n, a scheduled passenger train, left Garrison at 7 p.m. on Friday the 24th, arriving in Butte about midnight. Freight began moving between Stuart and Garrison on the morning of Saturday July 25th. There was no interruption of freight service between Butte and Stuart, and on to Anaconda because that line had previously been converted to three-rail, dual gauge in mid June. (part from Butte Daily Miner, July 21, 1886)
The first standard gauge train south from Garrison, a Northern Pacific train pulled by locomotive 313, arrived at Deer Lodge at 9:15 p.m. on July 22, 1886. The newspaper account referred to it as the first Montana Union train. (Butte Daily Miner, July 23, 1886)
"At 4:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon (July 23, 1886) the work of widening the track between Deer Lodge and Stuart was completed and at 7:10 o'clock last evening (July 23, 1886) the first broad-gauge arrived in Butte. This train left Garrison at 4:30 p.m., in charge of Conductor West. It consisted of Northern Pacific locomotive No. 350, a first class passenger car, a second-class passenger car and an express car. The engine was manned by Northern Pacific employees, but the remainder of the train was in charge of Utah & Northern men. Commencing this morning, standard-gauge trains will run regularly between Butte and Garrison, but the traffic between Butte and Anaconda will continue on the narrow-gauge track until further notice." (Butte Daily Miner, July 24, 1886)
"The Utah & Northern narrow gauge between Garrison and Butte has been changed to ordinary broad gauge. It was concluded in sections and altogether but one train was laid off. The first broad gauge train arrived in Butte on the 23rd. Traffic between Butte and Anaconda will be on the narrow gauge for the present." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, July 27, 1886)
"The first broad gauge train ever in Butte pulled in at 7:15 Friday evening (July 23, 1886), and pulled out again at 8:50 [the next] morning. The train was drawn by locomotive No. 350, George Neffs, engineer. The train consisted of three coaches and one baggage car, and was run by Conductor West and crew." (Salt Lake Daily Herald, July 28, 1886)
August 1, 1886
Montana Union Railway leased 51.3 miles of main track constructed by Utah & Northern Railway and Montana Railway, along with 8.3 miles of single-track branch and 11.9 miles of sidings and other tracks. "The company was incorporated June 14, 1886 and leased the property above described in its present shape on the first day of August 1886." "Rolling stock is all borrowed and belongs to Union Pacific and Northern Pacific companies." During the year ending November 30, 1886, Montana Union Railway carried 21,735 passengers, along with 48,254 tons of through freight, 25,079 tons of local freight, and 21,110 tons of freight consisting of ore, cattle, or grain. (Montana Union Railway "Railroad Report" to the Auditor of the Territory of Montana, dated December 29, 1886, photocopy furnished by Thorton Waite)
A notice to the effect that Utah & Northern employees between Butte and Garrison will, on and after 1 August 1886, be working for the Montana Union Railway Company. Also, "In a few days there will be erected at Silver Bow Junction an apparatus for the transfer of cars from narrow to standard gauge trucks, and vice-versa." (Butte Daily Miner, July 27, 1886)
Milwaukee Road (1909-1980)
Milwaukee Road completed its transcontinental line between Chicago and the Pacific Northwest with a last spike ceremony at Garrison, Montana on May 19, 1909. Milwaukee Road ended its operations in Montana in December 1979, with the last eastbound train leaving Tacoma in March 1980. The last Milwaukee Road train left Tarkio, Montana, just west of Missoula, on March 18, 1980. The remaining Milwaukee Road trackage in the vicinity of Butte was abandoned and removed. (Guide to The Milwaukee Road in Montana, by Steve McCarter, Montana Historical Society Press, 1992, ISBN 0-917298-27-6)
Great Northern (1889-1972)
Great Northern (as the Montana Central Railway) completed its line (65.5 miles) between Great Falls and Butte in 1