The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1955-12-02
Petitions Ask For Change
In Great Northern Trains

~ OsSo' tNSiIttStu IIdIT1S
Petitions for the restoration of
Great Northern trains Nos. 27
and %, discontinued some time
ago between Williston, North Da-
kota, and Spokane, are being
circulated in Cut Bank and
WhlteflSh, two divisional term
inal points in the affected area,
with requests being made that
other towns along the line join
in the movement in the attempt
to get the railway company to
go back to the old service that
prevailed for many years.
1t is pointed out that many of
the towns along the line where
the change has been made are
obtaining less efficient mail SER
vice, and complaints are made
that the passenger service on
the Western Star are not up to
the high standard maintained
prior to the change of service
which went into effect when the
fast train took over the work
of the mail trains.
On this latter point, it has
been noted that the Western Star
service has been improved re-
Gently, as for time even the
dining car service was elimin-
ated between Williston and Spo-
kane. This service has now been
restored, and other improve
ments in the service made, it is
claimed. But the fact remains
that with the numerous stops
now required to meet the de-
mands of the mail service, a
much slower time is required
for the two tranScontinental
trains.
AS far as Browning is con-
cerned, there may be some dis
advantages, but the change has
also brought certain improve
ments, particularly from the
fact that this station is now a
regular stop for the Western
Star, going both west and east,
and it is now possible to board
that train for any point where
regular stops are made. This
makes it possible to travel both
to and from such points as Kali
spell, Columbia Falls, Whitefish,
and other points between Brown
/ ing and Spokane, to the west,
and Cut Bank and Shelby to the
east, whereas before the change
the train would stop here only
for passengers holding tickets
for Spokane and points west and
south of that city. The mail
service, too, has some advan-
tages, as the early morning edi-
tions of the newspapers from the
larger cities are now available
on the day of publication. and
mail subscribers are not forced
to take the afternoon editions.
dated the same as the regular
morning editions, and generally
called the bull dog edition.
The changed service has now
been in effect several weeks.
and residents who think a
change back to the restoration
OF the two mail trains would be
advantageous, are requested to
sign the petitions, which are
available through the Cut Bank
Chamber of Commerce.
Following is copy of the
heading on the petitions now be-
ing circulated:
I'VE, the undersigned resi-
dents of Cut Bank and Glacier
County, Montana, because of the
great inconvenience caused by
the recent discontinuance of
Great Northern trains No. 81 and
No. %, and the resulting late
ness and irregularity of the ar
rival of mail and express at this
point, because of the discontinue
ance of these trains. Do Hereby
Petition, Mr. John NJ. Budd, as
President of the Great Northern
Railway Company, St Paul,
Mimi, to seriously consider put
ting trains No. 81 and No. %
back into service"