Central Montana Rail
Encyclopedia
Central Montana Rail, Inc. is a short line railroad
operating trackage in Judith Basin
, Fergus
, and Chouteau
Counties, Montana
. The company's main line extends approximately 84.2 miles (135.5 km), between the towns of Moccasin
and Geraldine
; the line connects with the BNSF Railway
at Moccasin.
Most of the current Central Montana trackage was originally constructed by the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad
, as part of its "Northern Montana" line to Great Falls
. The southern 19.6 miles (31.5 km) of line, from Moccasin to Kingston Junction, was originally constructed by the Great Northern Railway as part of its Lewistown, Montana
branch. The overall line features four high steel trestles and a 2000 feet (609.6 m)-long tunnel. In addition to the operated line, the Central Montana system includes an unused route between Spring Creek Junction and the northern outskirts of Lewistown; this trackage has been idle since the 1980s due to perceived structural problems with the massive Spring Creek Trestle, just east of Spring Creek Junction.
Most of the Central Montana trackage was acquired by the State of Montana in 1983 when its then-current operator, the Burlington Northern Railroad
, discontinued operation of the route. Central Montana Rail, a locally governed nonprofit corporation, began operating the route in 1985. The company's motive power consists of six EMD GP9
diesel-electric locomotives, originally built for the Great Northern Railway. The railroad's operating headquarters is at Denton, Montana
.
Though primarily a freight railroad, the Central Montana also operates a seasonal dinner train, the "Charlie Russell Chew Choo," between Kingston Junction (10 miles north west of Lewistown) and Denton. The dinner train equipment consists of unpowered Budd Rail Diesel Car
s originally built for the Boston and Maine Railroad
. In December, the Chew Choo operates several "Polar Express" runs, which boards at Kingston Junction and takes kids to "Christmas Town" at the north Pole to pick up Santa, who rides the train back to Kingston Junction. On the train, elves read the book and serve hot cocoa and cookies to the kids. Round trip is approx. 1.5–2 hours.
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
operating trackage in Judith Basin
Judith Basin County, Montana
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 2,329 people, 951 households, and 661 families residing in the county. The population density was -Demographics:...
, Fergus
Fergus County, Montana
-National protected areas:* Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge * Lewis and Clark National Forest * Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument -Demographics:...
, and Chouteau
Chouteau County, Montana
-National protected areas:* Lewis and Clark National Forest * Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument -Economy:Chouteau County is the largest winter wheat producer for the state of Montana...
Counties, Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
. The company's main line extends approximately 84.2 miles (135.5 km), between the towns of Moccasin
Moccasin, Montana
Moccasin is an unincorporated community in Judith Basin County, Montana, United States. The community was named for the nearby Moccasin mountain range. Although it is unincorporated, Moccasin has a post office, with the ZIP code of 59462.-External links:...
and Geraldine
Geraldine, Montana
Geraldine is a town in Chouteau County, Montana, United States. The population was 284 at the 2000 census. The area around the town is an agricultural, largely wheat-producing region.-History:...
; the line connects with the BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
at Moccasin.
Most of the current Central Montana trackage was originally constructed by the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad
The Milwaukee Road, officially the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad , was a Class I railroad that operated in the Midwest and Northwest of the United States from 1847 until its merger into the Soo Line Railroad on January 1, 1986. The company went through several official names...
, as part of its "Northern Montana" line to Great Falls
Great Falls, Montana
Great Falls is a city in and the county seat of Cascade County, Montana, United States. The population was 58,505 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Great Falls, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Cascade County...
. The southern 19.6 miles (31.5 km) of line, from Moccasin to Kingston Junction, was originally constructed by the Great Northern Railway as part of its Lewistown, Montana
Lewistown, Montana
Lewistown is a city in and the county seat of Fergus County, Montana, United States. The population was 5,813 at the 2000 census. Lewistown is located in central Montana, the geographic center of the state, southeast of Great Falls...
branch. The overall line features four high steel trestles and a 2000 feet (609.6 m)-long tunnel. In addition to the operated line, the Central Montana system includes an unused route between Spring Creek Junction and the northern outskirts of Lewistown; this trackage has been idle since the 1980s due to perceived structural problems with the massive Spring Creek Trestle, just east of Spring Creek Junction.
Most of the Central Montana trackage was acquired by the State of Montana in 1983 when its then-current operator, the Burlington Northern Railroad
Burlington Northern Railroad
The Burlington Northern Railroad was a United States-based railroad company formed from a merger of four major U.S. railroads. Burlington Northern operated between 1970 and 1996....
, discontinued operation of the route. Central Montana Rail, a locally governed nonprofit corporation, began operating the route in 1985. The company's motive power consists of six EMD GP9
EMD GP9
An EMD GP9 is a four-axle diesel locomotive built by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division in the United States, and General Motors Diesel in Canada between January, 1954, and August, 1963. US production ended in December, 1959, while an additional thirteen units were built in Canada, including...
diesel-electric locomotives, originally built for the Great Northern Railway. The railroad's operating headquarters is at Denton, Montana
Denton, Montana
Denton is a town in Fergus County, Montana, United States. The population was 301 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Denton is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
.
Though primarily a freight railroad, the Central Montana also operates a seasonal dinner train, the "Charlie Russell Chew Choo," between Kingston Junction (10 miles north west of Lewistown) and Denton. The dinner train equipment consists of unpowered Budd Rail Diesel Car
Budd Rail Diesel Car
The Budd Rail Diesel Car, RDC or Buddliner is a self-propelled diesel multiple unit railcar. In the period 1949–62, 398 RDCs were built by the Budd Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States...
s originally built for the Boston and Maine Railroad
Boston and Maine Railroad
The Boston and Maine Corporation , known as the Boston and Maine Railroad until 1964, was the dominant railroad of the northern New England region of the United States for a century...
. In December, the Chew Choo operates several "Polar Express" runs, which boards at Kingston Junction and takes kids to "Christmas Town" at the north Pole to pick up Santa, who rides the train back to Kingston Junction. On the train, elves read the book and serve hot cocoa and cookies to the kids. Round trip is approx. 1.5–2 hours.