I'm working on a history of the CMStP&PRR [Milwaukee Road] Trans-Missouri Division. Specifically, the towns and the Milwaukee employees from Mobridge,SD, to Harlowton, MT. Miles City was a big part of the Trans-Missouri. Question: Has someone already compiled a list of all the Milwaukee Road employees in Miles City? If not, I'm willing to do that, "with a little help from my friends". Railroad personnel records are virtually non-existant or in a shambles. Seniority Lists are absolutely wonderful!
Does everyone remember the Milwaukee Road? Can anyone help with this project? Thanks.

My great uncle Art Pembroke worked there for years, but I do not have any dates. They lived right next to the railroad. There are no children in Miles City but I could get you a phone number for his daughter if you need it.

I have the Wilwaukee Service Club records and some of the Brotherhood of Railword Employees records at my office but have never had the time to go through them. Anyone who would like to dig through them is welcome.

The Milwaukee arrived in 1907 and went belly up in 1980. There was a division point here and hundreds of people were employed here. The 1930 movie "Danger Lights" was filmed at the yards here. The roundhouse was demolished in 1957 but parts of the yards still remain and are used by the railcar maintenance folks.

Most of the Brady men in Miles City worked for the Milwaukee RR: Grandfather, Thomas M.; Dad, Joseph A,; uncles Daniel P, and James F. probably from the 1930's thru the late 1960's. Of course, all have passed away, but there is still one member of the Brady family who lives in MC, however, he did not work for the RR.

When my Mom passed away in 2001, she had lots of newspaper clippings, pictures, etc., that we did not want to keep so donated them. The Wool House Gallery, which I understand is no longer in existence, had a room upstairs of the gallery, which was a repository for tons of RR memorabilia. They had Ellen Robert's scrapbooks of practically every mention of the Milwaukee or any of it's employees that ever appeared in the Star. Lots of families like us donated things there. I have no idea who was responsible for that section of the gallery, but would imagine that the former owners would know. It really would be a shame if all of that history has been destroyed.

Don't know if this helps you or not, Les. Since I don't live in MC any more, this is all that I can tell you. I do have a few pictures of employees in the offices there, and a couple of them have names on the back. I could look them up and get some names to you if you wish.

I think all the stuff in the Woolhouse was sold to a collector in Glendive but I'm not sure. It has been gone for some time, though.

Terry Gunther in Billings has a HUGE collection of Milwaukee Railroad things. Here is a link to the story in the Billings Gazette:
http://billingsgazette.net/articles/2006/01/08/magazine/export241324.txt

Hi, Thanks for the information on Art Pembroke. I will search for the dates. Thanks again. Les

Thanks A.A., I would really like to research those records. They might be extremely helpful. I will contact you to make an appointment at your convenience. Thanks again. Les

Thanks Mary Pat Brady Young for the BRADY info. I have checked on the Wool House Collection. Seems that it has been sold, but I will continue to track it down. Thanks again. Les.

Thanks, Kacey, for the information. I will certainly track down the collection in Billings. Thanks again. Les.

My stepdad, Ruel W Taylor was employed by the Milwaukee RR for 46 years. He retired in 1965 and passed away in 1975.

Feel free to contact me if I can be of further help.
[email protected]

The Montana Historical Society (MHS) has quite a few oral history interviews of former Milwaukee Road employees.

If it works, this link should show some of their card catalog entries for the subject header: "Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul, and Pacific Railroad Company Employees."

http://mtscprod.msl.mt.go...+Employees

If the link doesn't work, you can go here and run your own search: And No doubt there are other subjects/searches that might prove of use.

http://mtscprod.msl.mt.go.../60/1180/X
= = = = = = = =

MHS also has archival materials for the Milwaukee such as this:

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Company Records 1933-1942
http://mtscprod.msl.mt.go...17070703/9
Personal Author: Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Company
Physical descrip: 2 linear ft.
Acquisitions source: AC1983-42

Location: Montana Historical Society Research Center 225 N. Roberts, Helena MT 59620(406) 444-2681 [email protected] (SC 1788)
= = = = = = = =

MHS also has archival materials for the Montana Railway Commission (predecessor agency to the Public Service Commission) that might be of use to you as well.

The National Archives might also be a source for personnel records.

"Records of the Railroad Retirement Board" (NARA Record Group 184) (and related record groups) might be worth looking into.
http://www.archives.gov/r...s/184.html

I once saw some employee rosters, employee histories, accident reports, & etc for the Great Northern in some materials from RG 184.

Hi Les. My name is Terry Gunther and I think I can help you with some names of Milwaukee road workers. I have seniority lists for conductors,engineers,etc. and a book from 1920 that lists the men by job classification, by division they worked in, and all by their seniority dates. The dates show which men came out here to work for the railroad when it was first built and brought their dates with them. I think it covers the line from Mobridge to Harlowton. I also have a close retired railroad friend at Miles City who is a walking encyclopedia on the Milwaukee road. Contact me.

Hi Terry,
Yes, it sounds like you have some of the Milwaukee information that I have been looking for. It is estimated that about 3,000 people worked for the Milwaukee on the Trans-Missouri Division. I have brief information on 558 of them. Anything, anything at all, will help on my quest. My dad was Jesse R. Snavley, Agent-Operator on the branch line from Mobridge to Faith, SD. He was also an agent on the North Branch from McLaughlin to New England,ND. And he was an agent on the Main Line in North Dakota. Dad is now 94, and still lives in his own home, although he has a hard time remembering names and dates on the Milwaukee Road. I will contact you further. Thanks again. Les Snavely

I know my grandpa worked on the railroad. His name was William Norton. The Eagles club may have some history on him and others.
When the Milwaukee Railroad sold out the new company layed off a bunch of the men. I don't know what year it was though.:confused

Hi!
Does anybody know the history, how old and the builder is on the Old train Depot by the Cattle Ac???

It was built in 1929 as the third NP depot on that site, abandoned in 1979.