Day 9 - August 6, 2017 - Lewistown, MT to Essex (Glacier National Park), MT

Day 9 - Sunday, August 6, 2017 - Lewistown, MT to Essex (Glacier National Park), MT
Distance: 493km,  Time: 7:00hrs,
Sunny, Hot 30c to 10c
Overnight: Izaak Walton Inn (former Great Northern RR Crew Change Bunk House) (*****) Outstanding - one of the historical inns in the US, not to be missed.

As I mentioned each place I stay or the route taken (if I don't miss the turn) has been designed in detail to include something of interest.  In the case of Lewistown it has one of the longest wooden railroad trestles in the US, and when built served two railroads which were rivals but pooled resources to cross Big Spring Creek.  Also Lewistown is the geographical centre of the state of Montana and it had a rich railroad history as well.

 So here are the details - This was a GN and Milwaukee Road Trestle over Spring Creek, deemed unsafe to support a train, and has been closed for years. It is several miles west of Lewistown MT.

 Check out his link to an interesting article on Lewistown.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Spring_Creek_(Montana)

Big Spring Creek Trestle




























After Lewistown it was time to do some KM's as I am only starting my day and it is now 9am, and I still have some 450km in front of me and some other places to explore.
Like Hobson, MT pride of Judith County.  

ICBM Control - Launch Centre at Stamford, MT right off of US#87 (this is a live site not a museum) 

Next is the Milwaukee Road RR Station in Great Falls, MT (and the temp was up at 30c so it was a hot afternoon).






















At Power, MT at the exit ramp of the I-15 at 7th Road is the J-10 ICBM Silo, yes this is a live site with nuclear armed missile, note other than the radio antenna (2) there is nothing above the ground even the backup generator is below grade, and BTW there are 5 antenna on the site, you only see 2.



The Izzak Walton Lodge will be my base of operations for the next three days, while visiting Glacier National Park and doing the Journey to the Sun Road.
View of the BNSF Yard at Essex, MT on the mainline

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