7idea Productions takes you on a winter journey
through Marias Pass! This spectacular mountain railroad skirts the
southern boundary of Glacier National Park in Montana.
From Whitefish, travel east on BNSF’s Hi Line
Subdivision as trains traverse the icy canyons along the Flathead River.
Visit the iconic Izaak Walton Inn and maintenance of way yard at Essex.
This is the base where snow fighting equipment is kept on hand for the
annual war against snow. We will see spreaders and vintage Great
Northern snow dozers at work keeping the line clear.
Avalanches are a constant hazard and we will
take you into the heart of the snow shed district, from both trackside
and the air, as trains battle the 1.8% climb to the Continental Divide.
Unit grain, crude oil, intermodal, and several mixed manifest trains ply
the rails daily, along with Amtrak’s Empire Builder.
Watch trains crest the top of the pass while
gale force winds whip up the snow. On the east side, forests give way to
open prairies as trains pass the classic GN station at Glacier Park and
on to Spotted Robe. This is the perfect combination of big trains and
beautiful mountain scenery in winter! Bundle up for Winter on Marias
Pass!
