State gives $9,000 to rail excursion

By Vera Haffey - 03/10/2006

The Copper King Express excursion train, shown traveling through Durant Canyon, will make its inaugural run from the old Butte, Anaconda & Pacific Railway yards in Anaconda to Butte on Memorial Day weekend during a Blast from the Past celebration.

Train traveling through Durant Canyon between Butte and Anaconda plans inaugural run in May ANACONDA — A Blast from the Past, a Memorial Day weekend event meant to celebrate the national historic landmarks of Butte, Anaconda and the railroad that connects them, got a $9,000 boost from the state this week.

The weekend of May 27-28 will also mark the inaugural run of the Copper King Express, a Rarus Railway excursion train that will travel between Anaconda and Butte through historic Durant Canyon, visiting points of interest along the way.

“This is a significant opportunity for the community to kick off a tourist season that could make a difference for a good number of years in the future,” Rarus spokesman Tom McCarthy said Thursday.

The Department of Commerce special events grant was awarded for a proposal submitted by the newly formed Anaconda Railroad and Mining Museum and Anaconda Project Facilitators, according to David Webb, event organizer.

“The Blast from the Past will celebrate the special history of this region,” Webb said in a press release.

About half of the money will be used for promotion and advertising in order to draw a large crowd to the first-time event. Part of the budget will also go toward bands, sound systems tents and other attractions.

The weekend will include the grand opening and commemoration of the museum at the old BA&P building, 300 W. Commercial, on Saturday morning.

A brief invitational run for the Copper King Express will take place Saturday, for dignitaries who are invited to the event, McCarthy said. The train’s restored, 1950s-era passenger cars that hold 200 people will have two full runs on Sunday that are open to the public.

Also taking place will be tours of the old Butte, Anaconda and Pacific roundhouse, one of a handful of operating roundhouses in the nation, and a special smelter stack exhibit at Copper Village Museum and Arts Center.

Historic bus tours will run from the Chamber of Commerce office on Park Avenue, and Montana Tech professor Pat Munday of Butte will provide a review of regional history. At the Washoe Theater, Frank Kuntz will entertain with music, and refreshments will be available all weekend.

Webb said the Blast from the Past concept ranked among the top three proposals in a field of about 25 applicants submitted for funding statewide.

Tickets for the Copper King Express are $25 for adults and $17 for senior citizens and students between the ages of six and 18 years. Children under five ride free with a paid ticket.

For ticket information, call Webb 563-5458.