While focusing on the Empire Builder route in Montana by way of Google Maps, after moving east from Malta, MT, I then traveled into the Bowdoin Bird Sanctuary. Just east of Lake Bowdoin I saw a ghost yard north of the tracks with a large classification yard, extent buildings, and most apparent of all, a 24-pit roundhouse scar that made whatever this was something quite major in the early years of the Manitoba, etc years of building their transcontinental railroad.
From an 1893 map of the Great Northern lines, between Malta and Saco are two stations listed: Bowdoin and Ashfield. One of these, I would think, was the name of this yard. Google has no information, nor does Wikipedia, so I am coming to you guys to see if you know anything about it.
Thanking you all in advance.
Instead of receiving big bucks for my advice, I'll give some free advice to Big Bux: (sorry!)
A few weeks back, there was a thread on this Forum that was attempting to locate all of the turntable pits in the country: cs.trains.com/TRCCS/forums/p/195380
If your roundhouse scar isn't on that list, we can't help you...but maybe you've just helped us!
(Your first name isn't Dietrich, is it?)
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
Buxtehude [snipped] . . . From an 1893 map of the Great Northern lines, between Malta and Saco are two stations listed: Bowdoin and Ashfield. One of these, I would think, was the name of this yard. . . .
The turntable pit is at these Lat./ Long. coords. (per ACME Mapper 2.0): N 48.39673 W 107.59821
There's also traces of a wye to the southwest of the turntable area.
This website was interesting, but not much help: http://www.railroads-of-montana.com/
This says the Bowdoin NWR was named after a nearby long-abandoned railroad siding town: http://www.montanabirdingtrail.org/maps/r2/t1/s2/r2t1s2.php#cultural
Search this large (approx. 3.1 MB) PDF file for "Bowdoin": http://www.mnhs.org/library/findaids/00329.pdf
and you'll find several references - the first being this one:
"5126 Wolf Point and Bowdoin (MT): terminals, 1912-1917." Then: "8608 Bowdoin (MT): terminals, 1917-1923." Here are excerpts from this webpage, sorted by location for "Bowdoin" (items 7801 - 8000 of 99,492 !): http://www.gn-npjointarchive.org/Lists/AFE_List/AllItems.aspx?Paged=TRUE&p_Location=BOW&p_AFEYear=1909&p_ID=8466&View=%7b76BBFE73%2d9A0D%2d4D88%2dBBD8%2d89015C8DECB9%7d&SortField=Location&SortDir=Asc&PageFirstRow=7801 In summary, it looks like the Bowdoin Terminal was established circa 1889, but by 1912 - 1914 was being slowly dismanted: BOWDOINMT-- BOWDOIN MT GN W/ 4.5 X 15 HOUSE BOWDOINMT-- BOWDOIN MT GN BOWDOINMT-- BOWDOIN MT GN BOWDOINMT-- BOWDOIN MT GN ORGNL BOWDOINMT-- BOWDOIN MT GN ORGNL BOWDOINMT-- BOWDOIN MT GN ORGNL BOWDOINMT-- BOWDOIN MT GN ORGNL (2 1/2 MILE WEST) - 2 PENS; RELOCATED TO MALTA - '89 BOWDOINMT-- BOWDOIN MT GN ORGNL BURNED 7/26/89 BOWDOINMT-- BOWDOIN MT GN W/ 7 X 320 PLATFORM BOWDOINMT-- BOWDOIN MT GN ORGNL BOWDOINMT-- BOWDOIN MT GN W/ CINDER PLATFORM BOWDOINMT-- BOWDOIN MT GN ORGNL BOWDOINMT-242-W BOWDOIN MT SPM&M GM 242 W STOCKYARD FACILITIES 1889 RELOCATE FROM MALTA BOWDOINMT-946-W BOWDOIN MT GN I 946 W PASSING TRACK 1898 EXTEND 958' BOWDOINMT-1023-W BOWDOIN MT GN I 1023 W SECTION FACILITIES 1899 CONSTRUCT SECTION HOUSE BOWDOINMT-1206-W BOWDOIN MT GN I 1206 W PASSING TRACK 1899 CROSSOVER - BETWEEN MAIN & PASSING TRACK BOWDOINMT-3441-W BOWDOIN MT GN I 3441 W SIDE TRACK 1900 RELAY W/ S.H. 60# RAIL BOWDOINMT-5588-W BOWDOIN MT GN I 5588 W SECTION FACILITIES 1902 RELOCATE TOOL HOUSE FROM EXETER BOWDOINMT-6444-W BOWDOIN MT GN I 6444 W MAIN LINE TRACK 1902 CHANGE SPLIT SWITCH FOR STUB SWITCH IN CROSSOVER BOWDOINMT-12307-W BOWDOIN MT GN I 12307 W SECTION FACILITIES 1906 RELOCATE SECTION HOUSE W/ JAP HOUSE, HAND CAR HOUSES, PRIVY FROM OLD BOWDOIN TO NEW LOCATION BOWDOINMT-12307-W BOWDOIN MT GN I 12307 W PASSING TRACK 1906 CONSTRUCT 4000' TRACK, INDUSTRY TRACK 300' LONG BOWDOINMT-12307-W BOWDOIN MT GN I 12307 W WATER FACILITIES 1906 RELOCATE WATER TANK, PUMP HOUSE FROM KISHFIELD AND SET UP AT STATION FOUR MILES EAST OF BOWDOIN BOWDOINMT-19217-W BOWDOIN MT GN I 19217 W MAIL CRANE 1911 PLACE COLUMBIA STEEL MAIL CRANE BOWDOINMT-20282-W BOWDOIN MT GN I 20282 W FUEL TANK 1912 REMOVE 400 gal FUEL TANK-MOVE TO CHESTER BOWDOINMT-23967-W BOWDOIN MT GN I 23967 W MAIL CRANE 1914 MOVE MAIL CRANE FROM BOWDOIN AND INSTALLING IT AT ALOE BOWDOINMT-15371-W BOWDOIN MT GN II 15371 W STATION FACILITIES 1920 INSTALLING ONE SEEGAR REFRIGERATOR IN LUNCHROOM AT WENATCHEE, WA, REMOVED FROM BOWDOIN, MONTANA. BOWDOINMT-17059-E BOWDOIN MT GN II 17059 E STATION FACILITIES 1921 TRANSFERRING BEDS AND BEDDING FROM BOWDOIN HOTEL TO NEW ROCKFORD LUNCH ROOM. BOWDOINMT-18810-E BOWDOIN MT GN II 18810 E STATION FACILITIES 1921 PLACING MATTRESSES IN LUNCH ROOM REMOVED FROM BOWDOIN HOTEL. BOWDOINMT-16695-W BOWDOIN MT GN II 16695 W TRAIN ORDER SIGNAL 1921 EQUIP W/ OPERATING CONNECTIONS BOWDOINMT-19487-W BOWDOIN MT GN II 19487 W SHOP& ENGINE FACILITIES 1922 RELOCATE ONE INGERSOLL RAND X2 AIR COMPRESSOR IN ROUNDHOUSE TO GRAND FORKS BOWDOINMT-25640-W BOWDOIN MT GN II 25640 W STATION FACILITIES 1924 TRANSFER EQUIPMENT FROM BOWDOIN HOTEL TO WENATCHEE LUNCH ROOM BOWDOINMT-25636-E BOWDOIN MT GN II 25636 E STATION FACILITIES 1924 TRANSFER EQUIP. FROM BOWDOIN HOTEL TO NEW ROCKFORD LUNCH ROOM. BOWDOINMT-45314-W BOWDOIN MT GN II 45314 W WATER FACILITIES 1932 RELOCATE STEEL CHEMICAL BOXES FROM WATER TREATMENT PLANTS AT CHESTER AND GILDFORD TO BOWDOIN AND SAVOY BOWDOINMT-60052-W BOWDOIN MT GN II 60052 W MAIN LINE TRACK 1940 FROM BOWDOIN TO STRATER , MT. RELAY 4.23 MILES OF TRACK WITH 112# RAIL. BOWDOINMT-66.0955-W BOWDOIN MT GN II 66.0955 W STOCKYARD FACILITIES 1966 RETIRE & REMOVE
"5126 Wolf Point and Bowdoin (MT): terminals, 1912-1917."
Then: "8608 Bowdoin (MT): terminals, 1917-1923." Here are excerpts from this webpage, sorted by location for "Bowdoin" (items 7801 - 8000 of 99,492 !): http://www.gn-npjointarchive.org/Lists/AFE_List/AllItems.aspx?Paged=TRUE&p_Location=BOW&p_AFEYear=1909&p_ID=8466&View=%7b76BBFE73%2d9A0D%2d4D88%2dBBD8%2d89015C8DECB9%7d&SortField=Location&SortDir=Asc&PageFirstRow=7801 In summary, it looks like the Bowdoin Terminal was established circa 1889, but by 1912 - 1914 was being slowly dismanted: BOWDOINMT-- BOWDOIN MT GN W/ 4.5 X 15 HOUSE BOWDOINMT-- BOWDOIN MT GN BOWDOINMT-- BOWDOIN MT GN BOWDOINMT-- BOWDOIN MT GN ORGNL BOWDOINMT-- BOWDOIN MT GN ORGNL BOWDOINMT-- BOWDOIN MT GN ORGNL BOWDOINMT-- BOWDOIN MT GN ORGNL (2 1/2 MILE WEST) - 2 PENS; RELOCATED TO MALTA - '89 BOWDOINMT-- BOWDOIN MT GN ORGNL BURNED 7/26/89 BOWDOINMT-- BOWDOIN MT GN W/ 7 X 320 PLATFORM BOWDOINMT-- BOWDOIN MT GN ORGNL BOWDOINMT-- BOWDOIN MT GN W/ CINDER PLATFORM BOWDOINMT-- BOWDOIN MT GN ORGNL BOWDOINMT-242-W BOWDOIN MT SPM&M GM 242 W STOCKYARD FACILITIES 1889 RELOCATE FROM MALTA BOWDOINMT-946-W BOWDOIN MT GN I 946 W PASSING TRACK 1898 EXTEND 958' BOWDOINMT-1023-W BOWDOIN MT GN I 1023 W SECTION FACILITIES 1899 CONSTRUCT SECTION HOUSE BOWDOINMT-1206-W BOWDOIN MT GN I 1206 W PASSING TRACK 1899 CROSSOVER - BETWEEN MAIN & PASSING TRACK BOWDOINMT-3441-W BOWDOIN MT GN I 3441 W SIDE TRACK 1900 RELAY W/ S.H. 60# RAIL BOWDOINMT-5588-W BOWDOIN MT GN I 5588 W SECTION FACILITIES 1902 RELOCATE TOOL HOUSE FROM EXETER BOWDOINMT-6444-W BOWDOIN MT GN I 6444 W MAIN LINE TRACK 1902 CHANGE SPLIT SWITCH FOR STUB SWITCH IN CROSSOVER BOWDOINMT-12307-W BOWDOIN MT GN I 12307 W SECTION FACILITIES 1906 RELOCATE SECTION HOUSE W/ JAP HOUSE, HAND CAR HOUSES, PRIVY FROM OLD BOWDOIN TO NEW LOCATION BOWDOINMT-12307-W BOWDOIN MT GN I 12307 W PASSING TRACK 1906 CONSTRUCT 4000' TRACK, INDUSTRY TRACK 300' LONG BOWDOINMT-12307-W BOWDOIN MT GN I 12307 W WATER FACILITIES 1906 RELOCATE WATER TANK, PUMP HOUSE FROM KISHFIELD AND SET UP AT STATION FOUR MILES EAST OF BOWDOIN BOWDOINMT-19217-W BOWDOIN MT GN I 19217 W MAIL CRANE 1911 PLACE COLUMBIA STEEL MAIL CRANE BOWDOINMT-20282-W BOWDOIN MT GN I 20282 W FUEL TANK 1912 REMOVE 400 gal FUEL TANK-MOVE TO CHESTER BOWDOINMT-23967-W BOWDOIN MT GN I 23967 W MAIL CRANE 1914 MOVE MAIL CRANE FROM BOWDOIN AND INSTALLING IT AT ALOE BOWDOINMT-15371-W BOWDOIN MT GN II 15371 W STATION FACILITIES 1920 INSTALLING ONE SEEGAR REFRIGERATOR IN LUNCHROOM AT WENATCHEE, WA, REMOVED FROM BOWDOIN, MONTANA. BOWDOINMT-17059-E BOWDOIN MT GN II 17059 E STATION FACILITIES 1921 TRANSFERRING BEDS AND BEDDING FROM BOWDOIN HOTEL TO NEW ROCKFORD LUNCH ROOM. BOWDOINMT-18810-E BOWDOIN MT GN II 18810 E STATION FACILITIES 1921 PLACING MATTRESSES IN LUNCH ROOM REMOVED FROM BOWDOIN HOTEL. BOWDOINMT-16695-W BOWDOIN MT GN II 16695 W TRAIN ORDER SIGNAL 1921 EQUIP W/ OPERATING CONNECTIONS BOWDOINMT-19487-W BOWDOIN MT GN II 19487 W SHOP& ENGINE FACILITIES 1922 RELOCATE ONE INGERSOLL RAND X2 AIR COMPRESSOR IN ROUNDHOUSE TO GRAND FORKS BOWDOINMT-25640-W BOWDOIN MT GN II 25640 W STATION FACILITIES 1924 TRANSFER EQUIPMENT FROM BOWDOIN HOTEL TO WENATCHEE LUNCH ROOM BOWDOINMT-25636-E BOWDOIN MT GN II 25636 E STATION FACILITIES 1924 TRANSFER EQUIP. FROM BOWDOIN HOTEL TO NEW ROCKFORD LUNCH ROOM. BOWDOINMT-45314-W BOWDOIN MT GN II 45314 W WATER FACILITIES 1932 RELOCATE STEEL CHEMICAL BOXES FROM WATER TREATMENT PLANTS AT CHESTER AND GILDFORD TO BOWDOIN AND SAVOY BOWDOINMT-60052-W BOWDOIN MT GN II 60052 W MAIN LINE TRACK 1940 FROM BOWDOIN TO STRATER , MT. RELAY 4.23 MILES OF TRACK WITH 112# RAIL. BOWDOINMT-66.0955-W BOWDOIN MT GN II 66.0955 W STOCKYARD FACILITIES 1966 RETIRE & REMOVE
Then: "8608 Bowdoin (MT): terminals, 1917-1923."
Here are excerpts from this webpage, sorted by location for "Bowdoin" (items 7801 - 8000 of 99,492 !):
http://www.gn-npjointarchive.org/Lists/AFE_List/AllItems.aspx?Paged=TRUE&p_Location=BOW&p_AFEYear=1909&p_ID=8466&View=%7b76BBFE73%2d9A0D%2d4D88%2dBBD8%2d89015C8DECB9%7d&SortField=Location&SortDir=Asc&PageFirstRow=7801
In summary, it looks like the Bowdoin Terminal was established circa 1889, but by 1912 - 1914 was being slowly dismanted:
- Paul North.
Interesting that so much is still visible after all these years.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Link to Bing Map's "Bird's-Eye View" of that location:
http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=s1zdwd6104bz&lvl=17&dir=0&sty=b&where1=48.39673%2C%20-107.59821&form=LMLTCC
Just as interesting is that there's so little information readily available on-line about it, even giving due consideration to the fact that considerably less than 'everything' is on the Internet. I didn't bother to list all of the other Montana and GN-oriented websites I visited that didn't have anything much on it either.
CShaveRR [snipped] A few weeks back, there was a thread on this Forum that was attempting to locate all of the turntable pits in the country: cs.trains.com/TRCCS/forums/p/195380 If your roundhouse scar isn't on that list, we can't help you...but maybe you've just helped us!
http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/p/195380/2156254.aspx#2156254
Thank you all for answering my question. Now I know. It sure didn't last for very long.
And it looks like a WB seed train is in the G-E picture.
ChuckCobleigh And it looks like a WB seed train is in the G-E picture.
What's a seed train?
greyhounds ChuckCobleigh: And it looks like a WB seed train is in the G-E picture. What's a seed train?
ChuckCobleigh: And it looks like a WB seed train is in the G-E picture.
What is the G-E picture?
"No soup for you!" - Yev Kassem (from Seinfeld)
ericsp greyhounds: ChuckCobleigh: And it looks like a WB seed train is in the G-E picture. What's a seed train? What is the G-E picture?
greyhounds: ChuckCobleigh: And it looks like a WB seed train is in the G-E picture. What's a seed train?
Grain.
Google Earth.
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