In 1906, the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railway (known as the Milwaukee Road) began building a line meant to be shorter and faster than any of its competitors. Unlike its rival transcontinental lines, the Northern Pacific and Great Northern, the Milwaukee Road received no federal land grants. It had to pay for land out of pocket or by buying smaller railroads already occupying portions of its planned route.

The Milwaukee laid much of its line paralleling the historic Mullan Road. Rather than circumventing St. Paul’s Pass, laborers tunneled through 8,771 feet of solid rock. By 1917, the railroad had decided to electrify the tracks between Harlowtown, Montana, and Avery, Idaho. The temperamental steam engines were replaced by electric engines that could better handle the deep snows. The ready availability of hydroelectric power meant the change was economical as well. The Milwaukee line built substations at Drexel, Tarkio, and East Portal to convert AC to DC current. The engines remained electrified until 1974, when they switched to diesel.

The Milwaukee began offering passenger service between Chicago and Seattle during the summer of 1909. By 1947, the Milwaukee Road’s “Olympian Hiawatha” passenger route had prided itself on a “super-speed schedule” and “a ride that is a miracle of smoothness and silence” even at speeds of over 100 miles per hour. During the height of passenger service, mail also rode the rails. Residents of Superior could mail a letter to Alberton and have it arrive just minutes later.

Despite its technological innovations, the Milwaukee Railroad was plagued by financial difficulties. It filed bankruptcy several times, and layoffs were common. Passenger service ended in 1961. In March 1980, the Milwaukee stopped operations west of Miles City, Montana. Local business men and railroad workers tried to buy the rails but did not succeed. The railroad, which had provided jobs, supplies, and transportation to Mineral County, ran no more.

Today a portion of the route—including train trestles and a long, dark tunnel—can be traveled via bike. Learn more about the Route of the Hiawatha by visiting their website.

Credits and Sources:

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railway. “The Olympian Hiawathas: Newest Milwaukee Road Speedliners.” Milwaukee, WI: Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railway, 1947.

Hahn, Margie E. Montana’s Mineral County in Retrospect.Stevensville, MT: Stoneydale Press Publishing Company, 1997.

Mineral County Historical Society. Mineral County History.Superior, MT: Mineral County Historical Society, 2004.

The Montana Historical Society of Mineral County. 118 Years of History.Superior, MT: The Montana Historical Society of Mineral County, n.d.

Historic photographs of “Milwaukee’s First Depot at Haugen, Montana, Sept. 1910,” “Milwaukee Work Train, Saltese, Montana,” “Blasting for the Milwaukee,” and “Laying Milwaukee Line at Superior” courtesy of Mineral County Historical Museum, Superior, MT.

Contemporary photo of Milwaukee passenger car in Alberton courtesy of Historical Research Associates, Inc.