Central Montana Rail — Square Butte to Geraldine
MT · Square Butte → Geraldine
Milwaukee Road rails under the big Montana sky.
Heads up: Rated good. Central Montana Rail still owns the line and stores cars on parts of it, so get permission first.
The Milwaukee Road built this line as part of its Northern Montana route to Great Falls. When the Milwaukee pulled out, Central Montana Rail took over the line between Moccasin, where it meets BNSF, and Geraldine, about 84 miles in all.
The railroad has mostly been used to store rail cars and serve a few grain elevators. A 2021 wildfire burned through Denton, destroying the railroad's office, a trestle and miles of track. This northern stretch toward Geraldine runs through empty ranch country with the landmark Square Butte in view.
⚠️ Before you go: every railroad on this map is private property. A line that looks abandoned may still be owned by a railroad, used to store rail cars, or put back into service at any time — sometimes with no warning. Before going near any track, make sure it's truly abandoned (no recent use, rails not polished, no signals or cars stored on it) and that you're allowed to be there. Never assume a track is dead.
📷 Photos & stories from riders
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