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Coordinates: 46°38′36″N 112°18′50″W / 46.6434°N 112.3138°W / 46.6434; -112.3138
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{{Short description|Mountain pass in Montana, United States}}
{{Infobox mountain pass
{{Infobox mountain pass
| name = Mullan Pass
| name = Mullan Pass
| photo = Mullan_Pass.JPG
| photo = Mullan_Pass.jpg
| photo_width = 240
| photo_caption = Historical marker placed at Mullan Pass.
| photo_caption = Historical marker placed at Mullan Pass.
| elevation_ft = 5902
| elevation_ft = 5902
| elevation_ref =
| elevation_ref =
| traversed = Austin-Mullan Pass Road and [[Montana Rail Link]] (via Mullan Pass Tunnel).
| traversed = Austin-Mullan Pass Road and [[BNSF Railway]]<br />(via Mullan Pass Tunnel).
| location = [[Lewis and Clark County, Montana|Lewis and Clark]] / [[Powell County, Montana|Powell]] counties, [[Montana]], {{USA}}
| location = [[Lewis and Clark County, Montana|Lewis and Clark]] / [[Powell County, Montana|Powell]] counties, [[Montana]], [[United States|U.S.]]
| range = [[Rocky Mountains]]
| range = [[Rocky Mountains]]
| coordinates = {{Coord|46|38.18|N|112|18.5|W|type:pass}}
| coordinates = {{Coord|46.6434|N|112.3138|W|type:pass|display=inline,title}}
| topo =
| map = USA Montana#USA
| map_caption = Location in Montana, U.S.
| map_size = 220
| label_position = right
}}
}}


The '''Mullan Pass''' is a [[mountain pass]] in the [[Rocky Mountains]] of [[Montana]] in the [[United States]]. It sits on the [[continental divide]] on the border between [[Powell County, Montana]] and [[Lewis and Clark County, Montana]], {{convert|13.25|mi}} west of [[Helena, Montana]] in [[Helena National Forest]] at a height of {{convert|5902|ft}}.
'''Mullan Pass''' is a [[mountain pass]] in the [[Western United States|western]] [[United States]], in the [[Rocky Mountains]] of [[Montana]]. It sits on the [[Continental Divide of the Americas|Continental Divide]] on the border between [[Powell County, Montana|Powell]] and [[Lewis and Clark County, Montana|Lewis and Clark]] counties at 5,902 feet (1,799&nbsp;m) above [[sea level]]. Located in the [[Helena National Forest]], the pass is thirteen miles (20&nbsp;km) west of the city of [[Helena, Montana|Helena]].


The [[Northern Pacific Railway]] used the pass for its line from [[Logan, Montana]] to [[Garrison, Montana]] via [[Helena, Montana|Helena]] built in 1883. The line was the NP’s primary freight route, and was also used by their secondary passenger train, the ''[[Mainstreeter]]''. The NP also built a line over [[Homestake Pass]], which was used by their primary passenger train, the ''[[North Coast Limited]]''. The rail line over Mullan Pass is currently operated by [[Montana RailLink]]. The line crosses under the pass and [[continental divide]] at an elevation of {{convert|5566|ft}} via the {{convert|3426|ft|sing=on}} long Mullan Tunnel.
The [[Northern Pacific Railway]] (NP) used the pass for its line from [[Logan, Montana|Logan]] to [[Garrison, Montana|Garrison]] via Helena, built in 1883. This line was the NP's primary freight route and was also used by their secondary passenger train, the ''[[Mainstreeter]]''. The NP also built an alternate line over [[Homestake Pass]], which was used by their primary passenger train, the ''[[North Coast Limited]]''. The rail line at Mullan Pass is currently operated by [[BNSF Railway]]; it crosses under the pass and the continental divide at {{convert|5566|ft}} via the {{convert|3426|ft|mi km|2|sing=on}} Mullan Tunnel.


The pass was named after [[John Mullan (road builder)|Lieutenant John Mullan]], the army engineer who first crossed the pass on March 22, 1854 and later supervised construction of [[Mullan Road]], the first road over the pass, in 1860.
The pass was named after Lieutenant [[John Mullan (road builder)|John Mullan]], the [[United States Army|U.S. Army]] engineer who first crossed the pass on March 22, 1854, and later supervised construction of the [[Mullan Road]], the first road over the pass, in 1860.


==Collapse==
==Notable events==
On September 30, 1911 Mullan Pass was the site of the first aeronautical crossing of the North American Continental Divide. Aviation pioneer [[Cromwell Dixon]] flew from Helena to Blossburg, some 15 miles to the west, over the Mullan Pass then successfully flew back the same day. His achievement earned him $10,000, presented to him by Governor [[Edwin L. Norris]].{{r|NYT 1 Oct 1911}}
In July 2009 the railroad tunnel had part of the roof collapse during renovation work designed to both widen the tunnel and make it taller. The tunnel reopened to train traffic on August 14, 2009.

[[Image:Mullan_Tunnel.jpg|thumb|West portal of Mullan Tunnel.]]
On February 2, 1989, the [[1989 Helena train wreck|Helena train wreck]] occurred when, during a significant cold snap, a train crew uncoupled the locomotives from a 48-car train due to mechanical problems. The air brakes failed on the cars, and the train rolled nine miles back into [[Helena, Montana|Helena]] where, at approximately 5:30 a.m., they collided with a parked work train and caught fire. An explosion later linked to a [[tank car]] filled with [[hydrogen peroxide]] shook the town, knocked out power, and caused extensive damage in the community, but no deaths.<ref name=20years>[http://helenair.com/news/local/article_8984de1d-0792-5aad-8021-fba2af1f35f1.html "20 years ago today, Helena shook, rattled and froze"]</ref>

In mid-July 2009, part of the Mullan Tunnel roof collapsed while it was being enlarged to handle [[Double-stack rail transport|double-stack freight cars]]. It was reopened to train traffic 28 days later, on August 14, 2009. <ref>{{Cite web | url=http://lrlconstruction.com/portfolio/mullan-tunnel-enlargement-project/ | title=Mullan Tunnel Enlargement Project | access-date=2018-11-07}}</ref>

==Second Mullan Pass==
A second Mullan Pass ({{Coord|47.464|-115.637}}), also on the Mullan Road, is located on the Montana-[[Idaho Panhandle|Idaho]] border in the [[Bitterroot Range]] at {{convert|5168|ft}}. It is approximately {{convert|3|mi|0|spell=in}} east-northeast of [[Lookout Pass]], where [[Interstate 90 in Idaho|Interstate 90]] crosses the state line.

==Climate==
{{Weather box
|location = Mullan Pass, Idaho, 1991–2020 normals, 1938–2024 extremes: 6028ft (1837m)
|single line = Yes
|Jan record high F = 52
|Feb record high F = 49
|Mar record high F = 61
|Apr record high F = 75
|May record high F = 80
|Jun record high F = 90
|Jul record high F = 92
|Aug record high F = 93
|Sep record high F = 85
|Oct record high F = 76
|Nov record high F = 60
|Dec record high F = 46
|year record high F =

|Jan avg record high F = 39.4
|Feb avg record high F = 39.8
|Mar avg record high F = 47.9
|Apr avg record high F = 58.5
|May avg record high F = 67.9
|Jun avg record high F = 76.3
|Jul avg record high F = 82.5
|Aug avg record high F = 82.6
|Sep avg record high F = 75.7
|Oct avg record high F = 63.1
|Nov avg record high F = 48.0
|Dec avg record high F = 39.0
|year avg record high F = 83.0

|Jan high F = 27.6
|Feb high F = 28.3
|Mar high F = 34.3
|Apr high F = 40.2
|May high F = 50.3
|Jun high F = 58.2
|Jul high F = 69.8
|Aug high F = 69.4
|Sep high F = 59.1
|Oct high F = 44.2
|Nov high F = 31.9
|Dec high F = 26.7
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 23.3
|Feb mean F = 23.5
|Mar mean F = 28.3
|Apr mean F = 33.8
|May mean F = 43.0
|Jun mean F = 50.1
|Jul mean F = 60.9
|Aug mean F = 60.4
|Sep mean F = 51.3
|Oct mean F = 38.1
|Nov mean F = 27.7
|Dec mean F = 22.4
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 19.1
|Feb low F = 18.6
|Mar low F = 22.4
|Apr low F = 27.4
|May low F = 35.7
|Jun low F = 42.1
|Jul low F = 52.0
|Aug low F = 51.4
|Sep low F = 43.5
|Oct low F = 31.9
|Nov low F = 23.5
|Dec low F = 18.0
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = 1.6
|Feb avg record low F = 2.2
|Mar avg record low F = 8.8
|Apr avg record low F = 15.4
|May avg record low F = 23.9
|Jun avg record low F = 29.9
|Jul avg record low F = 39.6
|Aug avg record low F = 38.7
|Sep avg record low F = 29.0
|Oct avg record low F = 17.5
|Nov avg record low F = 10.1
|Dec avg record low F = 1.8
|year avg record low F = -7.9

|Jan record low F = −25
|Feb record low F = −20
|Mar record low F = −17
|Apr record low F = 2
|May record low F = 9
|Jun record low F = 22
|Jul record low F = 28
|Aug record low F = 31
|Sep record low F = 17
|Oct record low F = −3
|Nov record low F = −18
|Dec record low F = −21
|year record low F =

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 5.90
|Feb precipitation inch = 4.66
|Mar precipitation inch = 5.03
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.60
|May precipitation inch = 2.96
|Jun precipitation inch = 3.12
|Jul precipitation inch = 1.09
|Aug precipitation inch = 1.14
|Sep precipitation inch = 1.65
|Oct precipitation inch = 3.89
|Nov precipitation inch = 6.01
|Dec precipitation inch = 6.04
|year precipitation inch =

|Jan snow inch = 49.2
|Feb snow inch = 42.8
|Mar snow inch = 35.0
|Apr snow inch = 16.6
|May snow inch = 9.7
|Jun snow inch = 2.8
|Jul snow inch = 0.1
|Aug snow inch = trace
|Sep snow inch = 2.5
|Oct snow inch = 16.5
|Nov snow inch = 43.2
|Dec snow inch = 52.7
|year snow inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 19.3
|Feb precipitation days = 17.5
|Mar precipitation days = 19.6
|Apr precipitation days = 16.9
|May precipitation days = 14.9
|Jun precipitation days = 13.1
|Jul precipitation days = 5.7
|Aug precipitation days = 6.1
|Sep precipitation days = 8.0
|Oct precipitation days = 13.3
|Nov precipitation days = 18.3
|Dec precipitation days = 17.5
|year precipitation days =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 19
|Feb snow days = 18
|Mar snow days = 18
|Apr snow days = 12
|May snow days = 5
|Jun snow days = 2
|Jul snow days = 0
|Aug snow days = 0
|Sep snow days = 2
|Oct snow days = 8
|Nov snow days = 16
|Dec snow days = 21

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00024154&format=pdf
|title = Mulan Pass VOR/DME, Idaho 1991-2020 Monthly Normals
|access-date = August 14, 2023
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = XMACIS2 (records, monthly max/mins & 1942-1957 snow)<ref name = XMACIS2>
{{cite web
|url = https://xmacis.rcc-acis.org/
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = xmACIS
|access-date = March 15, 2024
}}
</ref>
}}


==See also==
==See also==
* [[Lookout Pass]]
* [[Lookout Pass]]
* [[Lookout Pass Ski and Recreation Area]]
* [[Lookout Pass Ski and Recreation Area]]
* [[Mountain passes in Montana (M-Z)|Mountain passes in Montana]]
* [[List of mountain passes in Montana (M-Z)|Mountain passes in Montana]]

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
Image:Mullan_Tunnel.JPG|West portal of Mullan Tunnel.
</gallery>


== References ==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name="NYT 1 Oct 1911">{{cite news|date=1 October 1911|title=Flies over the Rockies|work=The New York Times|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1911/10/01/104838096.pdf|accessdate=21 October 2009 | format=PDF}}</ref>
}}
==External links==
==External links==
* [http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_b103501d-7ef3-5dd7-a9f5-77a087fab466.html MRL plans to upgrade the Mullan Tunnel]
* [http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_b103501d-7ef3-5dd7-a9f5-77a087fab466.html MRL plans to upgrade the Mullan Tunnel]


[[Category:Lewis and Clark County, Montana]]
[[Category:Landforms of Lewis and Clark County, Montana]]
[[Category:Mountain passes of Montana]]
[[Category:Mountain passes of Montana]]
[[Category:Northern Pacific Railway]]
[[Category:Northern Pacific Railway]]
[[Category:Powell County, Montana]]
[[Category:Landforms of Powell County, Montana]]

Latest revision as of 23:47, 1 April 2024

Mullan Pass
Historical marker placed at Mullan Pass.
Elevation5,902 ft (1,799 m)
Traversed byAustin-Mullan Pass Road and BNSF Railway
(via Mullan Pass Tunnel).
LocationLewis and Clark / Powell counties, Montana, U.S.
RangeRocky Mountains
Coordinates46°38′36″N 112°18′50″W / 46.6434°N 112.3138°W / 46.6434; -112.3138
Mullan Pass is located in Montana
Mullan Pass
Mullan Pass
Location in Montana, U.S.
Mullan Pass is located in the United States
Mullan Pass
Mullan Pass
Mullan Pass (the United States)

Mullan Pass is a mountain pass in the western United States, in the Rocky Mountains of Montana. It sits on the Continental Divide on the border between Powell and Lewis and Clark counties at 5,902 feet (1,799 m) above sea level. Located in the Helena National Forest, the pass is thirteen miles (20 km) west of the city of Helena.

The Northern Pacific Railway (NP) used the pass for its line from Logan to Garrison via Helena, built in 1883. This line was the NP's primary freight route and was also used by their secondary passenger train, the Mainstreeter. The NP also built an alternate line over Homestake Pass, which was used by their primary passenger train, the North Coast Limited. The rail line at Mullan Pass is currently operated by BNSF Railway; it crosses under the pass and the continental divide at 5,566 feet (1,697 m) via the 3,426-foot (0.65 mi; 1.04 km) Mullan Tunnel.

The pass was named after Lieutenant John Mullan, the U.S. Army engineer who first crossed the pass on March 22, 1854, and later supervised construction of the Mullan Road, the first road over the pass, in 1860.

Notable events[edit]

On September 30, 1911 Mullan Pass was the site of the first aeronautical crossing of the North American Continental Divide. Aviation pioneer Cromwell Dixon flew from Helena to Blossburg, some 15 miles to the west, over the Mullan Pass then successfully flew back the same day. His achievement earned him $10,000, presented to him by Governor Edwin L. Norris.[1]

West portal of Mullan Tunnel.

On February 2, 1989, the Helena train wreck occurred when, during a significant cold snap, a train crew uncoupled the locomotives from a 48-car train due to mechanical problems. The air brakes failed on the cars, and the train rolled nine miles back into Helena where, at approximately 5:30 a.m., they collided with a parked work train and caught fire. An explosion later linked to a tank car filled with hydrogen peroxide shook the town, knocked out power, and caused extensive damage in the community, but no deaths.[2]

In mid-July 2009, part of the Mullan Tunnel roof collapsed while it was being enlarged to handle double-stack freight cars. It was reopened to train traffic 28 days later, on August 14, 2009. [3]

Second Mullan Pass[edit]

A second Mullan Pass (47°27′50″N 115°38′13″W / 47.464°N 115.637°W / 47.464; -115.637), also on the Mullan Road, is located on the Montana-Idaho border in the Bitterroot Range at 5,168 feet (1,575 m). It is approximately three miles (5 km) east-northeast of Lookout Pass, where Interstate 90 crosses the state line.

Climate[edit]

Climate data for Mullan Pass, Idaho, 1991–2020 normals, 1938–2024 extremes: 6028ft (1837m)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 52
(11) 		49
(9) 		61
(16) 		75
(24) 		80
(27) 		90
(32) 		92
(33) 		93
(34) 		85
(29) 		76
(24) 		60
(16) 		46
(8) 		93
(34)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 39.4
(4.1) 		39.8
(4.3) 		47.9
(8.8) 		58.5
(14.7) 		67.9
(19.9) 		76.3
(24.6) 		82.5
(28.1) 		82.6
(28.1) 		75.7
(24.3) 		63.1
(17.3) 		48.0
(8.9) 		39.0
(3.9) 		83.0
(28.3)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 27.6
(−2.4) 		28.3
(−2.1) 		34.3
(1.3) 		40.2
(4.6) 		50.3
(10.2) 		58.2
(14.6) 		69.8
(21.0) 		69.4
(20.8) 		59.1
(15.1) 		44.2
(6.8) 		31.9
(−0.1) 		26.7
(−2.9) 		45.0
(7.2)
Daily mean °F (°C) 23.3
(−4.8) 		23.5
(−4.7) 		28.3
(−2.1) 		33.8
(1.0) 		43.0
(6.1) 		50.1
(10.1) 		60.9
(16.1) 		60.4
(15.8) 		51.3
(10.7) 		38.1
(3.4) 		27.7
(−2.4) 		22.4
(−5.3) 		38.6
(3.7)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 19.1
(−7.2) 		18.6
(−7.4) 		22.4
(−5.3) 		27.4
(−2.6) 		35.7
(2.1) 		42.1
(5.6) 		52.0
(11.1) 		51.4
(10.8) 		43.5
(6.4) 		31.9
(−0.1) 		23.5
(−4.7) 		18.0
(−7.8) 		32.1
(0.1)
Mean minimum °F (°C) 1.6
(−16.9) 		2.2
(−16.6) 		8.8
(−12.9) 		15.4
(−9.2) 		23.9
(−4.5) 		29.9
(−1.2) 		39.6
(4.2) 		38.7
(3.7) 		29.0
(−1.7) 		17.5
(−8.1) 		10.1
(−12.2) 		1.8
(−16.8) 		−7.9
(−22.2)
Record low °F (°C) −25
(−32) 		−20
(−29) 		−17
(−27) 		2
(−17) 		9
(−13) 		22
(−6) 		28
(−2) 		31
(−1) 		17
(−8) 		−3
(−19) 		−18
(−28) 		−21
(−29) 		−25
(−32)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 5.90
(150) 		4.66
(118) 		5.03
(128) 		3.60
(91) 		2.96
(75) 		3.12
(79) 		1.09
(28) 		1.14
(29) 		1.65
(42) 		3.89
(99) 		6.01
(153) 		6.04
(153) 		45.09
(1,145)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 49.2
(125) 		42.8
(109) 		35.0
(89) 		16.6
(42) 		9.7
(25) 		2.8
(7.1) 		0.1
(0.25) 		trace 2.5
(6.4) 		16.5
(42) 		43.2
(110) 		52.7
(134) 		271.1
(689.75)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 19.3 17.5 19.6 16.9 14.9 13.1 5.7 6.1 8.0 13.3 18.3 17.5 170.2
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 19 18 18 12 5 2 0 0 2 8 16 21 121
Source 1: NOAA[4]
Source 2: XMACIS2 (records, monthly max/mins & 1942-1957 snow)[5]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Flies over the Rockies" (PDF). The New York Times. 1 October 1911. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
  2. ^ "20 years ago today, Helena shook, rattled and froze"
  3. ^ "Mullan Tunnel Enlargement Project". Retrieved 2018-11-07.
  4. ^ "Mulan Pass VOR/DME, Idaho 1991-2020 Monthly Normals". Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  5. ^ "xmACIS". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved March 15, 2024.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mullan_Pass&oldid=1216784589"