Below are some interesting shots taken by a Robert Thomson at the World Mining Museum in Butte, USA. He has posted these to his sharing account on Flickr, so I am image-linking to them. The photo captions below are all his. I've been through Butte numerous times but never knew this place existed. This place really looks like the Old West.

"Great Western Sugar 0-6-0ST #3. The engine was built in March 1928 by H.K. Porter, builder's number 7059."

GWSZ 0-6-0ST 3 by Robert W. Thomson, on Flickr

Question: So how did a sugar company loco land in Butte?

"Narrow gauge tracks at the Orphan Girl mine in Butte, Montana. Ore cars would go down these tracks to a transload point to the BAP, and the ore would then go to Anaconda and the smelter."

Narrow Gauge Mine Tracks Butte MT by Robert W. Thomson, on Flickr


"An old boxcar of unknown origin now used for storage."

Old Boxcar by Robert W. Thomson, on Flickr

And the best one for last...

"A molten ore car at the World Mining Museum in Butte, Montana on 10 April 2014. The car was used at the smelter in Anaconda."

Molten Ore Car by Robert W. Thomson, on Flickr

The 0-6-0 actually came from the Great Western Sugar refinery in Billings Montana and was moved to Butte somewhere between 1987 and the early 1990's. The stock was broken off in the move. The cab looked that sad when in Billings, with the missing panel either the product of a souvenir hunter (GW was stenciled in big letters there) or an extremely close call with a scrapper.

The engine was tired in Billings, and is likely just as tired now. The center driver (blind) is worn to almost having double flanges!

Michael Seitz
Missoula MT

Michael -

Thanks for the info. Great Western Sugar had a number of 0-4-0T's in service at their various plants, but didn't realize that they also had this 0-6-0T. I wonder if this was the only 0-6-0T on their roster?

Les

I received a friendly note through the back channel encouraging me to post the rest of this photographer's images from the Butte museum. Great idea. Here are Mr. Robert Thomson's other images.

"The former BAP station house from Durant, Montana."

BAP Durant MT Depot by Robert W. Thomson, on Flickr

"This BAP MoW truck was built by Federal and appears to be about a 1916 or 1917 model. It was modified by the railroad and used to maintain the overheard wires after the BAP was electrified in 1916."
BAP Overhead Lines MoW Truck by Robert W. Thomson, on Flickr

"This BAP track speeder was built by Fairmont."

BAP Track Speeder by Robert W. Thomson, on Flickr

"This un-numbered electric mine locomotive was used by the Anaconda Copper Mining Co. at a mine in Butte, Montana."

ANAX Electric Mine Locomotive No # by Robert W. Thomson, on Flickr

"Anaconda Copper 30" gauge 0-4-0ST 122 now on display at the World Museum of Mining in Butte, Montana. The engine was built by Davenport in February 1916 with builder's number 1555. The engine served most of its life at the Anaconda smelter in Great Falls, Montana."

ANAX 0-4-0ST 122 by Robert W. Thomson, on Flickr

"ANAX 0-4-0CA No #
This tiny, narrow gauge 0-4-0CA ran on compressed air. The "boiler" is actually the tank for holding the compressed air. It was used to move ore cars around inside and outside of one of the Anaconda Copper Mining Company's mines. The engine was built by H.K. Porter sometime in the very early 1900s."
ANAX 0-4-0CA No # by Robert W. Thomson, on Flickr

"A narrow gauge ore car at the loader on the headframe of the Orphan Girl mine, at Butte, Montana on 10 April 2014."

Narrow Gauge Ore Car by Robert W. Thomson, on Flickr

"Franco Railroad Contractors DE10 (unknown #) at the World Museum of Mining in Butte, Montana on 10 April 2014. The 10-ton unit was built by Davenport and may have been used originally in dam construction on the Columbia River. Franco Railroad Contractors eventually became part of Harsco Rail."

Franco DE10 Unknown # by Robert W. Thomson, on Flickr

"Anaconda Copper Mining 20DE20 #27 at the World Museum of Mining in Butte, Montana on 10 April 2014. This 20-ton, 150hp unit was built by Whitcomb in February 1951 with serial number 61136. It has an ultra-low profile cab for mine work."

ANAX 20DE20 27 by Robert W. Thomson, on Flickr

Continued...

"BAP 47 & T-1, 'The Cow and The Calf'. BAP boxcab 47 & booster T-1 on display at the Anselmo Mine Yard (a unit of the World Museum of Mining) in Butte, Montana on July 9, 2014. Built in 1914, the booster was semi-permanently mated to the 47 and provided another 4 axles for traction hauling loads up and down the hills of Butte."

BAP 47 & T-1 "The Cow and The Calf" by Robert W. Thomson, on Flickr

"BAP caboose 08 on display at the Anselmo Mine Yard (a unit of the World Museum of Mining) in Butte, Montana on July 9, 2014."

BAP Caboose 08 by Robert W. Thomson, on Flickr

"NSWX 20DE20 25 was built by Whitcomb in 1951 for the Anaconda Copper Mining Company. It was later acquire by the World Museum of Mining and repainted for their short-lived Neversweat & Washoe Railroad tourist line. It is now on display at the Anselmo Mine Yard (a unit of the World Museum of Mining)"

NSWX 20DE20 25 by Robert W. Thomson, on Flickr


The fishbelly boxcar on page one above looks similar to the one in this next shot. From looking online, I believe they are BA&P cars. Very interesting trucks on these cars.

"BAP Boxcab 47. The museum was closed and gates locked, so this was the best shot I could get of Butte, Anaconda and Pacific GE Boxcab #47 (built in December 1914) and a short train on static display in Butte, Montana March 11, 2013."

BAP Boxcab 47 by Robert W. Thomson, on Flickr

"NSWX Motor Car M-10 began life as BAP M-10. In 1980, the motor car was in a junkyard in Bozeman before it was salvaged to become part of the Neversweat & Washoe, a short-lived tourist line operated by the World Museum of Mining. It is now on display at the Anselmo Mine Yard (a unit of the World Museum of Mining) in Butte, Montana on July 9, 2014."

NSWX Motor Car M-10 by Robert W. Thomson, on Flickr


Last of all, two items not at the museum, but on display in Butte.

"This old trolley is on static display at the Berkley Pit Visitor Center and Viewing Platform in Butte, Montana."

Butte Trolley by Robert W. Thomson, on Flickr

Northern Pacific 2-8-0 #25, ALCO (Schenectady) #5129, 1899. (steamlocomotive.com)

"NP 2-8-0 25 on display at the Civic Center in Butte, Montana on 14 April 2014."

NP 2-8-0 25 by Robert W. Thomson, on Flickr