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Marias Pass (Whitefish to Cut Bank)

Marias Pass is a beautiful high mountain pass located in Montana. It is located just south of Glacier National Park and services dozens of trains a day. It is owned by BNSF but the Amtrak Empire Builder frequents the route.

I’ve never been to Montana before, but Marias Pass is still extremely important to me. It was one of the first routes I ever played on Trainz 2006. Years later, I purchased the route on Train Simulator. I have hundreds of hours dedicated to running the Empire Builder through the route, from Shelby to Whitefish. I’m also an avid hiker and find the general terrain of the area fascinating.

This layout runs from Whitefish to Cut Bank. It also extends south to the town of Evergreen too. There are two full loops for trains to run on.

I’ll start my explanation of where each town is at Whitefish. It starts directly behind the two asset shelves and next to the pause menu. It includes a train yard and a station. Up the track there is a river and an airstrip. Once you pass the river you’ll come up on a mill and a junction. If you head straight, you’ll end up on the pass. If you turn, you’ll head toward the mines located in Evergreen. If heading to Evergreen, the track loops back to Whitefish.

If you follow the pass the next major destination is East Glacier Park Village. It is the town with the elevated train station and is on the east side of the pass. Once you’re through there you’ve hit the plains. The two towns I’ve included are Browning and Cut Bank. Past Cut Bank is the loop back to Whitefish.

I hope you enjoy the layout. Even though I’ve never seen it with my own eyes, Marias Pass was a big part of my childhood and it still fuels my passion of railroading.