Montana Rail Link’s Helena local climbs Winston Hill between Louisville and Winston, Montana on June 30, 2020. Powered by EMD SD40-2XR (rebuilt SD40) No. 263, and GP9 No. 109, all the cars are for... (more)

A fifteen-car Montana Rail Link Helena local descends Winston Hill approaching milepost 215 east of Winston, Montana, on June 30, 2020. Powering the train is EMD SD40-2XR No. 263 and GP9 No. 109.

Clipping along with seven cars for the cement plant at Townsend is Montana Rail Link’s Helena local just east of Winston, Montana, on June 25, 2020.

Montana Rail Link built a short section of track on old Milwaukee Road branch line right-of-way at Bonner, Montana, to help facilitate cleanup of the Milltown Dam site in 2009. Years of mining act... (more)

Helena yard power is setting over a centerbeam flat loaded with ties while big ACe helper power lays over at the engine terminal.

Trotting West through Lombard Canyon, two MRL SD40-2XR's lead the Helena to Logan along the Missouri River.

After exchanging cars with the 844 local and switching their train, the 840 local rolls west alongside the Missouri River just east of Toston.

Picture yourself here; birds are singing below, fish are jumping in the Missouri, and the ever so faint sound of two EMD 645's rumbling Eastbound with the Helena to Logan local echo through the ca... (more)

Catching the sweet light from the quickly setting sun, three SD40-types hustle a heavy Night Gas out of Missoula.

"Plains for two": Montana Rail Link SD40-2XR No. 263 leads the Day Gas Local out of the siding at Plains after meeting two westbound freights on a frigid December afternoon. With a classic ... (more)

A short Montana Rail Link Gas Local rounds a curve along the Clark Fork River as it heads west towards Pipeline (Thompson Falls). At Pipeline, the crew will switch out the loads, and take a cut of... (more)

Montana Rail Link’s Day Gas Local approaches its destination of Thompson Falls just west of Eddy, Montana, on September 21, 2012. MRL’s scenic Fourth Subdivision follows the Clark Fork for most of... (more)

A rare occurrence where an over and under of two trains was possible on the Montana Rail Link happened for a relatively short period of time in 2009. The track that SD40-2XR no. 263 is on was rebu... (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.