The air is crisp and the leaves are falling. The days are getting short in the North Country. BNSF lifts a manifest over Greenhorn Trestle.

It is 1815 as this Centrailia, WA Coal Load passes over Austin Creek. 30 minutes behind this goliath is a unit Oil train (posted previously). 2 heavies in 30 minutes.

It is 430pm, a storm is bulidling over the mountains of Helena National Forest to the east. For 30 minutes the throbbing of 8 AC locomotives could be heard over distant rumbles of thunder as BNSF... (more)

Sparkling new BNSF 6511 leads this train into Austin. minutes later 4 MRL manned helpers scream past. The DPU shoving hard on the rear.

Sparkling new BNSF 6511 aggressively charges into 2.2% compensated grade near Iron Ridge. This is the most challenging section of Northern Pacific's climb for the Continental Divide. The multiple ... (more)

OIL Train over Mullan. Bakken oil moving to the PNW generally takes the ex.GN HighLine. This day however was an exception. U ELUFTE0 03T Eland, ND to Fidalgo, WA 103 loads, 0 empties, 13871 tons a... (more)

Last light at Austin. This coal load passes the remains of a May derailment on the inside of the curve....

Greenhorn Trestle is tucked into a shallow box valley high in the Montana Rockies. The area was once a rich gold camp with producing lode and placer claims. Not much remains of the camp. A few de... (more)

BNSF6206 climbs towards Mullan Pass at Birdseye. The entire train can be seen stretched out. The mid-train helper consists of 4 MRL SD70ACE locomotives, and the rear has a BNSF DPU.

BNSF5768 is aggressively charging this train into the 2.2% grade at Greenhorn. The roar is impressive as 3 large motors fill the small box valley with sounds of railroading...

Built in 8-1949, this ballast car was likely hauled over the pass in revenue service by massive Northern Pacific articulated locomotives. Designed for ballast service, this car also saw heavy u... (more)

MRL4313 shoves the "Invasion of Mullan". LAUMIS has a hefty cut of M1A2 Main Battle Tanks cut in heading west. While the tanks are out of view in this picture, the swings are pushing on the tanks,... (more)

MRL252 leads the "Invasion of Mullan" MRL LAUMIS has a hefty cut of M1A2 Main Battle Tanks cut in heading west.

BNSF 9266 leads an export coal train over Skyline Trestle on Mullan Pass. The spectacular scenery near the top of the pass is amongst this photographers favorite to railfan.....

Perched near the Continental Divide, the view is one of my favorite in Montana. You can watch for 45 minutes as trains crawl out of Austin, scream thru Weed, and lastly thunder over Skyline as tra... (more)