White River Junction Wrote:
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> Thanks PDX. Very interesting.
>
> The Great Northern station shown in this
> collection is not the structure shown in the
> video. At least to my eye it looks very different.
> I'm guessing GN abandoned old depot for something
> smaller and cheaper to maintain in the later
> years.
>
> The NP depot is referred to as "Union Station" and
> says that UP and NP used the station. I never knew
> UP was in Helena. Perhaps trackage rights over GN
> from Butte?

The GN did have a large brick station near downtown that was at the tail end of a wye. The building was torn down and replaced by a newer brick building that housed the Montana Chamber of Commerce. I assume GN preferred the smaller wooden depot (that later became a laundry) since it eliminated the back up move and would suffice to handle the RDC passenger load.

The UP never did have operate to Helena but there was a plan afoot to run over the NP from Garrison to Helena and that may be where the Union Depot name originated. The UP owned, and still does, the line from Silver Bow to Garrison. It was leased to the NP for 999 years. It was originally narrow gauge built but by the Utah Northern. The plan was to place a third rail on the NP track to Helena for UP access. Instead the UP leased it to the NP and it was standard gauged. I understand the GN had an earlier depot before the downtown brick one that is now used as a home. It does look like it could have been a depot so I suppose this is true although not verified by me. It's about 2 blocks east (GN west) of the one shown in the video.