On the ride back to Denton from Arrow Creek I stood out on the platform of CMR 100 for an extended
period of time thinking how cool it was: (a) to be riding in the caboose of a working freight train in 2012
and (b) being hauled by an unmodified GP9 that was almost 60 years old. Without doubt the future of the
CMR is in question. Raising $4 million is a daunting task in the best of times and with the state of the
economy the way it is today that possibility is indeed dim. The owners of the CMR who operate the
elevators in Denton and Geraldine could decide to pull the plug at any time. Competition from BNSF on
their Great Falls-Laurel and Great Falls-Fort Benton lines is cutthroat to say the least for the area's grain
business and it's an open secret that the "big railway" would be very happy if the CMR just went away.
That would be a very sad day.