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Montana Train Rides And Excursion Trains

Montana offers some of the most spectacular scenery anywhere in the country and has a very fascinating history with railroads with three transcontinental lines once located there. Unfortunately, however, there are just two Montana train rides currently available to the general public, the Charlie Russell Chew Choo and Montana Heritage Commission. The former is the state's most popular, despite having somewhat of an odd name, offering a very nice dinner train experience. The latter is more of a historical attraction that looks to keep alive the history of Virginia City, Montana and also operates the Alder Gulch Short Line Railroad (that is currently not operating). Perhaps in the future Big Sky Country will be home to one or more tourist railroads as the state has a lot to offer visitors, simply by the views alone. If you might be interested in learning more about Montana's few railroad museums please click here.

Years ago, Montana's three major railroads serving the state included the Great Northern, Northern Pacific, and the Milwaukee Road. If you were around to witness these companies in operation they offered quite a show, particularly the Milwaukee Road with its electrified main line west of Harlowton. All three also operated popular transcontinental passenger trains through Montana (the Olympian Hiawatha, Empire Builder, and North Coast Limited), a big reason for which was due to the state's stunning beauty.

Today, only the Charlie Russell Chew-Choo really captures this by-gone era as they use restored streamlined, climate-controlled cars to offer guests some very good eating in a relaxed, comfortable environment. If you may want to catch the dinner train be sure and plan your visit during their operating months between July and October. In any event, for more information about Montana train rides please read on below.

Montana Train Rides And Excursion Trains

Charlie Russell Chew-Choo

A sometimes forgotten dinner train operation is the Charlie Russell Chew Choo based in Lewistown along the only former Milwaukee Road trackage still intact in the west-central region of the state (this was not part of the railroad's original west coast main line). The train covers 28 miles and operates nearly every weekend during the summer season. For more information please visit their website by clicking here.

Montana Heritage Commission

The Montana Heritage Commission, based in Virginia City, Montana operates the Alder Gulch Short Line Railroad. Normally they use a 2-8-0 Baldwin to power their trains but it is currently being overhauled. Additionally, they currently list the railroad as non-operating, and it is unclear whether this is a permanent situation or only temporary until their steam locomotive is returned to operation. In any event, for more information please visit their website by clicking here.

Please Click Here To Return To The Main Tourist Railroads Section

If you might be interested in reading through a brief history of Montana's railroads please click here. Also, for more information about Montana train rides you might want to consider the book Tourist Trains Guidebook, which is put together by the editors of Kalmbach Publishing's Trains magazine. The guide below is the latest, released in just April, 2011 that now includes more than 470 museums and tourist trains (it also lists all of Alabama's rail museums). In any event, if you're interested in perhaps purchasing this book please visit the link below which will take you to ordering information through Amazon.com, the trusted online shopping network.

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