Never heard of it? You are not alone…
BNSF’s Broadview sub is a new spur into the Bull Mountain mine north west of Billings, MT. The spur was recently constructed as part of an overall upgrade to the Bull Mountain facilities. The line is 35 miles long and leaves BNSF’s Laurel subdivision at a new station called Walter about 2 miles south of little town of Broadview.
South Siding Switch Walter
While exploring the south end of the Laurel sub yesterday I took some time between trains to drive out to the mine and see what a brand new railroad looks like. As you might guess any railroad that will see coal trains will be built ruggedly and this is no exception. There are quite a few grade crossings but there are also a few overpasses and underpasses where the terrain dictates.
Broadview as seen from the overpass at MP 8.8
My goal for this visit was to take some pictures for myself of the completed line. Then a funny thing happened. The Montana branch dispatcher called the BNSF 5214 and asked what time they’d be back to the mainline at Walter. During this discussion it was revealed that the 5214 was leading a geometry train up the branch. I couldn’t believe it, all of my photos wouldn’t be sans trains!
S curve south of the Majerus Rd. overpass
The Broadview sub is easily accessible for the railfan thanks to parallel roads. Some of the roads follow a grid pattern so chasing may be a bit challenging though. Yesterday it helped that the geo train was moving slowly so I could easily leap frog and get to the next location ahead of it. I’m not sure what the final speed on the branch will be, but if its any faster than 25 mph keeping up with a train on the gravel roads will be tough. To see the line for yourself leave MT 3 at 21 Mile Rd. in Broadview. This road takes you to MP 11. Next turn north on Cushman Rd/Gooding Creek Rd then right on Majerus Rd for the rest of the line to US 87.
Crossing the valley at MP 11
I don’t know that I’ve heard a schedule for running the first train out to the mine but from the looks of it the railroad is ready. Chatting with a local yesterday he told me that the geometry train was the first thing other than ballast and rail trains he’d seen. Once the trains start to roll its likely many of us will hear much more about the scenic Broadview sub.
Almost back to the mainline at MP 6
Technorati Tags: train, railroad, railfan, photo, photography, bnsf, montana, broadview, bull mountain, coal, mine