The Turn South to the Branchline
As the old main vanishes into the private lands that are out of bounds for the old truck and I, our venture turns south along Dry Creek Road and towards the bigger Montana city of Belgrade and a meet with I-90. The gravel road winds through the arid Montana landscape as the shadows grow longer and the sun dips ever lower in the summer sky. As years drift onward, even the memories of that turn south and gravel road seem to slowly fade away. But planted firmly in my minds eye is the arrival at Menard, Gallatin County, MT. At Three Forks the Milwaukee branched from the mainline and headed east toward Belgrade along what is now the I-90 corridor. The NP mainline to Butte did the same (and still does) though the Milwaukee branch has long vanished. Heading north and into some agricultural areas, Menard stands as the furthest most point on this long abandoned branch. Decades upon decades have passed since the last 40 foot boxcars f...