Montana Western out of business. Montana Western won the law suit and BNSF was forced by the court to relieve Montana Western of its obligation. The agreement between BNSF and Montana Western was dated March 11, 2003. An application for approval of the sale was filed with the federal Surface Transportation Board on March 25, 2003, and the STB's decision took effect on July 23, 2003.
October 27, 2003
BNSF took over formal operation of the old Montana Union, which was still owned by UP and leased to BNSF as a continuation of the original 999-year lease signed in 1898. BNSF's Copper City Subdivision was a stand alone subdivision with their own BNSF timetable. On December 2, 2009, the Copper City Subdivision became part of BNSF's Montana Division with the issuance of timetable No. 8. (Dave Franz, June 21, 2014, message to Altamont Press forum)
The old Montana Union is operated by BNSF as their Copper City Subdivision. Rumors are that BNSF retains its operation of this isolated segment to keep UP away from a direct connection with Montana Rail Link at Garrison. After BNSF took the line back, the Montana Western locomotives were sold to Rarus Railway, which became Patriot Rails' Butte Anaconda & Pacific in 2007.
(All of this summary of current operations, i.e. owned by UP, leased to BNSF, lease retained by BNSF to prevent MRL from connecting with UP, was confirmed during a brief conversation in late July 2014 with Bill Wimmer, retired UP Vice President-Engineering.)
Montana Union Railway -- A Google Map of the Montana Union Railway, owned by UP and leased to BNSF.
Montana Union Locomotives -- A roster listing of the locomotives used by Montana Union Railway.
Maury Klein presents an excellent summary of Montana Union difficulties between Union Pacific, Northern Pacific, the Butte mines, and the Anaconda smelter in Union Pacific, The Birth Of A Railroad, 1862-1893, pages 555-559.
For an excellent history of BA&P, see Wired For Success by Charles V. Mutschler, Washington State University, 2002