Bozeman turn over the top
Led by SD45 No. 355, Montana Rail Link’s Bozeman turn descends Bozeman Pass at West End, Montana, on a rainy afternoon of July 2, 2019.

A setting sun peeks through the clouds long enough to illuminate a westbound BNSF grain train climbing out of Austin on Montana Rail Link’s main line over Mullan Pass on June 28, 2022.

A thunderstorm has just passed, but wet rail left behind slows a westbound BNSF oil train as it climbs the 2.2 percent grade of Mullan Pass at Iron Ridge between Austin and Weed, Montana, on the a... (more)

The setting sun illuminates a trio of BNSF EMDs leading a westbound BNSF coal train past Frog Pond at Trout Creek, Montana, on October 2, 2015.

BNSF 6778 brings a loaded rail train down the west side of Mullan Pass.

MRL 4400 helps a loaded coal train down the westside of Bozeman Pass

On a cool October 8, 2018, a westbound BNSF manifest freight train works through Marias, Montana, after crossing the summit of Marias Pass on the railroad’s Hi Line Subdivision.

Storm clouds build over Homestake Pass as a Montana Rail Link ballast empty heads upgrade to the loader at Spire Rock at Pipestone, Montana, on October 3, 2022. This train is operating on a portio... (more)

Montana Rail Link’s Helena local descends Winston Hill approaching milepost 215 east of Winston, Montana, on June 30, 2020. Powering the train is EMD SD40-2XR No. 263 and GP9 No. 109.

The Laurel to Bozeman train heads west along the shore of the Yellowstone River, the snowcapped mountains provided a nice backdrop here.

Montana Rail Link’s 844 local has just made a trip up the branch to Harrison, and is now dropping down a 2.2% mountain grade toward the Six Subdivision junction at Sappington, in a vast Montana ... (more)

A manned helper set has been added to the point of Montana Rail Link’s westbound Laurel-Missoula road freight (LM) and begins its assault of Bozeman Pass just west of Livingston, Montana, on Sep... (more)

Montana Rail Link SD70ACe no.4408, leads the Gas Local into Paradise Montana with the sun just breaking over the surrounding mountains.

Led by venerable Montana Rail Link EMD GP9 No. 109, MRL’s Helena local rolls smartly eastward between East Helena and Winston, Montana, on the afternoon of September 29, 2022.

Montana Rail Link’s 840 local, also known as the Helena local, rolls east through Lombard Canyon between Toston and Lombard, Montana, on the afternoon of June 26, 2016. The train is powered by M... (more)