During the bridge rebuild at Reed Point that severed Montana Rail Link’s main line from June 24 to July 22, 2023, the railroad operated several different turns and the usual locals to serve thei... (more)

Just after sunset on July 5, 2023, Montana Rail Link EMD SD70ACe Nos. 4302 and 4301 power a Helena to Bozeman turn dropping downgrade past milepost 214 east of Winston, Montana.

With th... (more)

With the collapse of Montana Rail Link’s Yellowstone River Bridge near Reed Point under the weight of MLAUMIS on June 24, 2023, and the subsequent severing of a busy main line, MRL and BNSF had ... (more)

Manifest LM crosses Skyline Trestle on the way to the summit of Mullan Pass.

The westbound Montana Rail Link Laurel-Missoula manifest splits the cut approaching Austin Creek Viaduct. The train is making good time up Mullan Pass, and has no helper this afternoon.

For many years, Montana Rail link 840 local, also known as the Helena local, has been mostly powered by a pair of rebuilt SD40s (SD40-2XRs) that was sought out as a photographic subject in scenic ... (more)

A quartet of Montana Rail Link EMD SD70ACe locomotives used as a manned helper are mid-train helping a westbound BNSF freight up the steep 2.2% grade of Mullan Pass crossing Austin Creek Trestle a... (more)

A manned helper set of four Montana Rail Link EMD SD70ACes are cut into a heavy coal train working up the steep 2.2% grade grade up Mullan Pass west of Helena at Skyline, Montana, on the morning o... (more)

On the pristine morning of June 26, 2015, Montana Rail Link’s Helena local curves along the Missouri River at Lombard, Montana, powered by two MRL EMD SD70ACes.

MRL 4302 trails a four unit helper set of SD70ACes descending Mullan Pass into Helena, MT. The power has just passed through Austin and is headed to Birds Eye, then Helena where it will cut in to ... (more)

MRL 4302 and three mates serve as manned helpers on a loaded coal train climbing Mullan Pass westbound at Green Horn Trestle. The bridge is at milepost 17, about five miles above Austin, MT.

Drifting downgrade into Austin, Montana, on the morning of June 29, 2016, is a Montana Rail Link helper set heading back to Helena to help another train up Mullan Pass. Note the large cut above th... (more)

A Montana Rail Link helper set curves into Austin, Montana, on June 29, 2016, heading back to Helena to help another train up Mullan Pass. Note how No. 4302, the eastern locomotive in the consist ... (more)

MRL manned helpers give a lift to a BNSF led freight as they cross Skyline trestle on the climb up Mullan Pass west of Helena, MT. Head end power was a pair of red/silver BNSF Dash 9s.

Montana Rail Link’s Helena local travels along the Missouri River through Lombard, Montana, on June 22, 2015.