Abstract The Rocky Fork and Cooke City Railway Company (RF & CC) was formed in 1886 to construct a standard-gauge rail line from the Northern Pacific main line at Tilden, Montana Territory, along Rock Creek, to the rich coal fields near Red Lodge. Principal backers included James Platt, Hamilton Browne, James Hubbel, Walter Cooper, and Samuel Word. In 1889 Samuel Hauser contracted with Green and Keefe, to finish all remaining work. The line was completed in April 1889 and acquired by the Northern...