For many years, Montana Rail link 840 local, also known as the Helena local, has been mostly powered by a pair of rebuilt SD40s (SD40-2XRs) that was sought out as a photographic subject in scenic Lombard Canyon. Sometime in late 2014/early 2015, the classic EMDs were replaced on the local with a pair of MRL EMD SD70ACes. Here, the eastbound local crosses a bridge over Big Spring east of Toston, Montana, on June 23, 2015, with big blue ACes Nos. 4302 and 4310 leading a train bound for Trident and Logan. In early March 2017, MRL discontinued the Helena local—and now I look back with fondness on our time with the local in Lombard Canyon—with either SD40-2XRs or SD70ACes!
