BNSF GE ES44AC No. 5952, along with a pair of EMD SD70MACs in different flavors, pull a westbound BNSF freight toward Austin, Montana, while climbing Mullan Pass on October 7, 2020.

On the morning of June 30, 2021, a westbound BNSF freight climbs the 2.2 percent grade up toward Mullan Pass at Austin, Montana. The head end is one curve away from the big horseshoe curve through... (more)

Last Light on Austin With 15 minutes before the the scene descends into shadow a westbound export coal load charges the 2.2% at Austin, MT. Just above the first terrain cut above the Mull... (more)

Rainbow on Mullan A Westbound Intermodal curves around the upper horseshoe of the Austin Loops and under a bright rainbow from a exiting storm. The MRL has been moving a increasing numbe... (more)

Iron Ridge A Westbound Grain load threads the the big cut at Iron Ridge on Mullan Pass. The colorful rock in the cut is the mineralization that makes this valley rich in Gold, Copper and ... (more)

A westbound BNSF Q train works upgrade out of Austin as it climbs Montana Rail Link’s arduous Mullan Pass west of Helena, Montana, on June 26, 2020.

A quartet of Montana Rail Link EMD SD70ACe locomotives, being used in helper service on Mullan Pass west of Helena, are dropping downgrade light engine on the double track between Weed and Austin ... (more)

Four Montana Rail Link EMD SD70ACe locomotives, Nos. 4304, 4307, 4306 and 4314, are mid-train manned helpers on a westbound BNSF coal train climbing Mullan Pass’ 2.2 percent grade out of Austin,... (more)

An eastbound BNSF grain train drops down the 2.2% grade of Mullan Pass at Austin, Montana, late in the day of July 1, 2020. The head end of the train is passing through the former location of Aust... (more)

A Montana Rail Link helper set consisting of four EMD SD70ACe's drop down the 2.2% grade at Austin,MT on their way to help a westbound BNSF manifest across Mullan Pass.

BNSF 6878 heads uphill near Austin, Montana

Busy afternoon on Mullan
Three trains negotiate Montana Rail Link’s Mullan Pass west of Helena, Montana, on the afternoon of June 25, 2020. In the background going downgrade at Austin... (more)

A westbound BNSF coal load climbs the 2.2% grade out of Austin, Montana, on the the serpentine route over Mullan Pass on October 7, 2020. The head end is working toward the loop around Iron Ridge,... (more)

A BNSF coal load climbing Montana Rail Link’s Mullan Pass works through Austin, Montana, helped by a quartet of MRL EMD SD70ACe locomotives on a manned helper set cut into in the middle of the t... (more)

A westbound BNSF coal train doubles back out of Austin, Montana, while climbing Mullan Pass west of Helena on October 7, 2020. Two BNSF motors on the head end are seen over the the first of four M... (more)