There were several railroads to operate in the area from the years 1894-1950s?, the Great Northern and evidence of spur lines exist.
The Great Northern Railroad built its Empire Builder transcontinental line through Marion in 1894. Passenger and cargo service was provided. The railway had several impressive bridges and trellises in the area, notably the Ashley Creek bridge, Little Bitterroot Creek bridge (Herrod Creek) and a large tressle just east of Haskell pass.
Haskell pass was quite impressive as well. A 1/4 mile long tunnel through the top of a mountain was built using massive man-power and lots of black powder. The pass's west exit spills out into the glorious valley of Pleasant Valley.
I've found some old maps of the GNR through Montana and the Flathead.
Links I've found while investigating the GNR
Paul Flaherty explores Haskell Pass part 1
In the winter of 1891, Charles Haskell set out to locate a route for the Great Northern Railway between Kalispell and the Kootenai River. Ranging as far north as the Canadian Border, the Haskell Party eventually returned to Kalispell in early spring, having crossed a low notch in the Salish Mountains on the return trip. Haskell delivered his report to James Hill, and the following year, construction was begun on what was to be the first of three Great Northern lines through the Salish. Completed in 1892, the Haskell Pass line ran from Kalispell to Marion, then alongside Little Bitterroot lake, looping up on a high trestle over Herrig Creek, then through a 1425 foot long tunnel, emerging high on the mountains above Pleasant Valley. Gently descending to the valley floor, the line then turned north along Island Creek, then west down Wolf Creek, to the Fisher River, and then north to the Kootenai River Valley.
Just ten years later, however, this line was abandoned in favor of a line which bypassed Kalispell and was 20 miles longer, a decision which still invokes a high degree of controversy. Eventually, however, this line would also perish under the Libby Dam reservoir in 1970, with the third and final rerouting constructed by the US Army Corps of Engineers, including the 7 mile long Flathead Tunnel. Inronically, the present day route through the Salish uses the same Wolf Creek - Fisher River route as the original! In late 2001 I started a project to relocate what was left of the orignial line. Railroads which have been abandoned a century ago present a particular challenge, since records are inexact (if they exist at all) and a century of exposure to the harsh Montana weather will usually wipe out any mere creation of man. However, with a bunch of clues and a decent GPS receiver (Garmin eTrex Vista), I set out over Memorial Day 2002 to find what was left of the Haskell Pass Line."
Montana RailRoad History
Rails To Trails of NW Montana
Spur line found south east of Marion (5/26/08 8:00 a.m.)
I have found evidence of a railroad spur line on property that adjoins my property. A somewhat crude bed with countless railroad ties littered off the side is evident for a few miles. What is this spur line? I have read snippets of information about the Great Northern building a spur line towards Hubbart Reservoir to harvest the virgin forests that lie south-west of Marion. Did they?
This property was once owned by Mr. Norm Hanson of Sickler Creek residency, I hope to ask Mr. Hanson if he knows the details about this abandoned railbed.
I went railroad hunting this afternoon and what a discovery! Not only did I confirm the existence of a railroad spur running near my property, I followed it nearly into Marion. Proceeding north from my place, I quickly found where the grade crossed US highway 2 very close to where the Little Bitterroot River colverts underneath the asphalt. A Plum Creek road takes over the grade at this point until a locked gate is met.
Resuming my search at Bitterroot Drive, I met some folks on Griz Lane that not only knew about the abandoned line, but gave me some great information.
From what they know, the spur was abandoned in 1908, possibly built in 1903-1904. If one watches closely on Bitterroot Drive at the intersection of Lower Lost Prairie Road, the grown over grade sneaks across the road. One can follow it nearly all the way to Marion as the grade parallels Bitterrot Drive as it heads east. Old railroad ties complete with cuts and fills prove the train used to run here.
We do not know how far the spur travels down the Little Bitterroot Valley; that will be another day of venturing down the Red Gate road on ATV or foot. Nor do we know what it was used for although it is highly likely it was for logging the plentiful virgin forest here.
Below are the pictures I took of the grade. Hover over them with your mouse for a caption.