So, where did I leave off... oh yes, Saturday. Our train ride out to Anaconda (Copperopolis). We arrived about 11am after a 2 hour train ride, which did not seem that long at all... great company on the train and a wonderful guide, Art, on the mic pointing out every detail to both train cars, ( I mean EVERY detail); but I am sorta glad, since I learned a ton about the history of the area. I love this kinda stuff... I know, I know.
And part 2 has taken way longer to get written, since I have been playing with play-doh as I write this. We are making play-doh ice cream and cookies... roll 'em in a ball, roll 'em out flat, put 'em in the board... pretend to eat... all the while learning our colors. :) I love play-doh fun! Now all the colors are mixed together... rainbow play-doh!
The train had to travel through a small valley between some mountains on its way from Butte to Anaconda. In this small valley, there were three (3) railroads that 'paralleled' each other. I believe they were Milwaukee, Burlington and the Northern Pacific... (of course this may get edited), but either way the site of 3 train tracks so close to one another and not in a train yard (where train cars are stored) was quite spectacular. Much of the Milwaukee track had already been removed, but you could easily tell where it was. Once out of the little valley between the mountains and back out into the openness of Montana, the 3 tracks went there own ways.
About Anaconda... the town was established because Butte needed a smelter for all the copper ore that was being mined. (A smelter's use is to produce metal from ore). The one in Anaconda is the largest, freestanding masonry structure, in the world. It is basically a big smoke stack, which can be seen from miles away. The area of Anaconda is also very high in concentration of aresnic.
Once we arrived, most of us went into the 'roundhouse' to view a model train and some other old train relics from the original depot. Dad and I then went out to catch the vistor bus, a vintage 1936 White Bus which took us around historic Anaconda. Our driver was hilarious. Well, to some not at first or at all. He was late getting to the depot, and it was raining. The tours usually ran an hour, however since we were on a time schedule, our tour was supposed to be a quick 20 minutes, to allow as many of the convention people to see the historic areas. We were part of the first group he took, (only 14 people could fit in the bus at once). And away we went, to tour historic Anaconda, with whom I would consider the funniest, most hilarious, historic himself tour guide and driver ever! Our tour did seem a bit longer than the 20 minutes it was supposed to be... more like 40 minutes (oops), was, according to those waiting, in the rain, at the depot for our return, was over an hour and 40 minutes. This left only 30 minutes for one more group before the train was to head back to Butte. All of us on the tour agreed that we could of been out with this tour guide for many hours listening to his stories... not sure of how may were fact or fiction.
On this tour however, in the 1936 White bus, we saw the old red light district, the once rich parts of the now ghost town, where the miners once lived, the yellow house where our driver was literally born in. We saw the Montana Hotel, which was, in its hay day, a four story building, but was sold for a dollar and the new owner tore down the top two stories. He drove us past the smelter (in its new location - it got moved years ago-something to do with the polution it produced blew over the crop land, so they moved it). We also saw up close the Old Works Golf Course. Now this place is pretty 'sweet.' The hillside where the golf course is built is the original location for Anaconda's first copper smelter. This site of used to house 26 smelters, all of which have been removed. Surrounding the golf course are huge piles of black 'slag' which is the result or by-product of the copper smelting process. Instead of sand in the sandtraps, the black 'slag' is used... gotta find someway to use the leftovers. Unfortuantely 'slag' is very dangerous, it is very much like glass and can cut you if you are not careful when handling it. The big black 'slag' hills are quite spectacular however, around the outskirts of the city.
Anaconda is also famous for the arsenic that was produced because of the copper smelters.
Arsenic is in the soil and air becasue of 100 years of the copper smelter billowiung smoke laden with aresenic, lead, and other heavy metals. Though through many years, it has lessened and there is not much of it anymore (in the air, it is still in the soil!). The Anaconda smelter closed in 1980 and in turn the copper prices fell dramatically. And though very deadly, one of the smartest people in the world was born and raised there as is a 103 year old woman... who went bowling on her last birthday. In our tour on the White Bus, we learned that the original church stained windows had to get new moldings and such, since, as chemistry majors can guess, arsenic 'eats' through lead so all the lead that held the stain glass together wore away and had to get redone with new material.
Once back to the depot, we went through the roundhouse model train exhibit and boarded back onto the Copper King Express for lunch and our ride back to Butte. Once back to the hotel, there were vendors selling old train memorabilia, and an auction taking place. Then it was 'dress for dinner', more speakers, and the closing keynote speaker.
The next morning, we went to breakfast at 7:30, checked out and drove around Butte in our rental. Dad really REALLY wanted to visit the Mining Museum, so off we went... That will be part 3---
PS... I am beginning to think I am just as long winded as some of those rail road guys... Oh wait, it is in the genes... :)
Directly across the tracks is the former Northern Pacific (NP) Depot (pictured below).
Below are photos of the Milwaukee Electric train - The E70. Also photos of the last golden spike.
Reinactment of driving the last Milwuakee Spike.
Bob, Dad, and Al
Friday - Tour of Butte, MT.
The original Butte Depot... now the channel 4 news station in Butte. This was the original Milaukee Road Depot. If you look on the tower, you can see the blue square with the TV call letters on it.. under it is the original sign on the building: Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul RY - 1920
The platform side of the depot where people wait to board the train, now houses all the satelite dishes for the station.
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View of Butte - to the right is the Berkley Pit, you can almost see the open mining area.
Helping Daddy with moving dirt using her pink wheelbarrow and shovel.
Snack time in the kitchen... she insisted that she have her jello and crackers on her step stool.
She also insists on locking the door... and has become quite successful at it.
Kissy Face
Her GREEN period
Soaking from playing in the sprinklers on a beautiful spring day.
Play date!!
The new famous 'daddy-do' hair-do!