I worked on this section out of Hamilton and the Florence section in the 1960's. Florence had a four-man section. My boss was 45, one worker was 64, the other was 62...I was 19! This old branch line, originally Nothern Pacific, ran to Darby and ended with a loop to reverse the engines. Sugar beets was the main product then. Fond memories on the Florence gang...25 ties a day for each 2-man crew...by hand. We aligned the 33lb steel with bars and the foreman eye-balling the upper rail, all in unison moving the rail by muscle. Ties were a lot of hardwood, flattened on two sides with an adz. The ties had date nails from the 1880-s to the 1920's. All gone now. Worked the whole branch line from Missoula to Darby. Nice photo...heart felt memories here...thanks!
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The Bitterroot Valley is perhaps the most beautiful in Montana. This branch was built by Northern Pacific in the late 1800's, starting here on the south side of Missoula and going to Darby. The Bitterroot once produced apples and sugar beets, lumber etc. A couple of trains a week when I was a boy in the 60's. The train would stop on the way back at Veda's, a cafeteria/bar, often to refresh themselves. 25 mph speed limit on the track due to the age of the branch. The rail is 76 lb not 33 lb, but 33 ft long. I could lift one of these rails on one end by myself. Hard work, lots of it by hand. Tamping by shovel and bar. A great, beautiful experience for anyone.
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