High steel trestles, long curved tunnels and steep rocky embankments could be accidents waiting to happen…

But diligent, hard-working Milwaukee Roaders saw that relatively few wrecks shattered the quiet beauty of the Bitterroots. Occasionally destructive wrecks did occur.

Two steam locomotives collided head on in 1910. In 1919, “Motor Creek” got its name when a Box Cab electric engine derailed beside it.

Derailments became distressingly commonplace along the whole system during the 1970s as the dying company put less and less money into maintenance.

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"Barley Bears"

Imagine encountering a boisterous group of inebriated bears. That was not uncommon after some large grain hopper cars derailed, spilling hundreds of bushels of wheat over the banks near Falcon. The ruined grain eventually fermented and the bears, always in search of an easy meal, ate the intoxicating grain and became either a little too friendly when drunk or really cranky the morning after with a “bear” of a hangover.