The end is near, searchlights still stand guard at the east end of Bozeman on warm summer evening, while an MRL helper set sits waiting another westbound.

Montana Rail Link’s MMISLAU freight, also known simply as the ML, heads downgrade passing milepost 215 on Winston Hill between Winston and Townsend, Montana, on October 14, 2023. Leading the tra... (more)

On October 3, 2022, clouds are quickly building over Homestake Pass as a Montana Rail Link ballast empty works upgrade to the loader at Spire Rock at Pipestone, Montana. The train is running on a ... (more)

A rugged Mission Range looms over Montana Rail Link’s night gas local rolling westbound along the Flathead River past milepost 44 near Dixon at McDonald, Montana, on June 26, 2020.

A quartet of Montana Rail Link EMD SD70ACes being used on one of the helper sets out of Helena, Montana, for Mullan Pass drops downgrade after helping a westbound BNSF heavy (coal or grain train) ... (more)

On October 10, 2023, Montana Rail Link’s 844 local proceeds downgrade between mileposts 7 and 8 north of Harrison, Montana, with seven cars of grain from the Harrison Elevator Co. Leading the tr... (more)

Montana Rail Link EMD GP35 Nos. 401 and 404, assigned to the 844 local, switch the yard at Logan before heading out on the Fifth Subdivision and the Harrison branch on October 10, 2023.

Montana Rail Link EMD SD40-2XR No. 262 powers a MRL “Jimbo” work train through East Helena, Montana, moments after departing Helena Yard on October 16, 2023.

Montana Rail Link’s 844 local switches cars at the Harrison Elevator Co. at the end of the railroad’s Harrison branch on October 10, 2023.

Montana Rail Link’s Billings Transfer departs Laurel Yard on the morning of October 8, 2023. The train is powered by MRL SD40-2XR Nos. 263 and 259 and has a substantial amount of cars for Billin... (more)

Montana Rail Link’s 844 local that works out of Logan, Montana, approaches milepost 0 of the Harrison branch at Sappington with seven cars from the Harrison grain elevator on October 8, 2023.

Two Montana Rail Link remote switchers work simultaneously at the east end of MRL’s large yard at Laurel, Montana, on the morning of October 8, 2023. For many years, former cabooses carried remo... (more)

Passing two horses and a resting longhorn on its way to switching customers on the Fifth Subdivision, Montana Rail Link’s 844 local clatters through Three Forks, Montana, on October 11, 2023. Lo... (more)

Montana Rail Link’s LM departed Livingston, Montana, on the afternoon of September 23, 2002, but soon came to a halt at the end of double track just west of town. The train is ready to attack Bo... (more)

Rolling through the picturesque Jefferson River Canyon, one of what's likely to be the final MRL ballast trains is dwarfed by a massive cavern, part of the Lewis and Clark Cavern State Park. Truly... (more)