On Sunday my family and I rode the Charlie Russell Chew Choo Cowboy poetry train. The Charlie Russell Chew Choo departs from near Lewistown, MT and traverses some of the most fantastic scenery in Central Montana including three steel trestles and a tunnel! Since my mother-in-law moved to Stanford I’ve been hoping to ride and finally on this visit the timing was perfect and we made reservations.
Logo on the side of one of the RDCs.
The Charlie Russell Chew Choo runs over former Great Northern (first half mile from Kingston Jct.) and MIlwaukee Road track (the remaining 28 miles to Denton). The Milwaukee line was a branch from Harlowton through Lewistown to Great Falls. The line crossed some pretty rugged territory including three viaduct style steel trestles. The GN line left their Shelby to Laurel main line at Moccasin with the purpose of serving Lewistown. The two lines intersected at Spring Creek Jct. Between Spring Creek Jct. and Hanover the MILW and GN shared a tall wooden trestle over Spring Creek which still survives but was last used in 1988.
Getting ready to depart Kingston Jct.
The Lewistown Chamber of Commerce supplies the former RDC cars and wait staff while the Central Montana Railroad provides the operating crew and locomotive. From what I saw this is an outstanding combination.
The CMR also maintains the track and structures also. Because the CMR is a small operation I didn’t expect much speed wise, but other than the 10mph restrictions across the trestles we buzzed right along at 25mph. The cross level wasn’t perfect but I’ve felt worse and judging from the amount of fresh ballast I saw dumped there are more improvements coming.
On the trip north we were served our meal and we enjoyed narration about the area. Surprisingly we ate for the entire hour and a half it took from Kingston to Denton! Mmmmm, prime rib! At Denton we pulled up alongside the CMR shops and waited while the 1814 ran around the train and an air test was performed. While we were waiting I captured a couple of CMR’s other units basking in the sun.
CMR Power at Denton
On the return trip I was allowed to stand on the rear platform while we negotiated the Hoosac tunnel and crossed the Sage Creek trestle. Originally the MILW line had 4 tunnels between Lewistown and Great Falls but Hoosac is the only survivor. Hoosac allows the railroad to cross a ridge and enter the Sage Creek drainage.
North Portal Hoosac Tunnel
Sage Creek is the most inaccessible of the three spectacular bridges the train crossed. It is also the tallest and longest. Its remote location makes it one of the most scenic parts around this part of Montana. Wouldn’t this be nice with a big grain train snaking over it?
Its a long way down….
Since Montana is still the wild west the train was held up just after we crossed the Sage Creek trestle. Apparently this is an issue the dinner train has just about every trip. After making lots of noise and ruckus that the crooks stopped the train, boarded, took all of our money, and rode off. Later I spoke with the leader of the posse and he told me he’d text me when they finally caught up to the perpetrators. At least the wild west has cell service now!
Before the crooks so rudely stole all of our money I did get a picture. Apparently these bills are honored at all stores in Lewistown!
We had a fabulous time and thoroughly enjoyed the hospitality and entertainment on the train. The scenery outside the window wasn’t bad either! If you are ever in Montana, and you like prime rib and rare mileage, this is the dinner train for you!!
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