Storming past milepost 215
Montana’s Winston Hill between Townsend and Helena seems to be a magnate for afternoon thunderstorms in summer. Being east of the Continental Divide and wed... (more)

Montana Rail Link’s 840 local, the Helena local, returns from the cement plant at Montana City and is approaching East Helena, Montana on July 7, 2022. MRL EMD SD45 No. 355 and EMD GP9 No. 109 a... (more)

Montana Rail Link's Helena Local job pulls into the siding and approaches the signals at Louisville, Montana behind GP9 109 and SD45 355. The train will hold here for a westbound grain train to pa... (more)

On the afternoon of July 6, 2023, Montana Rail Link’s Helena local hauls eleven cars downgrade out of Winston for the lime plant at Townsend, Montana. It’s raining, but I still shot the local ... (more)

Montana Rail Link’s Helena local works upgrade at milepost 214 between Townsend and Winston, Montana, on the afternoon of June 27, 2023.

After the passage of a thunderstorm on the afternoon of July 6, 2023, Montana Rail Link’s Helena local growls up Winston Hill under dark skies as it approaches the top of the hill at Winston, Mo... (more)

Dwarfed by the surrounding terrain, Montana Rail Link's Helena Local heads east as it descends Winston Hill outside of Winston, Montana behind a GP9 and SD45. The train is bound for Townsend at th... (more)

After working Montana City, the MRL's Helena Local heads back up the 13th Subdivision through East Helena, Montana to get back on the mainline and head towards Townsend. In the lead is MRL 355, th... (more)

Montana Rail Link’s 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.

Led by venerable Montana Rail Link EMD GP9 No. 109, MRL’s Helena local rolls smartly eastward between East Helena and Winston, Montana, on the afternoon of September 29, 2022.

Into the storm
With four cars for Helena Yard, Montana Rail Link’s Helena local climbs Winston Hill past milepost 215 and toward some stormy weather east of Winston Montana, on the af... (more)

With the blue hour descending upon the valley and lightly falling snow filling the air, Montana Rail Link's Helena Local cruises up the hill as it splits the searchlights signals outside Winston, ... (more)

Heading downhill at a good clip is Montana Rail Link’s Helena local bound for the lime plant at Townsend, Montana, on the afternoon of July 7, 2022. MRL EMDs Nos. 109 and 355 have the local past... (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.

Montana Rail Link EMD SD40-2XR (a rebuilt SD40) No. 264 and EMD GP9 No. 109 pull eight cars up Winston Hill out of Townsend, Montana, on the afternoon of September 29, 2022.