Late in the afternoon of June 27, 2017, with thunderstorms rumbling to the southwest, the sun highlights the mountains surrounding Lombard Canyon as a westbound BNSF coal train approaches Toston, ... (more)

A westbound BNSF freight passes through the small town of Toston, Montana, on the afternoon of June 26, 2017.

Powered by EMD SD70ACes Nos. 4312 and 4403, Montana Rail Link’s Laurel to Missoula manifest freight follows the meandering edge of the Missouri River in Lombard Canyon east of Toston, Montana, o... (more)

While thunderstorms build to the south and west, Montana Rail Link’s Laurel to Missoula manifest freight negotiates Lombard Canyon east of Toston, Montana, on June 28, 2017.

Montana Rail Link’s Helena local follows the Missouri River into Lombard Canyon east of Toston, Montana, on June 29, 2016.

BNSF 3819 leads an oil train northwest out of Lombard Canyon on its way to Helena, MT and the West Coast.

General Electric Leasing (GECX) ET44AC No. 2028 leads two dirty BNSF EMD SD70ACes on a westbound coal train east of Toston in Montana’s Lombard Canyon on July 1, 2017.

Some of the last sunlight of the day to reach the bottom of Lombard Canyon east of Toston, Montana, briefly lights up the rear DPU of an eastbound BNSF coal empty disappearing into the inky blackn... (more)

Sunlight glints off an eastbound BNSF coal train entering Lombard Canyon east of Toston, Montana, on June 26, 2017. Dust raised by vehicles plodding along on a gravel and dirt Lombard Road lights ... (more)

A westbound BNSF “Boeing Special” curves through Lombard Canyon led by lone GE C44-9W No. 4879. These fuselages are built by Spirit AeroSystems, and are being shipped from Wichita, Kansas, to ... (more)

A railroad never sleeps
At 9:28 p.m. on June 26, 2017, an eastbound BNSF coal train leaves Toston, Montana, as it follows a zig-zagging Missouri River into the darkening confines of Lom... (more)

A vintage bridge over the Missouri River at Toston, MT frames the cab of BNSF 4337. The GE is serving as a DPU on the rear of a westbound grain train on Montana Rail Link and is en route from Laur... (more)

Montana Rail Link’s MMISLAU freight heads east across the bridge over Big Spring entering Lombard Canyon east of Toston, Montana, on June 23, 2015. The Missoula to Laurel manifest is led by two ... (more)

A westbound BNSF double-stack train exits Lombard Canyon east of Toston, Montana, on the afternoon of June 28, 2016.

A westbound BNSF intermodal train curves along the Missouri River in Lombard Canyon east of Toston, Montana, on July 1, 2016.