The faint rumble of EMD 710's echo off the evergreens of the Helena National Forest, slowly getting closer and closer. Then it appears, a quartet of freshly washed Montana Rail Link SD70ACe's, returning to Helena after pushing one of the many heavy trains over the 2.2% grade.
They're seen crossing Skyline Trestle, which soars high over the Austin Creek... but after a few days with temps near the century mark, the creek has been turned into a small trickle.
Nonetheless, this is one of the many scenes that make Montana mountain railroading as incredible as it is.
