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Montana Short Line Railroads: A Complete Guide

Published: April 1, 2025

By: Adam Burns

Butte, Anaconda & Pacific Railway (reporting mark, BAP): The BA&P is a historic short line based in Anaconda, Montana that dates back to 1892. The railroad was once electrified, utilizing a 2,400-volt, DC system until 1967 when diesels took over.

For years it hauled copper ore mined near Butte, to smelters located at Anaconda. Today, the company is owned by the Patriot Rail Corporation, which acquired the property from the Raurus Railway (reporting mark, RARW) in 2007.  

The latter company had owned the property since May 1, 1985 and changed the name but following Patriot Rail's takeover it was returned as the BA&P.  

Today, it continues operating 25.7 miles between Anaconda and Butte with traffic consisting of scrap, copper slag, and copper concentrates.  The longtime interchange with the Milwaukee Road at Butte is no more but the short line connects there with BNSF.

Central Montana Rail, Inc. (reporting mark, CM):  This short line has operated since 1985 when it acquired a section of the Milwaukee Road's former Northern Montana line between Moccasin and Geraldine that once reached Great Falls.  

The rest of the property is former Great Northern.  It primarily moves agricultural traffic while also hosting a seasonal dinner train known as "Charlie Russell Chew Choo."

Dakota, Missouri Valley & Western Railroad (reporting mark, DMVW):  This large, privately-owned system operates more than 500 miles of trackage (including trackage rights) in the states of North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana that was formerly owned by the Soo Line.  The road's traffic is largely agriculture and it has been in operation since 1990.

Mission Mountain Railroad (reporting mark, MMT):  This short line has been in operation since December of 2004 and operates 40 miles of disconnected trackage that was formerly owned by Great Northern.  The property is currently a Watco subsidiary handling nearly 10,000 carloads annually.

Montana Rail Link (reporting mark, MRL) (Defunct):  This large, Class II regional had been in service since 1987 when it leased a large segment of the former Northern Pacific main line between Montana and Washington from then-Burlington Northern. 

At its peak, MRL operated between Huntley, Montana to Sand Point, Idaho with trackage rights stretching to Spokane, Washington.  There were also a handful of branches under its ownership.  In all, MRL maintained more than 900 miles and moved over 400,000 carloads annually.

On January 10, 2022, MRL announced it would terminate its lease with successor BNSF Railway and the Class I would reacquire its property.

Yellowstone Valley Railroad (reporting mark, YSVR): Another Watco shortline, this railroad operates more than 170 miles of former Great Northern trackage in northeastern Montana, stretching into North Dakota.  It began service in late 2005 and handles traffic related to the natural gas industry including natural gas, crude oil, and frac sand.