It is July of 2010 and the Mullan Tunnel project is in full swing. The drainage from the tunnel work is giving the locomotives some "highlighting".... MRL4303 is lifting 1/2 of a manifest out o... (more)

Running parallel along Austin Road, 2 Grinstien SD70Macs make a fine sight. At this point the entire train is not quite all on the 2.2%, but it has still slowed to a grinding screaming crawl.

BNSF6257 mimics the sound of thunder as it spans Greenhorn Viaduct. Greenhorn Creek was the sight of a rich placer gold strike in the late 19th century. Relics of the golden past still linger if... (more)

A perfect serene Montana morning in the Rockies. The sun had only crested the valley for about a little over an hour when the thunderous sound of an export coal train could be heard echoing off th... (more)

I spent a couple days climbing around the slopes and forests of Mullan Pass with David Honan. After Dave had departed for other adventures, I returned to one of my favorite spots. The sound of BNS... (more)

A quartet of MRL helpers passes West Austin under Montana Big Sky, on its return to Helena on a cool June afternoon.

With traffic approaching levels possibly never seen due to flood detours, an extra set of helpers was assigned to Helena during the floods. Here that extra set pushes on a grain train at Austin..... (more)

Flood detours are bringing in visitors from the North. CP9735 screams at gravity as the sound of wheel-slip reverberates through the valley. 7 units + a BO CP unit lift an export coal train desti... (more)

A parting shot from a June 2010 trip to Mullan Pass. A severe thunderstorm rages over Winston as this west bound coal load hustles a few miles east of Helena.

BNSF1058 lifts grain around the first horseshoe at Austin, MT. It must have been quite a sight here in the 50's with a Z-class Challenger on point of a Mullan Tunnel bound frieght.... but this af... (more)

CP9735 leads a export coal train for Prince Rupert over Greenhorn Trestle. The third unit and first coal car are covered in a thick fresh black coat of oil covering about every inch of the trailin... (more)

A BNSF grain train crosses Birdseye Road as it begins the assault on the 'Hill'. Seven units can be seen as the MRL moves another grain load over Mullan Pass.

A pair of GE's chug up the steep grades, and squeel around the tight curves of Mullan Pass.

Five blue Ace's help push and pull The LAUPAS up and over Mullan Pass at Skyline Trestle.

Montana Rail Link's Laurel to Missoula manifest with MRL 4302, 325, and a five pack of SD70ACe helpers on the rear makes its way up the grade westward out of Helena, Montana between Tobin and Bird... (more)