Modern railroading is great! Here's a KCS, a BNSF H2 and a BNSF H1 heading west with a grain train...on the MRL! The river being bridged is the Missouri, just a few miles from its headwaters.
Rolling through the MRL yard in Livingston with a crew change to come in just a couple of minutes.
Grain train just outside the city of Livingston.
Chasing down the east slope of the pass.
At the summit of the pass.
Halfway up the western slope of Bozeman Pass.
Eastbound grain leaving Bozeman and about to tackle the west side grade of the pass.
Blades! Westbound BNSF "vehicle train" on MRL splits the semaphores east of St. Regis. These semaphores were cut down a couple of weeks after my visit. Second unit is NREX 5461, ex-NS, exx-Conr... (more)
The perfect railfan house...and the residents aren't even looking at the train! Third unit in consist is NREX 7511, ex-ATSF SD45-2B.
Half-way up the east slope of the pass into the late evening sun.
Damage from the electrical cabinet fire was heavy. With SD70ACes on the way, I am sure I witnessed 216's last run.
They've poured enough foam in to this locomotive to douse the flames, but it's still smoky.
Eastbound, on the west slope of Mullan Pass. Third unit is MRL 8921.
The hardest part of the pass is behind. Helena and a crew change lay ahead.
