Eastbound grain empties descend Mullan Pass, rounding the big curve at Austin on their way towards Helena.

Led by EMD F45 No. 391, Montana Rail Link’s ML freight curves toward the west switch of Austin siding as it drops down the eastern grade of Mullan Pass at Austin, Montana, on August 9, 1996.

A quartet of Montana Rail Link EMD SD70ACe are being used as a mid-train manned helper on a westbound BNSF coke train climbing Mullan Pass out of Austin, Montana, on the morning of June 26, 2020.

The rear of a westbound BNSF unit coke train works out of Austin, Montana, while climbing Montana Rail Link’s Mullan Pass west of Helena on the morning of June 26, 2020. Above the rear DPU, anothe... (more)

A westbound grain train rounds the 10 degree curves at Austin, MT. A vast amount of the grain exported in the United States moves over this Rocky Mountain Pass every year. These heavy trains re... (more)

COKE A early morning Petroleum Coke train climbs the grade, and battles the curves of Mullan Pass. The train was loaded at the Coke load-out at the large refinery in Billings, Montana. The... (more)

First Light on Mullan Pass. Lifting grain up the 2.2% grade of Mullan Pass is no easy challenge. It takes 7 big motors to move this train over the Continental Divide.

MRL4400 leads a long heavy Laurel-Missoula manifest into the large cut at Iron Ridge. The heavy westbound manifest has a manned 4 unit set of MRL SD70ACEs shoving mid train to move the tonnage up... (more)

A morning oil load turns into the rising sun at Austin, Montana. The heavy train is assisted with a rear DPU that can be seen in the background (right) in the photo. Out of site is a 4 unit mann... (more)

The rear portion of a westbound BNSF unit oil train climbs the 2.2 percent grade of Mullan Pass out of Austin, Montana, on July 1, 2020. A manned helper set of a quartet of Montana Rail Link EMD S... (more)

A westbound BNSF unit oil train claws upgrade on Mullan Pass out of Austin, Montana, on July 1, 2020. Mostly hidden in some trees is a Montana Rail Link manned helper set cut in the middle of the ... (more)

The Laurel-Missoula manifest climbs Mullan Pass behind a shiny pair of SD70ACes. The train moves mostly regional traffic between the two yards and the various locals that work the mainline and br... (more)

On the afternoon of June 25, 2020, a BNSF grain train climbs Mullan Pass leaving Austin, Montana. A Montana Rail Link manned helper set is cut into the middle of the train, consisting of a quartet... (more)

A BNSF grain train climbs Mullan Pass leaving Austin, Montana, on the afternoon of June 25, 2020. The rear DPU can still be seen below at the old location of Austin siding, along with a glimpse of... (more)

Powered by a pair of BNSF GEs bracketing a pair of Norfolk Southern units, an eastbound BNSF stack train snakes into Austin, Montana, while descending Montana Rail Link’s route over Mullan Pass on... (more)