The Bismarck, Washburn and Great Falls Railway (BW&GF) was a railroad that was organized in North Dakota on May 12, 1899. Its offices were located in Bismarck, North Dakota.

History

The BW&GF started as the Bismarck, Washburn & Fort Buford Railroad in 1889 by General

William D. Washburn William Drew "W.D." Washburn, Sr. (January 14, 1831 – July 29, 1912) was an American politician. He served in both the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate as a Republican from Minnesota. Three of his seven b ...

, a U.S. Senator and Surveyor-General from Minnesota. He was the main owner of the Washburn-Crosby Flour Mills. By 1903, the railroad ran from Bismarck to Washburn, a distance of 44.81 miles. In 1904, the road was extended to Underwood. The railroad primarily carried passengers, mail, coal, and grain. It also included a steamboat operation. In 1903, the railroad owned 3 steam engines, 2 passenger cars, 34 freight cars, and 1 caboose. In 1901, the BW&GF was one of the first US railroads to roster the Mikado 2-8-2 steam engine design. The railroad was purchased by the

Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway The Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad (MStP&SSM) was a Class I railroad subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway in the Midwestern United States. Commonly known since its opening in 1884 as the Soo Line after the phonetic s ...

in 1904.

References

Defunct North Dakota railroads Railway companies established in 1899 Railway companies disestablished in 1904 Railway lines opened in 1899 1899 establishments in North Dakota American companies disestablished in 1904 {{NorthDakota-transport-stub