Last edited Fri Jul 13, 2018, 02:08 PM - Edit history (1)
Even back in the day, Helena was on the route taken by the lesser of Northern Pacific's two transcontinental passenger trains the Mainstreeter. The North Coast Limited took the line with more passenger traffic
Both the North Coast Limited and the Mainstreeter went over the Bozeman Pass, but beyond Bozeman (westbound), they split up, at Logan. The North Coast Limited served what used to be the biggest city in Montana, Butte, while the Mainstreeter took the route through Helena. The lines reconnected at Garrison. West of Missoula, there was another split, but I think the passenger trains went through Evaro rather than Alberton. The timetable shows no stops for the North Coast Limited between Missoula and Paradise, where the lines came back together.
A panoramic publicity scene of Northern Pacific's flagship "North Coast Limited" taken west of Missoula, Montana.
{I don't think so. This looks a lot more like the Bozeman Pass than the terrain west of Missoula.}
Northern Pacific's "North Coast Limited" at Livingston, Montana.
Butte has been surpassed in population by Billings. There is no passenger service through Billings, though it was once on an Amtrak route.
The extremely handsome livery is the work of Raymond Loewy. See: Raymond Loewy Under Attack!
More: Northern Pacific North Coast Limited, 1954-1967
Here are some pictures taken along the old route: Northern Pacific Gallery
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