Montana Rail Link’s Paradise Local switches Thompson River Lumber Lead at Woodlin east of Thompson Falls, Montana, on a cold, crisp February 7, 2014. Recently-repainted EMD GP9 No. 127 leads the... (more)

A westbound BNSF coal train arcs along the riverbank of the Clark Fork between Thompson Falls and Eddy, Montana, on September 19, 2012.

The last bit of sunlight on February 13, 2024, illuminates an eastbound BNSF grain train crossing the new bridge spanning Lake Pend Oreille between Algoma and Sandpoint, Idaho. Construction of thi... (more)

Lone BNSF GE ES44C4 No. 6844 leads a westbound BNSF unit oil train through the curves at Hope, Idaho, on February 13, 2024. The cantilever searchlight signals at both ends of the siding here are c... (more)

An eastbound BNSF grain train follows the Clark Fork to Trout Creek, Montana, on February 8, 2024. Trailing lead motor BNSF GE ES44AC No. 5796 is Ferromex EMD SD70ACe No. 4053, adding some color t... (more)

On February 13, 2024, an eastbound BNSF coal empty curves along the shoreline of scenic Lake Pend Oreille as it approaches Hope, Idaho. The train recently passed through Sandpoint and is now runni... (more)

On a wintery morning in the Clark Fork River Valley, a westbound BNSF freight crosses Bridge 57 spanning the Clark Fork just west of Trout Creek, Montana, on February 9, 2024.

BNSF GE ET44AC No. 3672 leads an eastbound BNSF grain train through Trout Creek, Montana, on February 11, 2024. This former Montana Rail Link main line is now BNSF’s MRL Subdivision of its Monta... (more)

The backshop at Montana Rail Link’s Livingston Shop was well equipped to handle any major repair or rebuild of a locomotive for the railroad. On May 7, 2012, an assortment of blue EMDs has work ... (more)

Amtrak’s eastbound California Zephyr passes the Winter Park Express ski train tied down in the siding at Fraser, Colorado, on January 11, 2019.

An all-to-common engineroom fire has also damaged paint and logos on the side of BNSF GE C44-9W No. 4465, seen in the locomotive consist on an eastbound BNSF Q train running through Hope, Idaho, o... (more)

A westbound BNSF Q train crosses Bridge 55 over the icy Trout Creek inlet into the Clark Fork at Trout Creek, Montana, on February 12, 2024. The westbound train is operating on former Montana Rail... (more)

The gates to Harrison
Montana Rail Link’s 9.5-mile branch to Harrison out of Sappington was a bit like stepping into a railroad time warp. Jointed rail winding through idyllic ranch co... (more)

An eastbound BNSF freight rolls through Weeksville between Thompson Falls and Plains, Montana, on Montana Rail Link’s scenic Fourth Subdivision on February 6, 2022.

Crossing Coyote Basin
Deseret Power Railway’s afternoon coal train from Deserado Mine near Rangley, Colorado, to the power plant in Bonanza, Utah, crosses remote and stark Coyote Basin... (more)