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The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad (known more commonly as the Milwaukee Road) constructed the last transcontinental railroad in the United States, completing it in 1909. In 1914, the railroad electrified the mountainous sections - a surprise move for a rural mainline in the United States.
Avery, Idaho was a division point on the line and was home to one of the power generating substations as well as a locomotive terminal. It was also the western terminus for the easternmost of two electrified sections on the line (the other electrified section ran in Washington State from Othello through the Cascade Range to the Puget Sound). At Avery, eastbound trains stopped to switch locomotives from diesel to electric, and westbound trains vice versa. Locomotives were serviced in the roundhouse, at the sand tower, and turned on the turntable.
Electric operations commenced until 1974 on this section from Avery east to Harlowton, Montana. After 1974, the entire Pacific Extension became diesel power only. The Milwaukee Road went bankrupt in 1980; the Pacific Extension in the West was abandoned and removed. Much of the line, including the section east of Avery, is now a rail trail.
Filmed by Walter A. Martin in the 1970s.
