Pictures

Hi-Line: Blackfoot to Havre

Glacier Park, MT, is the dviding point between the woody Rocky Mountains area and the vast Montana high plains. The second G.N. subdivision modeled in this route, from Blackfoot to Havre, is thus marked by endless open lands, lots of huge farms, and a rough and arid climate. The terrain is mostly gently rolling, but grades can still reach 1% in some places.

The Hi-Line sub is all about mainline running. The part between Cut Bank and Shelby is mostly double track main, allowing a fast ride on your train. All the way from Shelby to Havre is a very busy single track main with lots of passing sidings. Running here usually means several delays in the hole, unless you were lucky and got a high priority train. The Hi-Line sub does not have any branch lines! The line to Sweet Grass is part of the Sweet Grass - Great Falls sub.

There are three major towns on this part of the route: Havre, MT, is the most remarkable one, at least in railroading terms. It is the division points between G.N.'s "Lines East" and "Lines West". In the earlier days, all trains changed their locomotive here, preparing for the hilly ascent to Marias Pass. Being junction of the Hi-Line and the line to Great Falls, Havre also has fairly sized yard, reefer icing docks, and some industries. Lots of opportunities for you here! The other two interesting towns are Cut Bank and Shelby. Cut Bank grew rich on its oil fields, thus you will find some switching work there and at the Union Oil refinery nearby. Shelby, then, is a major connection point to Canada (CPR) via Sweet Grass and also connects the Sweet Grass - Great Falls line with its numerous branches to the Pacific Northwest.

Please note: this part of the route is still under major construction. You will be able to run the entire line, but lots of scenery is still missing.

Thumbnailed Gallery

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Havre, MT
Cut Bank, MT

Havre, MT
Havre, Mt. View of the station, a custom built model. Havre, Mt. View from road bridge onto engine facilities, ice plant, gas tanks, and elevators.	Havre, Mt. View over the yard towards Milk River. Havre, Mt. View of the yard.
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Cut Bank, Mt. View into the station, the yard and elevators are in the background. Cut Bank, Mt. Close-up view of the platform. Many of the people are animated and walk around!	Union Oil Refinery some miles east of Cut Bank.

(Please note: All pictures shown on this site are resized screenshots from the route in Microsoft Train Simulator. All you can see here will be in the route you can eventually download!)

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