With Montana Rail Link getting ready to depart for Fallen Flag heaven, here's a photo that might generate some interest. In observance of Montana's centennial, this is High Iron Travel's Explorers III chartered train returning to Missoula after a trip down the now-out-of-service Bitter Root Branch to Darby. The photo was taken on July 01, 1989 and the train was into its second day of operation after having originated in Spokane the previous day. The train traveled over the ex-NP branch lines to Polson and Darby then went to Livingston by way of Helena (the Butte Line over Homestake Pass was out-of-service, and continues to be). We then backtracked to Helena Jct. and took the BN over the now-out-of-service ex-GN line to Great Falls. We then made a round-trip to Fort Benton and then made a round-trip to the Canadian border at Sweet Grass. Then we ran from Great Falls to Mossmain on ex-GN track and worked our way through Laurel on ex-NP track and down to Cody, WY on ex-CB&Q track. Then we backtracked through Laurel, and traveled through Billings on the ex-NP to Terry, where we switched to the Milwaukee and ran on that all the way to Appleton, MN where we switched back to ex-GN track via Benson and Willmar, to Minneapolis. Then we made a side trip to Amery, WI by using the Minnesota Transfer, Soo Line and Wisconsin Central railroads. Then we ran from Withrow, MN to Forest Park, IL on the Wisconsin Central railroad (ex-SOO Line) via Stevens Point. Lastly, we took the B&OCT for nine miles from Forest Park to Union Ave. in Chicago and then one mile of ex-CB&Q track to get us into Chicago Union Station where, sadly, the 10-day trip came to an end.