For the first time in nearly a year, Montana Rail Link dispatched a local down the former Northern Pacific Darby Branch, south of Missoula. The line had been shut down in June 2011 after fl... (more)

One of the endless coal trains plying the MRL briefly pauses in Missoula for a crew change.

A full moon illuminates the MRL Diesel Service Facility in Missoula on a cold but clear night in Western Montana.

Two Dash 9s on this Tacoma, WA bound stack train wait idling on the main track for a crew to take this train west on the MRL.

The morning gas local drops downgrade towards Missoula on a warm July day.

The roundhouse is gone now, but I believe the turntable is still there.

A stop in Missoula brings new passengers, fuel, water, and a crew change to the North Coast Hiawatha, in this scene from 35 years ago. I've also noticed that the two number boards are different.

So Fresh, So Clean: Montana Rail Link SD70ACe 4312 leads the Night Gas on the evening of May 23, 2011. The engine is the first of its class to wear the new MRL paint scheme and it carries i... (more)

A matching set of Milwaukee box cabs E47B, C and A are switching Missoula, MT. In 3 trips down there these were the only box cabs we saw in operation. Everything else was Little Joes or diesels.... (more)

6 units in various colors and models are departing Missoula, MT westbound on the former Northern Pacific. This was a colorful time on the newly formed BN.

All of the units on this colorful Burlington Northern lashup have been renumbered from their original owners as shown in this view west of Missoula, MT in September 1970. The SD9's are 6249 and 62... (more)

The Polson local is slowly drifting downgrade approaching DeSmet on the Evaro Hill line. Pea soup fog had just lifted from this location but behind the train, its still hugging US93 in the valley... (more)

MRL GP35s 401 and 402 on display in Missoula, Mt showing of their new coats of paint.

When I left town, Missoula's trackage and yard had been owned by the MRL for only two years - given up by the Burlington Northern. Returning 23 years later, all I find is BNSF trains. This grain... (more)