Arriving at Victor Montana Rail Link’s Bitterroot branch (also known as the Darby branch) local arrives at Victor, Montana, under rainy skies on May 18, 2013. This line had high water and washout problems in the spring of 2011, and MRL filed notice of intent to discontinue service on the line later that year. In spring of 2012, the railroad worked out an agreement with Ravalli county and shippers on the line to resume operations, operating down the branch once a week on Saturdays using the Paradise local’s power when it was in Missoula for weekend servicing. Looking through the long-abandoned cattle/livestock loading pens located on the siding there, MRL GP9 Nos. 127 and 113 bring the train to the end of track at Victor. Two empty boxcars are being used as “idlers” to distribute the weight of the of two loaded hopper cars on the light rail and wood trestles of the branch. Unfortunately, later in 2013, service on the Darby branch was suspended—and the light jointed rails south of Missoula are silent and rusty.
