October 1, 2022, dawned rainy and cool in Townsend, Montana, along Montana Rail Link’s grade over Winston Hill on the Second Subdivision. Might as well stay warm and dry in our Vrbo accommodatio... (more)

Montana Rail Link EMD SD40-2XR No. 264 and EMD GP9 No. 109 power a short MRL Helena local out of Townsend, Montana, on the afternoon of September 30, 2022.

A Montana Rail Link empty ballast train heads upgrade to the loader at Spire Rock at Pipestone, Montana, on October 3, 2022. This train is operating on a portion of the old Northern Pacific main l... (more)

On the afternoon of June 28, 2022, a westbound BNSF grain train climbs Montana Rail Link’s crossing of Mullan Pass. Below in the background shadows is the rear DPU of the train going through Aus... (more)

Rolling eastbound expeditiously on Montana Rail Link’s Second Subdivision is a BNSF coal train approaching the west switch at Craver, Montana, on a sunny October 8, 2020, morning.

Mixed train on the Harrison branch (sort of)
Montana Rail Link’s 844 local out of Logan, Montana, is slowly working upgrade on the Harrison branch on October 4, 2022. Besides the two c... (more)

BNSF GE ET44C4 No. 3927 and C44-9W No. 5247 lead a westbound coal train along the Clark Fork between Noxon and Heron, Montana, on the perfect afternoon of October 2, 2021. Both leaders are not rea... (more)

MRL 404 leads the Bozeman Local east into the 1945 approach to the tunnel at Muir. The local will be heading down the remnants of the NP Branch to Gardiner to switch a lumber facility.

Three BNSF Dash-9s lead a westbound loaded coal train up the beginning of the climb towards Mullan Pass with downtown Helena in the background. A four pack of MRL SD70ACes acting as mid-train help... (more)

96 cylinders of EMD 710 power thunder up Mullan Pass with the Laurel-Missoula.

Montana Rail Link’s 844 local trundles upgrade on the branch to Harrison, Montana, on October 4, 2022. On the rear of the train is weatherbeaten Northern Pacific observation car No. 391 that is ... (more)

Montana Rail Link’s 844 local, led by MRL GP35 Nos. 403 and 401, works upgrade past milepost 5 on the branch to Harrison, Montana, on October 4, 2022. The local has two cars for the grain elevat... (more)

Ascending out of Austin
Montana Rail Link’s Laurel to Missoula manifest freight, historically and commonly called the “LM,” climbs the 2.2 percent grade up the eastern slope of Mu... (more)

MRL 4407 leads the LAUMIS Westbound under Blue Skies on August 19th, 2022.

MRL 262 leads the LAUBOZ up Bozeman Pass on a warm August Evening.