A total of seven SD70ACe's and one ES44AC lift a loaded coal train out of Montana's capitol city and towards the top of the famed Mullan Pass.
A BNSF coal train on the Montana Rail Link storms west of Helena, Montana, on the approach to Mullan Pass at Tobin on the eve of July 5, 2001. Having two sets of SD40/45/45-2 helpers, one cut in i... (more)
Montana Rail Link F45 no. 391 leads the westbound LM into the setting sun at Tobin, Montana. Helena, Montana's capital, is in the distance.
BNSF GP40M No. 3002 blasts upgrade in the late afternoon light with a manifest freight at Tobin, Montana. Montana's capital city, Helena, lies in the valley below. This is just west of the beginni... (more)
MRL SD70ACe 4302 leads three SD45-2s on the Laurel to Missoula manifest, seen just about to cross Birdseye Rd. at Tobin, MT in the late evening. The first forty cars are loaded ballast hoppers whi... (more)
In sweet evening light, the Laurel to Missoula manifest, led by a trio of MRL SD45-2s, begins to tackle the grade of Mullan Pass at MP 6 on MRL's 3rd Sub, a sight and sound not soon to be forgotte... (more)
A five unit set of MRL SD70ACe's cruises down Mullan Pass into Helena, MT after helping a westbound upgrade. The units are closely following an H-PASKCK. Now that both are clear of the main, the l... (more)
A 4-unit MRL mid-train helper set assists an 18,917 ton coal train, the heaviest ever to traverse Mullan Pass, out of Helena. The fourth unit, 4300, is not working and more power will be added at ... (more)
The heaviest train to ever cross Mullan Pass, begins the long slow pull out of Helena. Helping the 133 car 18,917 ton train are four head-end units, four manned mid-train helpers, and two DPU rear... (more)
Two MRL SD70ACe's act as point helpers for a detouring BNSF stack train. The units are pulling hard to get the train up and over Mullan Pass. Montana's state Capitol dome and Carrol College are th... (more)
On-the-point helpers pull towards Mullan Pass.
This loaded Boardman coal train is getting its teeth into the climb towards Mullan Tunnel over Mullan Pass west of Helena. Seen here are the rear helpers and, if you look below the house where th... (more)
The two helpers for the LM are in run-8 as they assist the heavy train up Mullan.
The Laurel-Missoula leans into the heavy grade up Mullan Pass with an ACe/SD45/SD45-2 consist.
The LM struggles up Mullan Pass with Helena and the domed Capital building in the background.
