At the end of the day on July 1, 2020, a westbound Montana Rail Link ballast extra climbs upgrade on Mullan Pass west of Helena, Montana. The train is passing through striking Iron Ridge cut betwe... (more)

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 f... (more)

Montana Rail Link’s Helena switch sprints across the Missouri River as it departs Townsend, Montana, on July 3, 2018. During 2017-2019, this “local” out of Helena switched the cement plant a... (more)

Montana Rail Link EMD SD40-2XR No. 257 scoots a “Jimbo” work train out of Elliston, Montana, on the way east over Mullan Pass on October 7, 2020.

Powered by Montana Rail Link EMD SD40-2XR No. 257, an eastbound MRL “Jimbo” work train cruises through Jens, Montana, on the morning of October 7, 2020.

Rolling over Prickly Pear Creek, this is one of, if not the only, spots on the MRL where former NP 210 (MRL 109) is not on home rails. This is the 4.8 mile former Great Northern line from Helena t... (more)

Three classics zip an empty difco train west towards the pit under the last sun they will see for awhile. Not a common sight to see an original SD40 paired with two 20 cylinder SD45's in 2020!

While Jefferson Canyon is absolute solace in the morning, an 0730 departure means most days except maybe early to mid June will have you sweating out the light in the canyon. A train leaving White... (more)

A Montana Rail Link ballast train heads west through Jefferson River Canyon west of Sappington, Montana, on the afternoon of June 26, 2016.

The entire active SD45 fleet with a former UP SD40 up front pound up Bozeman Hill. Even with 56 cylinders they still put on a show lugging 37 side dumps to Whitehall. Standard cabs and side dumps,... (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.

Skirting along the banks of the Yellowstone River, this switch job has just returned from the furthest point east MRL crews operate trains, the Coors elevator in Huntley, MT. Seen returning to Bil... (more)

MRL's Rock Train eases its way through the valleys of Montana's 5th subdivison mountains with MRL 256 leading towards Whitehall, Montana.

MRL 265 leading a train down the MRL 5th Sub through the canyons. This train is bound for loading down at Pipestone, MT. Such a beautiful line!