The bus picked us up at 8:45 AM for the ten minute trip out to the train in Pomeray. We were boarded in Big Sky service for our eastbound trip. We were seated in the lounge area of the CZ 22, an ex Rio Grande car that has its herald still on the door window at the B end of the car. In Big Sky Service you can sit up in one of the three Dome Cars with that wonderful 360 degree panoramic view of the beautiful landscape. Your seat in First Class Seating on the lower level where I am seated has nice comfortable lounge chairs with large side windows so you never miss anything. You get your lunch in the dining car served on china in one of two seating's as well as being waited on by the friendly staff right at your seat. They give each passenger a keepsake "Big Sky" lapel pin and all passengers have access to the lounge car for bar and gift services. I enjoyed a Coca-Cola as the train was prepared for today's departure.
At 9:25 AM PDT we started backing up out of the storage spur, then after a switch was thrown, we headed out through the connection to the MRL siding at Kootenai to wait for a westbound freight to arrive. Once it had, the Montana Daylight started east through the forests to our crossing of Lake Pend Orielle.
It was a beautiful clear morning as we made our way east along the shore of Lake Pend Orielle. We traveled along the Clark Fork River passed through the Cabinet Tunnel and then slowed for photos by the Cabinet Gorge Dam. We crossed back into Montana and as we neared the Noxon Dam, we went to the dining car for lunch.
We sat down to a table with a white table cloth, a vase with a flower, real china and silverware. From the menu above, I chose the Homesteader Pork Roasted and my mother had the Fresh Idaho Rainbow Trout while we passed the Noxon Reservoir. Liz is our server and Stacy is the helper with Connie working the other side of the dining car. Our table mates are from north of Philadelphia. The meal is served in the "Grand Tradition" of dining on the rails. It came with a free choice of beverage either wine, beer or soda. It was an excellent meal and really hit the spot. After lunch, I rode up in the CZ 22 Dome for a while watching the ever changing views that someone used to get riding the North Coast Limited. I rode upstairs until Paradise where we would be running via St Regis to Missoula so I would be getting that routes new mileage today which made me very happy.
With me back in the vestibule, we left Paradise by crossing the Clark Fork River at MP 218.7 on a combination through truss and deck plate girder bridge with a length of 878 feet built in 1908. Off to the left is the confluence of the Flathead and Clark Fork Rivers. We started our journey to St Regis by running through the Quinn Tunnel at 1750 feet at MP 215. The Montana Daylight ran by the siding at Quinn with hand thrown switches on both ends. Next we passed through the 1,121 Dolon Tunnel number 9 at MP 212.8 and Tunnel number 8 with a length of 189 feet at MP211.8. We next crossed the Clark Fork River four times in the next four miles. Bridge 210 is 681 feet long, Bridge 209 is 375 feet long, Bridge 208 is 512 feet long and Bridge 207 is the longest of the four at 716 feet long. Along here I started to see what was left of the old Northern Pacific semaphore signals still in use today on the Montana Rail Link.
The train passed the siding at Toole and then the active Royal Logging Spur at MP 198.47. Two miles later we crossed the St Regis River before it dumps into the Clark Fork River.
Our train ducked under Interstate 90 and next was the former Milwaukee Road Bridge across the Clark Fork River.
A few miles east of St Regis we passed the last of the semaphore signals on the MRL. We went through Spring Gulch and across the river the old Milwaukee Road grade could be seen with a few derailment reminders from the past. We ran to Superior where we went into the siding for a loaded westbound coal train. Once on the move again, we crossed over Cedar Creek before reaching Cedars at MP 179.62. The tracks then gained some elevation from the Clark Fork River to Westfall before our route took us into the Alberton Gorge with its Class IV Rapids. Here we plunged into the 110 foot Quartz Tunnel before our train crossed Quartz Creek at MP 169.5 on a 7 span deck plate girder bridge with a length of 323 feet and 114 feet above the steam. The Montana Daylight next passed the siding at Rivulet before two miles later at MP 165.2 we crossed the Fish Creek Trestle. This 9 span deck plate girder bridge is 576 long and 144 feet high built in 1914. The bridge was used in the Steven Sequel film, "Under Siege 2, Dark Territory". We ducked under the Interstate 90 Highway Bridge and the former Milwaukee Road Bridge across the Clark Fork came into view on the left. The Montana Daylight reached Cyr exiting the Alberton Gorge which was the scenic highlight of the day.
Mike Phillips then found me and gave me a tour of the Bella Vista which carries Gold Service Passengers of which today there is one. For Gold Class you get a luxury transfer to the train and a Champagne welcome reception. You would have a personal staff of a has a chef and a sleeping car attendant. A passenger would spent two days and nights aboard the Montana Daylight. There is a panoramic private vista dome and a covered rear open platform. Breakfast, lunch and dinner for the two day trip is served in a private dining salon. Mid-afternoon tea is served each afternoon and early-evening cocktails with elegant hors d'oeuvre. You also get the full complimentary beverage service. Sleeping cabins come in two varieties; Upper/Lower Cabins and Queen Suite. It would really be a first class rail experience to be riding Montana Daylight Gold Class.
From just east of Cyr to De Smet I enjoyed the ever changing views from the covered rear open platform. We went through the Philemon Tunnel, a 305 foot affair at MP 157. A few miles later we crossed the Clark Fork River for the last time today before our train entered the Missoula Valley which was almost clear of smoke. It looked to me as if those rains we had here did a lot of good in clearing the air. We passed though Frenchtown at MP 136.6 before travelling to Schilling which is home to the Smurfit Stone Container Corporation Linerboard Mill, which is Montana Rail link's biggest shipper. The Bitterroots are seen to the south with Lolo Peak at 9,075 feet topping the view. To the north is the 7,999 foot Crazy Women Peak in the Rattlesnake Mountains. The Montana Daylight made its way through a few cuts to reach De Smet where we rejoined the line over Evaro Hill we left yesterday ending my new mileage for the trip. I returned to the CZ 22 for the rest of the trip into Missoula.
We detrained, got our hotel key and boarded the bus for the Holiday Inn Parkside once again. After relaxing I walked to the Missoula Carousel and back before my mom and I went to Nap's Grill for dinner. They specialize in hamburgers, steaks and malts. I walked back to the train station for a sunny picture of the station building and the steam locomotive. I then photographed a few of the cars of our train sitting on the overnight storage track before returning to the hotel. We spent the evening watching television before calling it a night.
8/25/2003 Up early as usual and down the stairs for yet another continental breakfast. Returning to the room, I watched the Weather Channel for Tropical Update to see Tropical Storm Ignacio over La Paza, Baja California. I wanted to see the projected route. Will its moisture reach Santa Ana? Too early to tell at this point. We went down to the bus and back to the train for our final days ride on the Montana Daylight.
The Montana Daylight 8/25/2003
The train backed into the station from the overnight storage track and we reboarded the CZ 22 where we sat again in the lounge area ready for yet another big day of train riding. At 7:48 AM the Montana Daylight was on the move again east on another Montana Big Sky Day. My plan is to take pictures of all the things I did not because of the smoke and the rain on our westward journey. East of Torah across the valley I spotted a set of Milwaukee Road block signals still in place. The train passed through the Bonita Tunnel followed later by our passing through the Nimrod Tunnel. The Milwaukee Road Substation still stands at Ravenna.
Further down the rails at Gold Creek another Milwaukee Road Substation still stands. We slowed for the First Gold in Montana Sign at MP 58.
The train slowed again for the Last Spike Marker Sign at MP 54 on this beautiful clear morning.
The Montana Daylight went though the Garrison Tunnel before reaching Garrison where the Butte Line takes off to the south. After that, I went inside the CZ 22 to relax until near Blossburg. We went into the siding at Elliston to wait for a westbound military train. We then started our climb up the west slope of Mullen Pass.
The train reached Blossburg on this fantastic morning and plunged into the Mullen Tunnel. Upon exiting, I went to the rear platform for our eastward descent.
We made our way to the Skyline Trestle.
That was followed by our crossing of the Austin Trestle.
Jan Taylor bought a couple of Railfans from New Jersey out and gave us a local railroading history down to Helena Jct. We descended the Austin Loops to Austin siding and our trip down was just as spectacular going down as it was climbing the grade.
We made our way to Helena only slowing down today as we passed through town with the Sleeping Giant to the north.
After Helena, we had the first seating for lunch. Today's menu is shown below.
After Helena, we had the first seating for lunch. Today's menu is shown below. I as did everyone at our table ordered the Black Angus Medallions. We were joined by the two New Jersey Railfans I had just met out on the rear platform. Liz was our server again and was excellent for the second straight day. While we were waiting for our meal, the Montana Daylight went into the siding at Louisville for another westbound freight train. I enjoyed my beef which was excellent. The dining experience on the Montana Daylight is light years away from anything Amtrak has on their system. The meal was as good as any of the dinner trains I have eaten on.
With my meal done, I returned to the Dome to enjoy the views. We passed a herd of pronghorn antelope standing right next to the fence along the train. We ran to Townsend where we met BNSF 9687 on another westbound coal train. After he had run by us, we headed east into the beautiful Missouri River Canyon with me returning to the vestibule for more picture taking.
What a peaceful place it was as we traveled by the Mammoth Springs.
A few minutes later, the Montana Daylight passed the Toston Dam. The view into Lombard was beautiful and the birds were much more visible.
The train ran to Clarkston where we went into the siding once more for the BNSF 160 West. The train next headed through Trident and by the Missouri River Headwaters Park. At Logan we rejoined the Butte Line where a MRL local from Whitehall was sitting while in the siding was a MRL westbound with F-45 391 on the point.
I returned to the Dome for the trip across the Gallatin Valley to Bozeman enjoying the Montana Big Sky and the beautiful landscape. After Bozeman I switched back to the vestibule for the climb up though Rocky Canyon to the Bozeman Tunnel.
Here I returned to the Dome for the train entering the Bozeman Tunnel.
I returned to the vestibule for one last picture of the Montana Daylight descending the east side of Bozeman Pass.
I enjoyed the rest of the trip in my lounge chair in the CZ 22. We took the wye onto the Yellowstone Park Branch so that the train could be backed into the station. We passed a Cenex gas station where unleaded regular was only $1.43. It was 2.09 back home in Santa Ana. We backed into the Livingston Station at 3:40 PM ending our fantastic journey on the Montana Daylight.
For the last two days I would like to thank the following people for their outstanding service to us. Liz, Connie and Stacy the servers in the dining car, the entire kitchen staff for the outstanding food, Ian our wonderful bartender, Daniel our guide and gift shop host, Bill and Jan Taylor, our wonderful conductor for the whole trip and the outstanding Mike Phillips. Thanks to the entire onboard staff for an outstanding four days on the train.
While we waited for the buses, I called Ray at Trainweb to answer a question that Mike had asked me and I wanted to get him an answer. We were put on the third bus that went to the Yellowstone Inn in Livingston for the rental car people, then we went to Bozeman to drop one passenger at the Value Plus Hotel before we were taken to the Best Western Gran Tree Inn. That brings us to the end of our Montana Rockies Rail Tour.
Bozeman 8/25/2003Following check in, we walked a few blocks to Applebee's for dinner. I checked my E-mail in the Business Center on the way to dinner. Returning to the room, I watched "Back to the Future 3" then later listened to Ian Anderson's new solo album, "Rupi's Dance". After watching the news, I called it a night.
8/26/2003 Sleeping in late, I had donuts and milk for breakfast before watching a "Police Squad" movie followed by the "A Team". I walked over to the Arby's for some roast beef sandwiches for the plane trip home. I got my mother's boarding pass on line before we were taken to the Gallitan Airport.
Horizon Air Flight 2328 8/26/2003
We got to the airport with forty minutes to spare and I used a ticketing machine to get my boarding pass. It took about five minutes to get to security where both me and my mother were wanded. She thinks the sequels on her blouse set the machine off as did my shoes. I asked if I should take them off before and was told no. We boarded the Bombardier Q 400 again with a stopover in Butte on our way to Seattle. We took off at 12:55 MDT and enjoyed the former Northern Pacific crossing of Homestake Pass before touching down in Butte at 1:13 PM. We took off from Butte at 1:46 PM and as we crossed Montana with many less and smaller fires burning, we landed at Seattle at 2:15 PM and gated at C2G. We had to walk to C1 which was only across the walkway, what an easy connection. I went to the "N" Terminal for more Dryers Ice Cream making two complete loops on the northern transit loop. I returned to C1 to wait for my flight home.
Alaska Airline Flight 8/26/2003We boarded the 737-700 at 3:53 PM and relaxed until take off which took place at 4:17 PM. I enjoyed a fantastic view of the east side of Mt St Helens and Spirit Lake. After clouds all the way into Northern California, I could then spot landmarks and now could tell our progress towards home. We landed at Orange County at 6:39 PM and twenty minutes later my brother Jon picked us up and took us to his place. From there, I drove to Savon Drug Store to turn in my 12 rolls of slides before heading home ending a fantastic trip on the Montana Rockies Rail Tour. Back at McFadden Immediate School, I was reunited with Mrs. Carnett and we started the school working together again.
