Re: Montana Southern

The Montana Southern is probably one of the least-known narrow gauges in the country. A brief capsule history is included in the Florence & Cripple Creek history, Colorado Rail Annual No. 13 (still in print). The Montana Historical Soceity has a typescript by Thomas T. Tabor, "Short Lines of the Treasure State" which includes a chapter on the Montana Southern. Tabor's manuscript was completed in 1960.
The Montana Southern ran from a connection with the OSL at Divide, Montana, thirty-eight miles west and south to Allentown (today known as Wise River) and Brundy (Coolidge), site of the Elkhorn Mine, which was the railroad's big shipper. William R. Allen was the financial power behind the mine and the railroad. Planning began in 1913, but construction wasn't completed until 1919.
Operations were rather sporadic. technically a common carreir, the MS operated when the mine required it. In 1926 the railroad ceased regular operations. A flood in 1927 resulted from the failure of a Montana Power Co. dam, which resulted in the power company rebuilding part of the railroad where the flood had damaged it. The railroad was re-organized in 1928 as the Montana Southwestern, with the expectation that the mines would re-open. The depression following the stock market crash in October of 1929 ended all prospects of resumption of operations of both the mine and the railroad. The line was scrapped in the mid-1930's.
The Montana Southern was equipped with ex Florence & Cripple Creek equipment.
3 Baldwin 2-8-0's (Nos. 1-3)
8 flat cars (Nos. 100-107)
8 dump cars (Nos. 300-307)
8 box cars (Nos. 500-507)
1 combine (No. 1)
1 coach (No. 2)
Several of the cars, mostly box cars, but also one of the dump cars, are at the Virginia City, Montana collection of railroad equipment gathered in the 1950's/1950's.
Charlie