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NAILED IN MONTUNA

The Fine Art of Motorcycle Touring

NAILED IN MONTUNA - PART ONE, B

A Motorcycle Story

by C. C. Crow
photos by author

Subject: Paradise and Beyond
Date: 7/31/00 10:45:36 AM Pacific Daylight Time
From: Killerkrow
To: rooti@square.nut

Continuing with Part One, I had made it across northern Washington and the Idaho panhandle, into western Montana following the old Northern Pacific Railway now operated by the Montana Rail Link.

Clark Fork River in western Montana

Then I followed the Clark Fork eastward. This is a fantastic scenic route parelleling I-90 one mountain range to the south.

Train tracks disappearing into the distance.

There should be a train any minute.

An NP semiphore operating in western Montana

The base of the semiphore

The semiphores are about to be replace!

I always wanted a picture of one of these

On through Paradise, Montana where the NP line splits.

Paradise, Montana NP depot, brick structure with blue trim. 640 x 375

Paradise, Montana, Northern Pacific depot

Paradise, Montana NP depot, bay window. 640 x 442

Down Evaro Hill.

NP high steel trestle above Missoula

And into Missoula where I caught a glimpse of some dome cars but they were quicker than my camera.

The Northern Pacific depot at Missoula, Montana just at sunset

I'm thinking I can make a few more quick miles on I-90 before sunset but I screwed up and didn't get gas only to go on reserve just as I left town. What would I find in the next forty miles? Not much of nothing this way. At Clinton, I followed the signs for "gas" only to find that the Conico station had closed 15 minutes before the posted 9 p.m. closing time. Or did I miss the time zone change. Boy was I pissed. Rather than risk what might not lie ahead I turned back towards Missoula a dozen miles and gassed up at the big truckstop, the one you can't miss. By then it was getting dark and though I tried to find a spot along Rocky Creek (looked great for fishing!) it was impossible so I retreated to a pay campground. Nice enough spot and again I cowboy camped under the stars. The till had been closed for the night and wasn't yet opened when I left at 6 a.m. So it was free. The attendant told me not to worry about it.

I chased this train at 60 mph over a very crappy side road
only to find out it was lead by BN green! Yuk!

At Garrison I found they were in the process of tearing down a perfectly good train depot.
What a shame. All the more reason to take photos of everything remotely railroad when you have the chance. As I was doing so, the excursion cars arrived on the tail and of a freight train. More photos.

Garrison yard. There used to be a signal tower here.	MRL engine 323 waiting at Garrison
Garrison depot being torn down
By now she's all gone

Almost to my destination in Helena I just couldn't resist the sign for Mullan Pass, a gravel road over the top. At Blossburg I explored the black faced tunnel portal and easily chased a slow freight climbing the hill.

Blossburg, west enterance to Mullan Pass on the NP

Then up and over instead of following the gravel road I attempted in vane and great peril of burning out my clutch to find the roughest 4 x 4 route to the East portal. Before I stranded myself really out in the middle of nowhere ( what's that burning smell?) I accepted an exploration of Skyline trestle instead. I shot one too may photos on the approaching excision car special and missed "the perfect shot" of them crossing the tall trestle. Well, I tried. These will have to do.

NP's Skyline steel trestle east of Mullan Pass

Next section it's on to Helena and the Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association's 2000 convention.

Next Part - One C

NAILED IN MONTUNA -
ALBUM VERSION

Part One A Ah, the Road

Part One B Paradise and Beyond

Part One C NPRHA 2000 Convention

Part Two Got Any Air?

Part Three Train Trip

Part Four A Night Out

Part Five What Size Was That?

NAILED IN MONTUNA -
TEXT VERSION

Part One Ah, the Road