As a BNSF grain train churns upgrade with a quartet of manned Montana Rail Link EMD SD70ACe helpers cut into the middle of the train, another helper set slowly makes its way east back toward Helen... (more)
Four Montana Rail Link EMD SD70ACe locomotives, Nos. 4304, 4307, 4306 and 4314, are mid-train manned helpers on a westbound BNSF coal train climbing Mullan Pass’ 2.2 percent grade out of Austin,... (more)
A westbound BNSF coal train doubles back out of Austin, Montana, while climbing Mullan Pass west of Helena on October 7, 2020. Two BNSF motors on the head end are seen over the the first of four M... (more)
Burlington Northern coal gon No. 533686 rolls west in a BNSF coal train climbing Montana Rail Link’s Mullan Pass as a quartet of MRL EMD SD70ACe locomotives on a manned helper set cut into in th... (more)
The rear portion of a westbound BNSF unit oil train climbs the 2.2 percent grade of Mullan Pass out of Austin, Montana, on July 1, 2020. A manned helper set of a quartet of Montana Rail Link EMD S... (more)
MRL 4304 brings up the rear of a quartet of helpers tucked into a loaded coal train heading through Birds Eye after leaving Helena, MT. The train will spend the next hour or so climbing Mullan Pas... (more)
Although quite dirty by MRL standards, these helpers cannot avoid it working through Bozeman tunnel. This helper set has picked up the locals engines and cars and will bring them back to Livingst... (more)
A manned four pack of MRL SD70ACe's helps two SD45's and their short Laurel - Spokane up the 2.2% grade of Mullan Pass, crossing the rarely photographed Greenhorn Trestle.
After helping westbound trains up Mullan Pass, two sets of Montana Rail Link EMD SD70ACes wait at Elliston, Montana, on September 26, 2007. Soon enough, the locomotives will head back east to Hele... (more)
MRL 4304 leads the LM up Bozeman Pass with over 100 cars at the famous crossing with the mountains in the background.
The Laurel-Missoula manifest winds its way across Skyline trestle with the city of Helena off in the distance. Big Sky Country!
The Laurel-Missoula leans into the heavy grade up Mullan Pass with an ACe/SD45/SD45-2 consist.
The LM struggles up Mullan Pass with Helena and the domed Capital building in the background.
The LM grinds up Mullan Pass in the early evening with an "MRL only" SD70ACe, SD45, SD45-2 combo!
The LM rolls towards Missoula in storm light. Later a big rain storm rolled through the area.