gyralih 4 years ago
Hydro? Grande Coulée Dam on the Columbia River?
Isochest 2 years ago
Not sure what you are referring to..... but this film is based in Montana & Idaho, not Washington state.... some of the power for the system was generated from local hydropower dams, but most were from motor generator stations along the route.
BudmanPackfan 2 years ago
Wouldn't it be nice though, to see heavy freight moved by electric traction in the US: Powered by 100% US sourced energy: Coal, Hydro, Wind, and possibly solar! I'm English not American, but would love to see energy security like this not just in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland but in the USA, too! It's not perverse, but patriotic! I just want to see a stable world: Don't all sane compassionate civilised and good people want this?
Isochest 4 years ago 11
@Isochest I couldn't agree with you more. I am an American, and i have thought this way for years. The US needs to get the railroads back in business.What a boost to the economy to put so many people to work, and also helps take the stress off our highways. Railroads are more economical, and can be used for freight, passenger, and an Idea I always had, was to use them like a Ferry.
superstarr42 1 year ago
Man,I miss the MILW. It was already gone when I was born, but as a kid I would still see their engines run through town pulling SOO Line trains. I still see the old orange and black SOO bandidt scheme on GP38-2 switchers in the West Milwaukee CP yard from time to time. The electric stuff is interesting and all, but I wish Pentrex would make a film about Milwaukee's diesel freight operations in the midwest.
RamFett 4 years ago 2
In addtion to higher taxes, another problem with electric is that those in power for some sick reason feel that using electricity in the U.S. is un-american and are hell bent on using Oil! Nothing makes me cringe more than watching a diesel loco moving a train under live catenarys, kinda retarded if you ask me.
cygnusixion 4 years ago
Railroads, at least here in the U.S. are making a fantastic comeback thanks to overcrowded highways and gas prices. They haven't seen such astronomical levels of freight since the days of WWII and presently are having trouble keeping up with demand. In any event, this short Pentex clip is fantastic, some very historic video shot of Milwaukee's Lines West.
Alco83 4 years ago
One of the obstacles to electric traction in the US is the fact electrified railways pay more property tax than non electrified railways. After electric traction ended, Milwaukee's maintenance costs doubled and alas the railway is no more. Railways ought to get tax exemptions/breaks for this addition of value. Banks' involvment with the rail business stifles investment. They see it as a cost, not added value, an asset and long term cash saver.
Isochest 4 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
The railroads and their management/unions are dinosaurs. IF the railroads could get the equivelent of a Herb Keller who ran Southwest Airlines, they might make a comeback.
floatpool 4 years ago
Too bad it's all gone now.
mafarnz 4 years ago 7