Just as Smoking Boomer once greeted passengers aboard the Milwaukee Road's Hiawatha, he now welcomes you to the Boomer Rail-Trail.

Smoking Boomer was a big, burly dog who rode into the Harlowton yards on a Milwaukee train in 1940 and immediately befriended Roundhouse Foreman Phil Leahy, who gave him a free meal. Phil taught Boomer to stand on his head, wear safety glasses, and carry a briar pipe. Smoking Boomer was always ready to entertain rail passengers with his tricks, and was commonly seen walking the platform with his pipe in place. Passengers delighted in taking his photo. Until his death in 1949, Smoking Boomer was a regular sight at the Harlowton Depot.

The Smoking Boomer Rail Trail was constructed in 2006 by a group of dedicated volunteers and the City of Harlowton. The northern portion of the trail is built on the main line of the Milwaukee Railroad. The trail is open to all types of non-motorized recreation and winds through rich railroad history alongside abundant wildlife, birds, and natural habitat.

Trail Guidelines