Winding Toward Butte
Butte, Anaconda, and Pacific Railway GP9 106 and GP38-2 2011 lead a train of gondolas from the BNSF and UP interchange in Silver Bow down the short branchline toward the Montana Resources copper mine in Butte, MT. The BA&P currently only serves this one customer, the Montana Resources plant, around twice a week, but once served a much greater variety of mines and smelters between Butte and Anaconda.
The railroad dates back to the 1890s and was operated under the name Rarus Railway between 1985 and 2007, after which it was officially changed back to Butte, Anaconda, and Pacific Railway under the new ownership of Patriot Rail. Amazingly, the GP9 pictured was built in 1957 for the BA&P and continues to operate for the same railroad and retains its original paint scheme to this day! (The long hood was chopped down sometime in the early 2000s, however). Between 1986 and 2003 the line currently operated by BNSF between Garrison and Butte was operated by the Montana and Western Railway, which saw the 106 and other Rarus GP9s at the time as leased power, as well as the trailing GP38-2 which is of Montana Western heritage.
The Patriot Rail owned BA&P operates at least two GP9s still wearing their original paint jobs, and aside from the copper mine business in Butte still generates revenue from storage cars. I'm unsure why there is so little coverage of this interesting little railroad, especially provided the classic power with original paint scheme. While the line is short and the railroad doesn't always run, it does offer a variety of nice, scenic spots. On this largely overcast morning, we seemed to have uncanny luck with the sun breaking through for almost every shot. Butte, MT
Winding Toward Butte
Butte, Anaconda, and Pacific Railway GP9 106 and GP38-2 2011 lead a train of gondolas from the BNSF and UP interchange in Silver Bow down the short branchline toward the Montana Resources copper mine in Butte, MT. The BA&P currently only serves this one customer, the Montana Resources plant, around twice a week, but once served a much greater variety of mines and smelters between Butte and Anaconda.
The railroad dates back to the 1890s and was operated under the name Rarus Railway between 1985 and 2007, after which it was officially changed back to Butte, Anaconda, and Pacific Railway under the new ownership of Patriot Rail. Amazingly, the GP9 pictured was built in 1957 for the BA&P and continues to operate for the same railroad and retains its original paint scheme to this day! (The long hood was chopped down sometime in the early 2000s, however). Between 1986 and 2003 the line currently operated by BNSF between Garrison and Butte was operated by the Montana and Western Railway, which saw the 106 and other Rarus GP9s at the time as leased power, as well as the trailing GP38-2 which is of Montana Western heritage.
The Patriot Rail owned BA&P operates at least two GP9s still wearing their original paint jobs, and aside from the copper mine business in Butte still generates revenue from storage cars. I'm unsure why there is so little coverage of this interesting little railroad, especially provided the classic power with original paint scheme. While the line is short and the railroad doesn't always run, it does offer a variety of nice, scenic spots. On this largely overcast morning, we seemed to have uncanny luck with the sun breaking through for almost every shot. Butte, MT