Passing a field of early summer flowers, a BNSF grain train crosses the Missouri River and continues west toward Winston Hill at Townsend, Montana, on the afternoon of July 1, 2018.

After switching the cement plant at Townsend, Montana, on the morning of October 17, 2018, Montana Rail Link’s Helena switch arrives at the siding preparing to runaround its train before heading... (more)

BNSF 8759 drops down Winston Hill just northwest of Townsend, MT with an empty coal train on Montana Rail Link. The train is eastbound headed for Laurel, MT to interchange with BNSF.

On Montana Rail Link’s Second Subdivision, an eastbound BNSF coal empty descends Winston Hill passing milepost 209 west of Townsend, Montana, on June 30, 2017.

The local turn from Helena, MT to Townsend descends Winston Hill just northwest of Townsend. It will switch a talc plant, pick up a lumber load, then head back to Helena. MRL 109 was NP 210, then ... (more)

BNSF 6565 glides down Winston Hill on MRL and into an S curve prior to rolling through Townsend, MT with its Q train. This train is a relatively new service trying to get back into the intermodal ... (more)

Sprinting along U.S. Highway 287 south of Townsend, Montana, is eastbound Montana Rail Link MMISLAU (Missoula to Laurel manifest) powered by brutish EMD SD70ACes Nos. 4403 and 4402 on a very rainy... (more)

MRL rebuilt SD40 265 and venerable GP9 no. 109 get a roll on their local as they accelerate out of Townsend, MT and across the Missouri River. The train is about to tackle Winston Hill on its way ... (more)

The MRL local turn from Helena, MT to Townsend arrives at Townsend where it will pick up a lumber load and run around its train before heading northwest back to Helena. This view could have been o... (more)

Montana Rail Link’s Helena switch has two cars for the lime plant at Townsend, Montana, as it drops downgrade just west of town on June 30, 2017. Led by spiffy GP9 No. 109 and recently-repainted... (more)

Montana Rail Link’s Helena switch has two cars for the lime plant at Townsend as it drops downgrade on Winston Hill passing milepost 209 west of Townsend, Montana, on June 30, 2017. The Helena s... (more)

BNSF 6139 leads an empty oil train past a chapel just north of Townsend, MT. The eastbound train has a pair of MRL SD70ACes tucked in behind the lead units, most likely headed to Livingston for so... (more)

Fall brings a steady parade of grain traffic to the northern routes. BNSF 7200 East is gliding off Winston hill as it passes the classic NP-era cantilever and searchlight signals in Townsend, MT o... (more)

Rich in refrigerated traffic and other business out of the PNW, ATSF 840 East shoots down the Missouri River valley between Townsend and Toston, MT on a September afternoon. Fuji Astia.

An eastbound manifest makes good time descending Winston Hill as it approaches Townsend, MT on Montana Rail Link. The third unit is a rebuilt SD60M courtesy of Norfolk Southern.