Back on September 1, 2019 I wrote an NP Perspectives Blog update about Day 1 at Billings, MT from a trip I took to North Dakota in August 2019.
http://np-perspectives.qstation.org/?p=959
With the new USA Railfanning Blog I will continue with the rest of the trip here since there will be more than trains featured.
Day two of my North Dakota trip started the morning of 8-4-19 at Billings, MT as I left the motel and started east with plans to be at Glendive, MT by the evening. First planned stop was going to be at Pompeys Pillar.
The skies had high clouds and I knew it was going to be a hot day. I made my way down to Huntley, MT hoping to have an eastbound to follow east but none were close.
I continued east out of Huntley to Hwy 312 which took me past Jones Jct and Worden following the ex-NP and then Pompeys Pillar National Monument where I first stopped along the highway to photograph a few informative signs with the pillar in the background.
I turned north on a side road which took me to an entrance area where I paid the $7 entry fee and drove on in to check out the Pompeyys Pillar monument. There was plenty of parking so I found a spot and started walking towards the Interpretive Center which I learned opened in 2006.
Though it was just 10:00 in the morning it was getting warm out, nearing 80 already. I went in and looked around but decided to go on to the Pillar before it got any hotter. Walking to the monument I was happy to see the high clouds had drifted off leaving nice blue skies which made photography much more enjoyable.
Then came the climb up stairs to reach where the inscription left by Captain William Clark of the Lewis and Clark expedition was located. Though there were other inscriptions Clark’s is protected under the glass to the far right.
A representative of the Monument was there and was quite helpful with information. I told her that the Northern Pacific had placed a protective metal grille over the signature back in the 1880′s and asked her what had happened to it? I was almost giddy when she told me it was on display in the Interpretive Center. I must have walked right by the grille without even noticing it! I really wanted to see it so I started back down the stairs but took one more photo looking up at the pillar. You can see the representative and her umbrella/sun shield on the right side of the photo.
Back inside the Interpretive Center I found the NP’s grille right away and I thought it was great you could walk right up to it and touch it. Hands on history.
And I just had to take a picture of me with it too!
It was about 10:30 now and I still had a long way to go so decided it was time to leave but was really happy that I had stopped in. More information of Pompeys Pillar National Monument can be found here:
After getting back on the highway I crossed over the BNSF and saw a train in the siding at Pompeys Pillar. It was a westbound coal empty and it was being recrewed as I passed by. I turned around to get photos of it leaving. BNSF 9123/4504 were leading the train as it left Pompeys Pillar at 11:00AM
Back in the train were a number of BN coal hoppers including these two.
And bringing up the rear DPU’s 5623/9075 with Pompeys Pillar in the background.
Continuing east past Pompeys Pillar I saw these rows of rolled up hay which I thought needed to be photographed. This is at MP 191.0 with the east switch of Pompeys Pillar 194.1.
Just around a curve to the east is a bridge at MP 190.8 and I stopped here for a few photos as well.
This 4 RCT bridge crosses Mill Creek on a curve and was built in 1918, it is 64′ long and just 6′ high. This photos shows the bridge and the curve.
Stuffed in the siding at Waco, MT was a ribbon rail train with units 4787/4953. There was no crew was on board.
East of Waco at MP 177.9 I photographed a BNSF detector with a pair of NP flanger signs protecting each end.
And finally for this final part of the trip report I photographed the signal bungalow at East switch Custer. And yes, the siding here named for General George Armstrong Custer.
From the NP Place Names department: Custer, Yellowstone County, Montana
The town derives its name from the fact that it was the stopping place for persons going to the Custer Battlefield and old Fort Custer. The post has been abandoned but the town retains its importance. The fort was named after General George Armstrong Custer, who, with his entire detachment, were killed by the Indians in the battle of the Little Bighorn on June 25, 1876. Custer had served with distinction through the Civil War. The station here was established in 1882. Two Thousand Miles of Scenic Beauty, Northern Pacific.
More from this day to follow soon……
