 Belmont / The Railway  In 1889 the Northern Pacific and the Manitoba Railway began to build a branch line to serve the district from Morris to Brandon A town site was chosen on a quarter section owned by Mr. John O. Bell. The land was purchased from Mr. Bell and in deference to this early pioneer, the town was named Bell's Mount. Belmont was made a divisional point in 1899. A coal dock, water tank, depot with living quarters for the station agent, section house and roundhouse were all built that year. At that time there were approximately thirty-five railway men employed in Belmont.  The UGG Elevator An elevator, purchased by United Grain Growers from Canadian Consolidated Grain in 1959 was destroyed by fire on 18 April 1973. Rebuilt as a 109,000-bushel elevator and crib annex in 1974, it was closed permanently in January 1999 and demolished in October 2000.  The abandoned rail line is now the Strathcona Trail linking Belmont and Ninette.  Berlmont in 1899 |
