The Montana Eastern Railway Company

The Montana Eastern Railway Company. By 1912 the Northern Pacific, Soo, and Milwaukee railroads were in competition. Louis W. Hill, president of the Great Northern, and his father, James J. Hill, knew that a successful farming population on railroad territory was essential to the company's survival. , From 1907 through 1912, the Hills and other investors conceived a huge new service area in west central North Dakota and the vast plains of Montana. In essence, the plan was to build west from New Rockford to the Missouri River, bridging it near Elbowoods, a town located a few miles downstream from the mouth of the Little Missouri River. From the mouth of Cherry Creek the route would head northwest. It would pass a short distance south of Schafer, then west to Amegard, Alexander, Charbonneau and Cartwright. A 1400 foot long tunnel would be necessary on the east bank of the Yellowstone, then a bridge across the river. , When the route entered Montana at Fairview, it would drop south to Sidney, and proceed west through Richey, Circle, Jordan and Lewistown. Then the route would point roughly northwest. For part of the route, existing track between Great Falls and Lewistown would be used; then the route would pas Vaughn, crossing the continental divide. The new route from New Rockford to Lewistown would cover a distance of 550 mile. , The Executive Committee of the Great Northern Railway Company organized a corporation on November19, 1912, known as the Montana Eastern Railway Company. These officers were responsible for financing, constructing, completing, and operating the railway, which was wholly owned and controlled by the Great Northern Railway from the time it was conceived until it was dissolved. During the period from 1912 to 1917, tracks were laid from Fairview to Watford City, Fairview to Sidney, and Newton Junction to Richey. Tracks were also laid on on the Montana Eastern from Mondak, bridging the Missouri River near Snowden, traveling down the west side of the Yellowstone and connecting with the New Rockford-Lewistown cutoff at Fairview. Only 108.27 miles of the envisioned 550 miles of main track were laid. , Although surveys were completed and grade construction occurred on several portions, no work occurred after World War I. Thus the mainline was never completed; and on June 26, 1935, the Montana Eastern Railway was dissolved. Several factors contributed to its non completion: a prolonged construction period, an uncertain economic future, unreliable rainfall, cost, technological uncertainties, incursions of other railroads into the area, and the opening of the Panama Canal. , The last train to Richey, Montana, ran on February 6, 1985, and the last train to Watford City on June 5, 1966. The only segment still in operation is the short connecting line between Snowdon, Montana, and the former Northern Pacific branch. Its role is important as a connection between the lines of former parent companies.