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| Welcome to Kalispell Southern Country! Here you can thrill to a mighty Union Pacific Challenger wrestling tonnage over the continental divide, sit back in luxuary on a steam pulled streamliner, or watch modern horsepower in all it's glory. It's all here. Join us! The Kalispell Southern Railroad (KSRR) was purchased in 1981 by multi-billionaire industrialist James Maxwell. Seeing a need for better rail service in Western Montana, James bought the Columbia Falls/ Kalispell Branch from the Burlington Nothern Railroad. In three years freight and passenger traffic on the line saw a dramatic increase. Over next two decades Maxwell eventualy aquired over 350 miles of track. Currently,Kalispell Southern Railroad owns all mainline trackage between Athol, ID and Shelby, MT. The line is currently leased to the BNSF Railroad who oversees the daily frieght operations over the line. The KS encompasses 368 miles, most of it single track with passing sidings. Maximum freight speed is 60MPH, with a top passenger speed of 70MPH. The line has three Divisions and one sub-division: DIV I Kootenai Division Athol, ID-LIbby, MT~112 Miles DIV II Riverside Division LIbby, MT-Whitefish, MT~100 Miles DIV III Marias Division Whitefish, MT-Shelby, MT~152 Miles SUB I Kalispell Division Columbia Falls, MT-Kalispell, MT~14 Miles Divisions also double as crew change and locomotive (Steam) servicingpoints. In addition water stops can be found at Sandpoint, Whitefish, Columbia Falls, Belton, and Essex. Natural resources, heavy industry and argrculture dominate the traffic on the route. It also interchanges with the Union Pacific and Montana Rail Link railroads in Sandpint, ID. The right of way encompasses the fomer tracks of the Great Northern, Union Pacific, and Burlington Nothern Railroads. Recently in a move that stunned rail observers, the KS purchased the trackage rights over the famed Kicking Horse Pass, from Eldon to Field. The Kicking Horse Division is operated by the Canadian Pacific. The KS's own freight operations include 15-25 car interchange traffic from Athol to Sandpont for the MRL, and several 10-15 car point to point locals including Whitefish to Kalispell (WFK/KWF), Sandpoint to Libby (SL/LS), Whitefish to Sandpoint (WFS/SWF) Shelby to Cutbank (SC/CS) and Whitefish to Essex (WE/EW) Two daily 35-45 car "trancons" traverse the entire road from Athol to Shelby (AS/SA) Passenger operations are a major part of the Kalispell Southern. Here are the trains hosted on a regular basis by the KS and it's subsidarys: Empire Limited-Ride aboard the KS Flagship, from Sandpoint to Shelby. A recreation of the famed North Coast Limited, the four dome cars will give you and up and personal look at the Route of the Kalispell Southern. Dominion Pacific-This rail cruise train traveses the famed Kicking Horse Pass and it's maginficant Spiral Tunnels, from Field, Alberta to Eldon, BC. Bask in luxary as you travel back in time, and through some of the finest scenery on earth! City of Kalispell-The only way to travel between Whitefish and Kalispell. Take life at a slower pace and enjoy the scenery. Life is simpler when you leave the driving to us! Local trains service the smaller communites along the route. In addition Train #97 delivers bulk mail and packages throughout the region. When Steam is the Power of the Day! The Kalispell Southern has a very active steam program. With the largest collection of operating steam in the United States at the Pacific Nortwest Railroad Museam, based in Whitefish, it was decided early on that the Kalispell Southern would be be the US leader in the support of mianline steam operations. From the placement of fuel and water along the line, to regularly scheduling steam in the motive power pool, the KS is dedicated to the future of steam power in the Pacific Northwest. In the summer of 2005, the KS unveiiled it's Stetler Steam Shops, located in Athol, ID. This massive complex is a state of the art steam (And diesel) rebuild facility, able to handle even the worlds largest, the PNWRRM's Big Boy #4005 in it's expansive rebuild bays. The many shops on site keep the collection of both the KS and the PNWRRM in exellent running order. This is neccesary as some of the steam in the collection sees bi-weekly or more use, haulng trains both freight and passenger, as they were designed to do, without a diesel in sight. To view the history of the Offical KS Ambassador Engine, 2-6-2 #5473 click HERE Other Historic Equipment owned soley by the Kalispell Southern NP A3 4-8-4 Northern type #2661 C&O K-4 2-8-4 Kanawha type #2716 NKP S2 2-8-4 Berkshire type #765 Kalispell Lumber Company 4-truck Shay #7 1950 Streamliner Set North Coast Limited (F7 A-B-B-A) |