On June 30, the Helena Local got a real late start, not arriving at Townsend until sunset. My friend Dave Gayer and I were returning from Lombard thinking we might get lucky and see the train our ... (more)

This every day local switching talc cars at Lime near Townsend, MT was nothing abnormal except for trailing unit, MRL 382, the last operating SD45 on Montana Rail Link. The Helena Local, a turn fr... (more)

A trio of EMD SD40 types including a rare SDP40 #290 slow to work the town of Townsend, Montana.

The engineer on this Spokane-Laurel manifest opens up the throttle on this set of SD45-2XRs after meeting two westbounds in the siding at Townsend.

The Helena local is working an industry in Townsend on a beautiful morning.

A BNSF coal load walks up Winston Hill with a westbound coal load. 'Heavies' (Coal, Grain, Oil and Coke) often consume almost an hour climbing the 1%+ grades of Winston Hill. In about 1 minute th... (more)

A slow moving westbound coal load crawls up Winston, as a very patient eastbound waits its turn to transverse Winston Hill.....

Eastbound local out of Helena makes a quick switch during a hail storm on the north side of Townsend.

East of Townsend MRL 260 leads this eastbound local.

MRL 260 leads this eastbound local through Townsend.

Slowing moving through the controlled siding with the crew in position on the pilot discussing their upcoming switching move of setting out an empty lumber car on a spur track, MRL's "840" local a... (more)

After working a local industry, MRL's 840 Local accelerates eastbound through the Townsend Siding with MRL GP9 116 and SD45-2 308 in charge.

This location along Austin-Mullan Pass road is perhaps one of easiest accessed locations on Mullan Pass. The small canyon makes a great backdrop as trains ascend the grade. On this visit BNSF was ... (more)

1960's muscle lowers the Missoula originated manifest down the east slope of Mullan. The road here was once a important military road, used to ferry troops and supplies between forts long before t... (more)