The Port of Royal Slope just southeast of Royal City, Washington, operates a former Milwaukee Road branch line from Royal City to the Pacific Extension main line at Royal City Junction, and also owns and operates the Milwaukee main line from this junction to Othello where they interchange cars with the Columbia Basin Railroad. The railroad operates as the Washington Royal Lines (WRL), running trains sporadicly, as needed, with motive power currently being this pair of former Montana Rail Link EMD SD45s. Blue No. 331 is still mostly dressed in MRL colors, while No. 330 is more “patched” with reporting marks for CWW, the Columbia-Walla Walla Railroad. Black paint rolled onto parts of the unit cover up some undesirable graffiti, but the red nose paint is a mystery. I’m not sure if WRL is leasing this unit, or has purchased it. In this view, CWW No. 330 and WRL No. 331 rest near the E Road SW grade crossing at Royal City, Washington, on the morning of September 28, 2021.
