History of the Railroad
The Butte, Anaconda and Pacific Railroad was incorporated in 1892.
 The Copper King, Marcus Daly, owned the mines in Butte and the
smelting facility in Anaconda.  With the mines and smelter
separated by 30 miles, Mr. Daly determined that he could build a
railroad that would provide more economic freight than the existing
Montana Union Railroad.   Hence, the Butte, Anaconda and Pacific
Railway was created.
In 1912, the B.A.&P. was the first railroad in the nation to
electrify at 2400 volts.  This came at a time when
electrification was big news in the railroad industry.  This
was one of the first steps toward the steam engine
becoming obsolete in the railroad industry.
In addition, the B.A. & P played a significant role in the mining
and smelting legacy of the Butte and Anaconda area.  Not only
did the Anaconda Company depend on the rail transportation
between the mines and smelter, the citizens of both
communities used the railroad as a primary means of
transportation.
For close to 100 years, the B.A.&P. provided the smelter
and copper mines cost effective railroad transportation.  
The railroad operated seven days a week, 24 hours a
day.  It was commonly referred to as "The Biggest Little
Railroad in the World".  During the time of electrification,
around 1912, the railroad was moving about 30,000 tons
per day, or about 600 carloads.
With the closure of the Anaconda Company (then owned
by Altantic Richrfield Company) in the early 1980's, the
company faced what to do with the railroad.  In 1985, in
conjunction with the closure of the smelter, the railroad
was privatized and become Rarus Railway Company.  
Rarus has continued to provide freight services to the
area in addition to preserving historic structures, such as
the 20 stall roundhouse built in the early 1900's.

In 2006, Rarus launched the inaugural season of the Copper King
Express.  The passenger cars have been refurbished and will offer a
historical narrative of our area's many attractions.  The excursion
train will operate an appoximately 42 mile round trip through scenic
Durant Canyon and near many historic points of interest.