On October 3, 2022, clouds are quickly building over Homestake Pass as a Montana Rail Link ballast empty works upgrade to the loader at Spire Rock at Pipestone, Montana. The train is running on a ... (more)

"Passing Pipestone on Pipestone Pass" An MRL ballast train shoves up Pipestone Pass to Conda Mining, with the engines passing under an outcropping of pipestone.

Storm clouds build over Homestake Pass as a Montana Rail Link ballast empty heads upgrade to the loader at Spire Rock at Pipestone, Montana, on October 3, 2022. This train is operating on a portio... (more)

A Montana Rail Link empty ballast train heads upgrade to the loader at Spire Rock at Pipestone, Montana, on October 3, 2022. This train is operating on a portion of the old Northern Pacific main l... (more)

A ballast train departs Pipestone as they traverse the 5th Sub eastward.

An empty ballast train shoves west to clear the crossing before loading up.

A ballast train arrives at Pipestone to load for the MRL main.

A ballast train departs Pipestone on the 5th Sub along the former NP Homestake Line.

With their loading nearly complete, a loaded ballast train prepares to depart for Helena.

A ballast train arrives at the quarry in Pipestone to load with a former BHP SD70ACe on the head end.

MRL SD45 346 heads down grade with 44 cars and 3,850 tons of freshly loaded ballast from the loader at Pipestone. The ballast loader at Pipestorne is the now terminus of the famous former Northern... (more)

A pair of MRL EMDs sit at the ballast quarry in Pipestone waiting for a cut of ballast hoppers to be loaded.

One of the first trains to load at a new ballast quarry on the east slope of NP's Homstake Pass route is seen on a blustry spring day behind a rebuilt SD9 and a geep. Regular service on this line ... (more)

MRL's only SDP40 still on the roster rolls West on the ex-NP Homestake Pass with a short MOW train in tow.

Stormy skys near Pipestone (siding) , Montana. Homestake Pass was Northern pacific's direct main into Butte, Montana. The line was built to expedite passenger and coal traffic into Butte. The coal... (more)