Two Montana Rail Link SD40-2XRs lead an eastbound, probably MRL’s Missoula to Laurel freight, approaching the west switch at Quebec, Montana, on October 17, 2018. Snow already cloaks the Crazy M... (more)

A westbound MRL ballast train descends Winston Hill just west of Louisville, MT on a fine fall afternoon. SD40-2XR 265 is in the lead with SD45 355 trailing, one of only two remaining SD45s curren... (more)

With amount of money poured into capital improvements in 2018, the demand for ballast is high. Luckily the MRL services a pit in the middle of their line on the 5th Sub at Pipestone. Here a matchi... (more)

BNSF’s Laurel to Spokane manifest freight powered by three Montana Rail Link EMD SD40-2XR (rebuilt SD40) locomotives led by No. 251 sits in the railroad’s Helena yard waiting for a new crew on... (more)

Three Montana Rail Link EMD SD40-2XRs (rebuilt SD40s), Nos. 251, 253 and 255, power BNSF’s freight between Spokane and Laurel as it tops Winston Hill at Winston, Montana, on July 6, 2018.

Framed by a portion of the station at Helena, Montana, is Montana Rail Link EMD SD40-2XR No. 251 leading MRL’s Laurel to Spokane manifest freight that is waiting for a new crew, while a helper s... (more)

Wide open just west of Craver.

With temps hitting 101, the open door is the only air conditioning available. LM is starting to leave the flat land of eastern MT and slowly enter the more rocky and hill terrain of the 2nd Sub.

With the temps reaching 101, open doors are the rule as the crew tries to catch any breeze they can. With a short train they will have a good run to Helena as they curve around the scenic Yellowst... (more)

Rounding the corner, this trio is putting on quite the show as they head west.

Moments away from an impending storm, the excellent trio has the LM at track speed at they approach Big Timber.

With new power slated to arrive later this summer, this will likely be the last period that these units are regulars on LM/ML type trains. Although ACe's handle most of the assignments, smaller SD... (more)

Montana Rail Link’s “Jimbo” work train runs between Weed and Skyline, Montana, while cleaning up scrap material on the railroad’s line over Mullan Pass west of Helena on June 29, 2016. MRL... (more)

Montana Rail Link’s train No. 840, the Helena local, heads into Lombard, Montana, on the afternoon of June 19, 2014, powered by a matching set of EMD SD40-2XRs (rebuilt SD40s), Nos. 262 and 263.

Curving along the banks of the Missouri River at Lombard, Montana, on the morning of September 12, 2011, is Montana Rail Link’s 840 local powered by a matching set of MRL SD40-2XRs, Nos. 252 and... (more)