In the late 1890s, the Union Pacific, Northern Pacific, and Great Northern Railway's had a firm grip on all West Coast rail traffic. In 1905, Milwaukee built into Montana, numerous obstacles emerged; frigid winter temperatures and steep mountain grades challenged steam-powered operations. In the early 1910s, electric locomotives became a viable alternative for steam engines in long-haul rail service; at the same time, waterpower for generating electricity was  developing in the Northwest. The mines and smelters of Butte and Anaconda supplied the resources needed  to electrify 440 miles of track in Montana and Idaho. The longevity of the Milwaukee Road electrification into the 1970s highlights the determination of faithful employees on what was known as America's Resourceful Railroad.

This full-color narrative captures the essence of Milwaukee Road operations from Spokane following the unique railroad electrification across the rugged Bitterroot Mountains, the meandering Clark Fork River, and the Deer Lodge valley with connections at Butte.

The Milwaukee Road Lives!      

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               BELOW ARE THE TABLE OF CONTENTS AND SAMPLE BOOK PAGES

Chapter One        Spokane to Avery
Chapter Two       Avery
Chapter Three      The "North Fork"
Chapter Four       St. Paul Pass East  
Chapter Five        Deer Lodge and Butte  
Chapter Six          Butte, Anaconda & Pacific
 

Dale Jones © 2020