The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-04-07
BISMARCK WAS END
OF RAILROAD During
DEPRESSION OF '7OS
Rails Reached Capital City,
Then Known as Edwin
ton, June 3, 1873
BRIDGE DIFFICULT PROBLEM
River Ice Used for Road Bed
Here; Considered Big
Engineering Feat

When an deliberately decorated pas
senger train steamed into Bismarck
Sept. 5, 1883, it signalized two out
standing achievements for the Cap
ttal City of North Dakota.
That historic train for the first
time made Bismarck an important
station on the first northern trans
continental railway system. 1t was
the train en- route to Gold Creek,
Mont. in the Hell Gate canyon, where
Sept. 9th the last spike was driven
uniting the rails for through service.
The train continued on to Portland;
and thereafter the Northern Pacific
line was open for service from the
Mississippi Valley and Great Lakes
on the east to the North Pacific area
on the west.
The inaugural train bore into Bis
marck on that memorable day distin-
guished political and industrial lead
ers representative of this and foreign
countries. Headed by Henry Willard,
then president of the Northern Pa
cific. this illustrious party remained
In Bismarck several hours and 1t Is
significant now in connection with
the completion Of North Dakota's
magnificent capitol building that on
Sept. S, 1883, the world-famous dele
CATION paused to participate in the
laying OF the cornerstone for the new
capitol then being constructed at Bis
marck.
Was Rig on Wheels
The first train. although regarded
as q palatial passenger transporta-
ton unit by the North Dakota persons
who viewed It In that day, was q
crude rig on wheels when consid-
cred in the light Of the present. day
premier train Of the Northern Pacific
the North Coast Limited, which
serves Bismarck.
The passenger train Of 1883, the
proud boast of the nations expert
equipment builders. was drawn by
comparatively small, diamond-stack
locomotive supporting a cow catcher
Of large proportions. The cars were
built Of wood. Hand brakes were In
use. vestibules still were creation
Of tomorrow. But Bismarck shared
In the pride Of the officers OF this
young railroad.
For II years. Bismarck and the
Northern Pacific territory received
what in that day was modern trans
portation service, with local trains in
operation. But "a years ago, the
Northern Pacific. always abreast OF
the times, inaugurated the first North
Coast Limited, de luxe through
train. Three times since then this
train, which now operates between
Chicago and Seattle, Portland and
Tacoma, has been completely mod
ernized. The North Coast Limited OF
today Is Americas newest develop
ment for rail passenger travel. It is
declared to out-mode all modern pas
Senger trains. It represents an in
vestment of more than 100000 and
the North Coast Limited service re-
quires fleet Of seven trains. Nc
man on Sept. 5, 1883, when he greeted
the Willard special at Bismarck
could have foreseen the revolutionary
changes the future years held fol
modern passenger train construction
Bismarck for six years held the dis
tinction Of being the western ter
minus OF the Northern Pacific.
Gained Prominent Place
From the time the tracks were laid
into the town until construction wa
resumed westward, Bismarck gained
a prominent place in the transporta.
ton picture of America, which it ha.
retained to this day.
The railroads tracks reached Bis
marck June 3, 1873. At that time the
town bore the name Of "Edwinton.
which was changed to Bismarck or
July II, 1873.
A depression which swept the coun