After negotiating a couple of horseshoe curves at Austin, a loaded BNSF grain train has crossed back over top of itself, struggling to get over Mullan Pass.

Helper #2 sits quietly at the eastend of Austin siding waiting on a slow westbound climbing up Mullan Pass.

Helper #2 drifts through the siding at Austin, heading down to the eastend to meet another westbound.

BNSF's Kansas City to Spokane manifest climbs towards Austin on MRL's 3rd Subdivision.

MRL's Helena Helper #4 coasts eastward down Mullan Pass heading for their next assignment at Helena.

Repainted into the new Rail Link scheme, MRL 4312 is the first of 4 SD70ACes in Helper #2's consist assisting BNSF's KCKSPO over Mullan Pass.

BNSF's Kansas City to Spokane manifest begins its assault on Mullan Pass.

A matched pair of BNSF C44-9Ws ease an empty rack train through the siding at Austin on MRL's 3rd Sub.

Consisting of MRL SD70ACes 4311, 4307, 4301 and 4305, Helena Helper #3 drifts down Mullan Pass for their next assignment.

A repainted BNSF C44-9W guides an empty grain train through the siding at Austin, slowing to meet a westbound.

After meeting a loaded grain train (seen in the background) at the east end of the siding at Austin, Helena Helper #2 returns down Mullan Pass to Helena.

A matched quartet of MRL SD70ACes are struggling to get a Graceville, MN - Vancouver, WA grain load over Mullan Pass in a timely fashion!

MRL's Helena Helper #3 uses all of their 17,200 horses to assist Vancouver, WA grain loads over Mullan Pass.

Helena Helper #2 drifts down Mullan Pass through the siding at Austin to meet another "Heavy" heading uphill.

Little buddy
While a horse and his little goat buddy seem more interested in the photographer, in the background, a Montana Rail Link helper set of three EMD SD70ACes drifts down the 2.2... (more)