Railroads of Spokane Railroad Narrative #1 by Andy Fletcher

Through the years, Spokane has been served by many railroads. Enjoy my Railroads of Spokane Railroad Narrative #1 about Great Northern, Northern Pacific and Spokane, Portland & Seattle on my Andy Fletcher Trains YouTube https://youtu.be/t4hCLIarM-Y?si=dGFJMWJ4zzpyYsMM

 

A Northern Pacific Lumber Train at Missoula, Montana

This Northern Pacific train carries lumber at Missoula, Montana.  Today's train heads to Spokane on the Main Street of the Northwest.

See my Northern Pacific artwork at customtrains.org

 

A Northern Pacific Train at Missoula

This Northern Pacific train heads west at Missoula.  Today's train heads towards Spokane, Washington.  Northern Pacific was known as the Route of the North Coast Limited.

See my Northern Pacific artwork at customtrains.org

 

A Northern Pacific Grain Train at Missoula

A Northern Pacific train heads heads through Missoula.  Today's train carries hopper cars from farms throughout Eastern Montana headed to the Port of Tacoma for export.

See my Northern Pacific artwork at customtrains.org

 

Northern Pacific Freight Train at Spokane, Washington

These Northern Pacific locomotives move trains at Spokane, Washington.  The U33C and SD45 head east with a general merchandise train for the Twin Cities.

Northern Pacific was known as the Main Street of the Northwest.  Today's train carries carloads of refrigerator cars of potatoes and apples from throughout Washington State.

See my Northern Pacific artwork at customtrains.org

 

A Chicago Burlington and Quincy Train Heads From The Twin Cities to Chicago

This Chicago, Burlington and Quincy freight heads from the Twin Cities to Chicago.  Today's train carries many of the usual carloads interchanged from the Great Northern and Northern Pacific.  

See my Chicago Burlington and Quincy artwork at http://www.customtrains.org

Taking the Northern Pacific North Coast Limited to Bozeman

Today we ride the Northern Pacific North Coast Limited to Bozeman, Montana.  At Bozeman, we take a journey to Yellowstone National Park.  The NP and its North Coast Limited played a key role in developing Yellowstone. 

See my Northern Pacific artwork at http://www.customtrains.org

A Northern Pacific Freight Train at Billings, Montana

This Northern Pacific train heads west with carloads of grain from Billings, Montana. Northern Pacific connected Upper Midwest with the Rocky Mountain States and the Pacific Northwest.  

See my Northern Pacific artwork at http://www.customtrains.org/northern-pacific.html

Northern Pacific Railway and Yellowstone National Park

The Northern Pacific North Coast Limited makes its station stop at Livingston, Montana.  Through its advertising and transporting passengers, the Northern Pacific Railway helped develop Yellowstone National Park. 

See my Northern Pacific artwork at http://www.customtrains.org/northern-pacific.html

Trains of the West by Andy Fletcher

Railroads helped build our West.  Railroads such as Union Pacific, Central Pacific, Great Northern, Northern Pacific, Milwaukee Road and Santa Fe greatly reduced transit time to the Pacific and brought settlers who developed the land.

To see my posters and magnets, visit my website customtrains.org

A Chicago Burlington & Quincy Train Heads From The Twin Cities to Chicago

A Chicago Burlington and Quincy SD9 and GP30 lead a manifest freight from the Twin Cities to Chicago.  Today's train carries Chicago-bound carloads interchanged to the Burlington Route from the Great Northern and Northern Pacific.

To see my Chicago Burlington and Quincy 11"x17" posters, visit my website customtrains.org and/or my eBay store

The Northern Pacific North Coast Limited at Livingston, Montana

The Northern Pacific North Coast Limited makes its station stop at Livingston, Montana.  Northern Pacific was known as the "Main Street on the Northwest" and was key in the development of Yellowstone National Park.  Northern Pacific is part of today's +BNSF Railway.  ASLRRA member railroad Montana Rail Link provides first mile/last mile freight service to Montana, Idaho and Washington via the former Northern Pacific.

To see my Northern Pacific 11"x17" poster, visit my website customtrains.org and/or my eBay store

A Milwaukee Road Freight Train at Aberdeen, South Dakota

This Milwaukee Road freight train crosses the Great Plains at Aberdeen, South Dakota.  Milwaukee Road was the last transcontinental railroad, and was much the underdog to its competitors of the Upper Midwest, Great Northern and Northern Pacific.
The train rambles west, as a vast thunderhead crosses.  In tow are combines and empty grain hoppers, both headed towards the grain harvest.  The grain season truly gives a much needed boost to Milwaukee Road's traffic.

To see my Milwaukee Road 11"x17" poster, visit my website at customtrains.org and/or my eBay store

A Northern Pacific Freight Heads West at Livingston, Montana

This Northern Pacific freight heads west at Livingston, Montana.  Northern Pacific was known as the "Main Street of the Northwest."  Livingston has always been a key railroad city, home to Northern Pacific's locomotive shops, which are still used today by ASLRRA member regional railroad Montana Rail Link.

To see my Northern Pacific 11"x17" signed poster, visit my website customtrains.org and/or my eBay store

Northern Pacific U33C and SD45 Awaiting a Train at Northtown

These Northern Pacific Locomotives await their assignments at Northtown Yard in Minneapolis.  The U33C and SD45 prepare to take a general merchandise train west, while the switchers build trains.

To see my Northern Pacific Locomotives 11"x17" signed poster, visit my website customtrains.org and/or my eBay store.

Montana Rail Link-The Railroad That Inspired Me To Dream Big

As a teenager, I loved Burlington Northern and taking trips to Essex, Montana in the late 1980s. At this time, Montana Rail Link was becoming a strong upstart on Burlington Northern's former Northern Pacific trackage across Southern Montana.

I was inspired that entrepreneur Dennis Washinton had leased this section of track from Burlington Northern and was starting his own railroad.  At sixteen, I was ready to start my own railroad.

The success of Montana Rail Link drove me to dream. It made me know that I could accomplish things bigger than myself. 

My mom suggested that I send my artwork to railroad presidents.  The many warm-hearted responses I received led me to becoming a railroad artist.  Montana Rail Link President Bill Brodsky, in seeing my ambition, kindly quoted Robert Browning, "Reach beyond your grasp or what's a heaven for?"  I have taken those words to heart ever since.

A Brief History of the Amtrak Empire Builder

Great Northern connected the Midwest with the Pacific Northwest.  Great Northern was known as the "Route of the Empire Builder."

Great Northern's flagship passenger train was the Empire Builder.  The Empire Builder took its name from Great Northern founder, James J. Hill, who, with private funds, built the Great Northern and played a key role in the development of the Upper Midwest and the Northwest.

The Great Northern was known for its contribution to Glacier National Park.  Hill saw the park as a key destination for Great Northern passengers.

Amtrak's contemporary Chicago to Seattle route is known as the Empire Builder.  Amtrak's train operates over today's BNSF Railroad.  BNSF is the successor to Burlington Northern, which was created by the merger of Great Northern, Northern Pacific, Chicago Burlington and Quincy and Spokane Portland and Seattle Railroads.