Drifting downgrade with a minimum set of train line air and the curvature of the track doing the rest, MRL's Missoula to Laurel freight descends Mullen Pass in the wonderful Rocky Mountains on a f... (more)

Growling up the 2.2% grade at Austin, MT on Mullan Pass. The lead locomotive is one of the first GEVO locomotives delivered to the BNSF. The locomotive is wearing a clean coat of factory Heritage... (more)

A westbound manifest grinds up the east slope of Mullan Pass into the upper of the Austin Loops at Iron Ridge on a crisp summer morning. The mid-train helpers are just barely visible in the distan... (more)

An eastbound freight drops downgrade between the two loops above Austin, Montana, on the afternoon of September 24, 2006. Powering the BNSF train traveling over Mullan Pass is Kansas City Southern... (more)

A new EMD SD70ACe leads an empty Centralia, WA coal train through the curves above Austin on the east side of Mullan Pass.

Aptly named... Railfans of the MRL have been known to call the MRL 290 by its nickname, of "Flat-Back". The 290 began its life in May of 1966 as the GN 321, and eventually made it... (more)

A former Santa Fe Dash 8-41CW leads an assortment of covered hoppers through the reverse curves above Austin while easing down the east side of Mullan Pass.

A future Boeing 737 flies high over skyline trestle heading up to Mullan Pass.

This brand new SD70ACe, alongside a pair of executive SD70MACs, approach a temporary 10 MPH speed restriction on the main track at Austin where a tie and surfacing gang was working earlier in the ... (more)

A trio of MRL SD70ACes swing through the horseshoe curve at the west end of Austin siding with the daily Laurel to Missoula manifest.

BNSF 8961 grinds up the 2.2% grade of Mullan Pass with a 10,000+ ton loaded coal train. While waiting on this bluff over Austin Road, we could hear the sound of the train approaching, but after tw... (more)

A MLAUPAS with leased MRL power grinds up Mullan Pass over skyline trestle.

After meeting an eastbound at Austin, CP 8844 West begins the assault upon Mullan Pass in earnest. Power appears sparse for a loaded grain train on 2.2% grade, however, there are four MRL SD-70ACe... (more)

There's frost on the crossties as BNSF 6747 East heads into the rising sun while negotiating the tight arc at Austin, MT on a September morn. The manifest is on the siding as Austin is a frequent ... (more)

While a MLAUPAS grinds upgrade in the foreground an empty coal train slides down from Mullan Pass to meet in the siding at Austin. The drama of mountain railroading is well displayed on the east ... (more)