The Great Northern Railway in Marias Pass (Images of Rail)

The Great Northern Railway in Marias Pass (Images of Rail)

Montana's Marias Pass is the lowest rail crossing through the Rocky Mountains. The tracks snake through narrow canyons, traverse the swift Middle Fork of the Flathead River, and twist through numerous snowsheds and tunnels to crest the 5,213-foot Continental Divide. James Jerome Hill was the driving force behind Great Northern Railway's mission to find the most economical route to the Pacific coast, with surveyor John F. Stevens taking a major role in locating the pass. Browning is the eastern gateway into Marias Pass as the railroad approaches the Rocky Mountain Front; continuing west from Summit, the tracks parallel Bear Creek and the Middle Fork of the Flathead River downgrade through Essex to Glacier National Park and into the Flathead Valley. Dale W. Jones has spent many years in Essex and the Flathead Valley area documenting railroad operations and photographing trains throughout the pass. This narrative is complete with vintage newspaper accounts and historical photographs from local residents that provide insight into the day-by-day operations of the mountain railroad called Marias Pass. Number of Pages: 128 Published By: Arcadia Publishing Imprint: Arcadia Publishing Series: Images of Rail Publication Date: June 5, 2017 Location: Montana Illustration: Black and White ISBN: 9781467125192 Book Format: Hardcover