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)
MRL 263 parked at engine terminal in Missoula. MRL 263 was built in 4/66 as CNW SD40 891 before being acquired by MRL and upgraded to -2 standards.
MRL 311, wearing the new MRL image paint job, sits at the Missoula diesel servcing area at last light on a summer afternoon.
SD45-2 325 and SD70ACe 4302 head to the west end of Missoula Yard where they will be added to BNSF’s Pasco to Laurel manifest for the eastbound trip over MRL’s 3rd Sub.
SD45-2 325 and SD70ACe 4302 pass SD45-2 326 as they depart the engine terminal for the west end of Missoula yard. Both SD45-2s were built as SD45s and later upgraded to -2 standards. MRL 325 ente... (more)
MRL 325 an ex SP SD45 upgraded to -2 standards, MRL 406 an ex SP GP35, and MRL 608 an ex DM&IR SD9 parked at the engine terminal in Missoula.
The Missoula yard crew with GP35 406 and remote control caboose 1004 head for the engine terminal to swap their RCL consist for SD45-2 325 and SD70ACe 4302.
With bridge work taking place on the 4th sub west of Missoula, four SD45's are ready in case they need to lift a WB train up an over the steeper 10th Sub over Evaro Hill. In this day of wide cabs ... (more)
The last active SD9 on the MRL parked at engine terminal in Missoula. MRL 608 was built in 2/57 as DM&IR 121 then served on the EJ&E as 611 before joining the Washington Rail Group in 1989. Of t... (more)
46. Sun has risen just not high enough as my first train of the day heads west towards Missoula. Day 4 has started well all ready. It just won't last.
47. A pan of BNSF 1029 just before it heads in a small tunnel.
A BNSF warbonnet leads a loaded unit grain train at Missoula. The train is tied down awaiting a new crew to take the train further west.
An SD70MAC leads a unit coke train into MRL's Missoula Yard for a crew change. The train is bound for Roberts Bank, BC and most likely movement to China.
Late afternoon finds the night gas local heading out of Missoula for Thompson Falls. In the consist are two GP9s bound for Paradise.
BNSF 7585, CSX 7633 and CSX 8610 pass the MRL engine terminal as they arrive in Missoula with a BNSF grain train.
