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| | Copper King Express &
Anaconda Railroad and
Mining
Museum -
Anaconda, Montana
-page last updated August 2006, TMC.
Built 
Ride the rails of the historic Butte, Anaconda and Pacific Railway. Incorporated
in 1892, the Butte, Anaconda and Pacific Railroad operated between the mining
and smelting communities of Butte and Anaconda, Montana. The B.A.&P. was the
vital transportation link between the two thriving cities. In 1985, in
conjunction with the closure of the smelter, the railroad
was privatized and become Rarus Railway Company. Rarus has continued to provide
freight services to the area in addition to preserving historic structures, such
as the 20 stall roundhouse built in the early 1900's. Then in 2004, Rarus
Railway Company, purchased some passenger cars and created the ‘Copper King
Express’. With the creation of the excursion train, passenger trains would
once again operate over the former B.A.&P. line. It had been 50 years since
the last regular passenger train service operated on the line.
In 2006, Rarus will be launching the inaugural season of the Copper King
Express. The passenger cars have been refurbished and will offer a historical
narrative of our area's many attractions. The excursion train will operate a 52
mile round trip through scenic Durant Canyon and near many historic points of
interest.
In 2004, Rarus Railway Company (the successor to the B.A.&P.), purchased
some passenger cars and created the “Copper King Express”. With the creation
of the excursion train, passenger trains would once again operate over the
former B.A.&P. line. It had been 50 years since the last regular passenger
train service operated on the line.
The
Butte
, Anaconda and Pacific Railroad was incorporated in 1892.
The Copper King,
Marcus Daly, owned the mines in
Butte
and the
smelting facility in
Anaconda. With the mines and smelter
separated by 30 miles, Mr.
Daly determined that he could build a
railroad that would provide
more economic freight than the existing
Montana
Union Railroad. Hence, the
Butte
, Anaconda and Pacific
Railway was created.
In 1912, the B.A.&P. was the first railroad in the nation to
electrify at 2400 volts. This came at a
time when
electrification was big news in the railroad
industry. This
was one of the first steps toward the steam
engine
becoming obsolete in the railroad industry.
In
addition, the B.A. & P played a significant role in the mining
and smelting legacy of the
Butte
and Anaconda area. Not only
did the Anaconda Company
depend on the rail transportation
between the mines and
smelter, the citizens of both
communities used the
railroad as a primary means of
transportation
For
close to 100 years, the B.A.&P. provided the smelter
and copper mines cost
effective railroad transportation.
The railroad operated seven
days a week, 24 hours a
day. It was commonly
referred to as "The Biggest Little
Railroad in the World".
During the time of electrification,
around 1912, the railroad
was moving about 30,000 tons
per day, or about 600
carloads.
With
the closure of the Anaconda Company (then owned
by Altantic Richrfield
Company) in the early 1980's, the
company faced what to do
with the railroad. In 1985, in
conjunction with the closure
of the smelter, the railroad
was privatized and become
Rarus Railway Company.
Rarus has continued to
provide freight services to the
area in addition to
preserving historic structures, such as
the 20 stall roundhouse
built in the early 1900's
In
2006, Rarus will be launching the inaugural season of the
Copper King Express. The
passenger cars have been
refurbished and will offer a
historical narrative of our area's
many attractions. The
excursion train will operate a 52 mile
round trip through scenic
Durant
Canyon
and near many historic
points of interest.
-from Monica E. Hawley, Historian, 1984
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