The BNSF's Laurel Sub between Laurel and Great Falls is a critically undershot line. The northern portion gets some coverage, the southern end practically nothing. The Broadview Sub, an offshoot of the Laurel Sub, isn't shot at all. I aim to change that. Today, I started with the Broadview Sub, a neat little story of modern success. Beginning at Walter and running 30 miles to the Signal Peak Energy Mine in Roundup, this line is one of the newest on the BNSF and may have the newest coal mine in the United States. Completed in 2009, the Signal Peak mine is the only underground coal mine in Montana. With an estimated 430 million tons of coal in its reserves, the mine has carved a nice in the overseas market, running the majority of its coal via the Montana Rail Link to the massive Westshore Coal Terminal, the largest export terminal in the United States, part of the Roberts Bank Superport. Once in a blue moon a train will be diverted from the PRB to load here for MERC or Cohasset but those are few and far between, no more than a few occurrences a year. Back to the picture! With the head end having clawed up the 1% grade on the backside of this hill, the crew will now work to retard their speed as they drop down the 1.3% front half and will continue dropping all the way down to Walter Jct. and the Laurel Sub.
