2009 - CleElum WA (tentative)

Conventions are held at locations once served by the former CM&PS or CM&StP/CMStP&P/MILW's "Lines West" that have accommodations suitable to hold 50 - 70 attendees (with rooms for displays, slides, movies and video shows, etc.), and are within 2 hours (more-or-less) drive of airports served by major carriers. Meets are now normally scheduled for the 2nd weekend in August and are held west of the Montana/Idaho border in "odd" numbered years or east of same in "even" numbered years.

Previous Meets:

Note to Members: We would like to get photos from all previous Annual Meets for posting in this section. If you have some you would like to share send them to the Dispatch Editor listed on the "Contact Us" page of this site. If you have them in digital form then email them. If not, consider mailing them to the Editor for scanning. They will be returned to you.

2008 - Butte MT. Another good turnout of 30+ persons, even with gas prices over $4.00 per gallon. We had slide presentations and table exhibits. Our Saturday event was to travel to Anaconda MT where we first were given a tour of the former BA&P roundhouse. This roundhouse and other related facilities have been in constant service for over 100 years. It is on the National Historic Register. The railroad is still active with various types of freight, but it also hosts the Copper King Express. The CKE is a tourist operation that runs from Anaconda to alternate locations near Butte, over the former BA&P through Durant Canyon. The unique aspect of the canyon is it is quite narrow, yet once hosted three railroads and a river. The former Milwaukee is now a drivable road, but the BA&P and BNSF (former NP), are still in use. The east end of Durant Canyon is where the BA&P crosses over the other two lines, a favorite photo spot on the Milwaukee. Our ride went as only as far as Ramsey west of Butte, and after running the locomotive around the train, back to Anaconda. We had arranged for box lunches on the train for an added treat.

2007 - Worley ID. We had a good turnout once again. We met at the Coeur d'Alene Casino. We had the usual slide presentations and other exhibits. A special treat was a presentation by an official of the St. Maries River RR (STMA) on the rebuilding of the Benewah lake pile trestle. In April 2006 the west end of the trestle collapsed underneath a crane, which went into the lake. Whether or not the trestle would be repaired was in question for many months, but in the end, STMA owner Potlatch Corporation did elect to rebuild the trestle. The collapsed section was replaced with steel pilings and concrete beams and other structural parts. The presentation gave many unique photos and other details about the difficulties encountered in the rebuild. The line had resumed running trains between St. Maries and Plummer shortly before our meet. On Saturday we had our bus tour which covered most aspects of the former WI&M Ry., including a tour of the Potlatch depot. Construction of a new foundation for the depot had just begun. The depot is now owned by the WI&M Historical Society and they are hoping for an eventual complete restoration of this unique two-story depot. We ended the tour with a visit to the STMA at St. Maries. For some photos from our tour click HERE.

2006 - Bozeman MT. We began Thursday evening with a program of slides. A preview of Friday's tour was presented. On Friday we toured much of the former Gallatin Valley RR which was long ago incorporated into the Milwaukee. The GV was one of the first electrified railways in Montana, but it had become non-electrified by the time the Milwaukee got it. A few buildings from the early days are still standing, including the former substation at Bozeman Hot Springs. The highlight of the day was lunch at, and a tour of the Gallatin Gateway Inn located at what was once the end of the south leg of the branch. Check out the pictures shown on our Day Two page (link below). Friday evening was our annual business meeting and then a slide show by former substation operator Al Peterson of Whitehall MT. Al worked in many of the Rocky Mountain Division substations in his career, and finished up at Piedmont. On Saturday it was back on the bus for our tour of the Menard branch. See pictures on our Day Three page (link below). Saturday evening was our dinner and  then a panel discussion with four former employees. Their comments proved quite insightful into the railroad as they saw it. Even though our attendance was light, those attending had a good time as usual. Click DAY TWO for Friday pictures. Click DAY THREE for Saturday pictures.

2005 - Chehalis WA. We began Thursday evening with programs at the Kit Carson restaurant banquet room. The evening program began with Russ Holter discussing his forthcoming book on the Tacoma & Eastern. A preview of the Friday bus tour to Raymond WA was given. The remainder of the evening was members showing slides. Friday was our bus tour of the former Raymond Branch from Chehalis to Raymond with stops at numerous points of interest, and short segments of running on the former Milwaukee grade, Box lunches were served at the park in Raymond, the former site of the Milwaukee yard. On the return trip we met the Chehalis-Centralia railroad at Ruth and rode behind steam back to Chehalis. We began the evening program with the Annual Business meeting. A preview of Saturday's bus tour was given. The remainder of the evening was slides and other presentations. Saturday's tour was on the Mt. Ranier Scenic Railway, Elbe to Mineral, plus a yard tour. On the return trip we stopped at the lewis County Historical Museum in Chehalis, the former NP depot. After our banquet and featured speaker we had our raffle drawing and  additional slide presentations. The raffle was something new for us and went over well so will likely be repeated at future meets if we get donated items to raffle. The main raffle item was a five-foot wide Milwaukee system map from 1951. Click HERE to see photos from the 2005 meet.

2004 - Great Falls, MT  We had bus tours of the former "Falls Yard" area, the former Milwaukee depot (beautifully restored into an office building), out to the Red Coulee area of the former Northern Montana Line, and to Choteau MT and Agawam MT, the end of the former Northern Montana Line. We had a presentation covering some of the business aspects of operations in Great Falls by Duane Olson, former Chief Freight Clerk. We had several other good slide presentations by various members and guests. Click HERE to see photos from the 2004 meet.

2003 - Moses Lake, WA  One bus tour included of parts of the former Moses Lake branch, the former Warden WA depot and then we followed the former railroad east (as best we could by roads), ending at Rosalia WA for lunch. We also took a detour to the west side of Rock Lake where on can still see the grade and trestles across the lake. The other bus tour took us to the former shop and yard area in Othello WA, west to Beverley WA,  back to the Taunton substation, and then to the "Old Hotel" gallery where two former Milwaukee ribside cabooses are displayed and being restored for museum and office space. We also had a tour of a large "O" scale layout in Moses Lake, along with the usual slide presentations. Click HERE to see photos from the 2003 meet.

2002 - Lewistown, MT. We chartered the  "Charlie Russell Chew Choo" dinner train (without dinner) for a round trip ride from Kingston MT to Denton MT. The train cars, former Budd RDC's, are owned by the Lewistown Chamber of Commerce. The train is operated by and over the Central Montana Ry. We also had bus tours covering the extremities of the Northern Montana lines to Winnett MT, Roy MT and Winifred MT. Numerous slide presentations and discussions. Click HERE to see photos from the 2002 meet.

2001 - Bellingham, WA. We had bus tours of the Sumas Sub and the Olympic Peninsula and had a number of great presentations and other activities. This was the first meet at which we began showing slides and movies on a digital projector, as well as a regular slide projector. Click HERE to see photos from the 2001 meet.

2000 - Missoula, MT. Year of the forest fires in the Missoula area. First day's tour included Fort Missoula with the old Drummond MT depot, the Missoula depot, then on to Bonner MT and the substation at Ravenna MT as well as the substation at Primrose MT. In the evening we had our banquet along with some excellent presentations. Day two tour consisted of traveling to Alberton MT, then on to Superior MT and East Portal MT and the Dominion Creek trestle. During this meet some excellent models were shown in HO by Keith Fink and Rocky Gibbs as well as an N Scale layout by Ed Lynch. Due to the forest fires south of Missoula we were unable to tour a large HO scale layout in Hamilton MT.

1999 - Ellensburg, WA. Washington State Parks report on the "Iron Horse Trail", repair of the Hull Creek and other trestles update. We had an update on the status of the former grade through the Yakima Firing Center grounds. We viewed of a draft version of Bill Walker's video of life along the track in the Cedar Falls WA area. Numerous slide presentations by Larry Petroski, Kirk Petty and Art Jacobson. Bus tour East to Doris WA. An audio/visual presentation by Prof. Don Hunter who then had to give a repeat encore showing because it was so good. Bus tour west to Cle Elum WA (Iron Horse Inn) and Easton WA. Bob Shanklin (former B&B gang Foreman) gave running commentary and we ended up with a flat tire on our tour bus. BBQ dinner, western style. A slide show by Jack Barger, (ex substation operator at several substations on the Rocky Mountain Division, finally ending his Milwaukee career at East Portal MT) and life in winter (and summer) at East Portal, very informative. Click HERE to see photos from the 1999 meet.

1998 - Butte, MT. Bus tour of Anaconda MT (ex BAP now Rarus) and then Pipestone Pass, Vendome Loop and Piedmont. The Meet also featured a look at the site of the original BA&P-CM&PS/CM&StP-MC/GN depot, as well as tours of both KXLF (ex-BA&P-CM&StP/CMStP&P's 2nd depot) and the Silver Bow Fire Training Center (ex-MILW "new" depot). Drove along RARW's ex-BA&P main line from Rocker to Ramsay during the "Tour of Anaconda" which included the former's shops area. The "Pipestone Pass" portion featured a look at the Basin Creek "loop" South of Newcomb MT, the substation #6 site at Janney MT, Blacktail Viaduct (bridge #CC-348 on west end of old Penfield), as well as Pipestone tunnel (#11) on the west end of Donald MT. There was also a trip up to the "Speculator" memorial overlook where that isolated piece of CM&StP/CMStP&P's track (reached over the BA&P from Rocker) once served the "Black Rock" mine, and the "Anselmo" mineyard (its "headframe" was originally the "Black Rock's") with the ex-BA&P boxmotor and yardslug "trailer" ("cow & calf"), caboose, and #M-10 (line-inspection "motor"). Click HERE to see photos from the 1998 meet.

1997 - Spokane, WA. 10^th Anniversary Convention. Tour of the Adair Loop with a big modern tour bus. This raised the level of our conventions. We drove the entire length on the old R-o-W from Avery ID to Roland ID and return via Wallace ID, the first revenue traffic on this section since the Milwaukee Road shut down. It was also the first 3 day convention. Actually, the 1997 MEET included a bit of retracing the 1988 event's route from Worley ID to Plummer ID & St. Maries ID before heading up the "shadowy St. Joe" River Valley past St. Joe ID and Calder ID. The road is now on the former CM&PS/CM&StP/CMStP&P/MILW's main-line grade from east of Marble Creek to Avery ID (M/P's 1784.6 - 1773 by Prof. Stan Johnson's MILW in Idaho guidebook). Click HERE to see photos from the 1997 meet.

1996 - Three Forks, MT. Bus tours to the east to Logan MT and Manhattan MT before terminating where the former GV/CM&StP/CMStP&P/MILW line crossed the ex-CCRy's NP/BN branch SSE-of the latter. This was followed by a trip westbound through Jefferson Canyon from Sappington (site where former CM&PS/CM&StP/CMStP&P/MILW's main-line grade crossed the ex-NP/BN's "secondary" main from Logan MT to Butte, now MRL's 5th"sub." to Whitehall) to Jefferson Island (longest station-name on former "Lines West"). At Three Forks also is located the ribside caboose (#991847). Also, some attendees "poked-about" the antique shop (ex-CM&PS/CM&StP/CMStP&P/MILW "class A" depot) in Three Forks.

1995 - Tukwila, WA. A bus tour to Black River Jct., substation #27's building at Renton WA, a drive along Airport Way (Van Asselt Yard site, Argo Jct.) and up the former CM&PS/CM&StP/CMStP&P/MILW & O-WR&N/UP's "passenger" line to "Union Depot" (sic). Return trip included a look at both the old CM&PS/CM&StP/CMStP&P/MILW freight house and remains of pier #26, the former CM&StP/CMStP&P/MILW barge terminal site.

1994 - Deer Lodge, MT. Centered around the re-dedication of E-70 in which MilWest had a big hand. The Meet also included tours of the former CM&PS/CM&StP/CMStP&P/MILW's "class A" depot (converted to a church in 1982), a short section of the former main line track on the North side of town at the Grant Kohrs Ranch NHS) on which stands an ex CMStP&P/MILW 40' stock car and a BA&P boxcar, and the ex- CM&PS/CM&StP/CMStP&P/MILW's shop buildings on the town's west side.

1993 - Cle Elum, WA. The 1993 MEET in Cle Elum included a look inside substation #24's building plus the former crew bunkhouse there, followed by a short walk over the ex CM&PS/CM&StP/CMStP&P/MILW's main line grade from Hyak back to the two snowsheds (which were removed a month later) westerly of the old Keechelus station-site (which included a "peek" at the remains of the CM&PS/CM&StP's original 2.2% grade ascending w/b from the latter). This has been the largest-attended MEET to-date with over 80 registered participants.

1992 - Miles City, MT. The Miles City Meet featured tours of the former CM&PS/CM&StP/CMStP&P's passenger depot and (what was then) Trancisco's ex CM&PS/CM&StP/CMStP&P shops. There was also an (informal) "caravan" on the ex CM&PS/CM&StP/CMStP&P/MILW's main line grade from Tusler to Kinsey on the county road built over the Yellowstone River bridge (#AA-478).

1991 - Newport, WA. This meet had a tour of both POVA's shop between Usk and Cusick, and a look in the Pend Oreille County museum (former I&WN/CM&StP/CMStP&P/MILW Newport depot). This was on Labor Day weekend, and POVA was running excursions over their ex I&WN/CM&StP/CMStP&P/MILW line between Ione WA and the Vail tunnel (crossing bridge #WN98 above the Pend Oreille River & Box Canyon Dam), which several meet participants rode.

1990 - Tenino, WA. The 1990 MEET in Tenino included a tour of the former CWR's shop at Western Jct., and several attendees drove over to Elbe WA to ride the MRSR down to Centralia WA (C&C was operating then). MRSR's line was originally an extension of the TE, while that Centralia outfit's was built as the PS&WH main, both later became former CM&StP/CMStP&P/MILW lines.

1989 - Harlowton, MT. The meet included a look inside the old roundhouse there, and the (school) bus ride with stops at Loweth MT (substation #2 building), Ringling MT ("class A" depot), as well as a trip westbound down the ex-CM&PS/CM&StP/CMStP&P/MILW's main line grade from Ringling to the West end of Eagle Nest tunnel (#4).

1988 - Spokane, WA. The 1988 MEET included a "caravan" tour out to the site of Spokane tower (east side of town where the former joint CM&StP/CMStP&P/MILW+OR&N/O-WR&N/UP and NP/BN lines crossed), up "Mica Hill" then along the UP's former I&W/CM&StP/CMStP&P/MILW line to Plummer Jct., and following the STMA's ex-CM&PS/CM&StP/CMStP&P/MILW main into St. Maries ID. The STMA opened their office (ex-CM&PS/CM&StP/CMStP&P/MILW "class A" depot), and 3-stall enginehouse. STMA's RF of E/Trainmaster even rolled out their set of ex-MILW GP-9's from the latter into a beautiful fall day (this was in mid October). Afterwards, tour participants "poked-about" the yard, some headed to Avery ID, others ventured westerly to Malden WA before returning to Spokane.

1987 - Spokane, WA. Original founding convention and MilWest officially organized, held in October. Had slides shown by several people.

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