MRL 4301 leads the ML east around a curve a few miles west of Columbus, MT as it nears the end of its journey from Missoula to Laurel, MT.

Following the Yellowstone River through a sweeping curve west of Columbus, Montana, is a westbound BNSF grain train on June 24, 2019.

MRL rebuilt SD40s 251 and 265 roll east with a freight in the Yellowstone valley east of Columbus, MT. The train is headed for Laurel yard and will meet a westbound coal train between Columbus and... (more)

A Montana Rail Link freight rolls east near Columbus, MT led by a pair of their rebuilt SD40s, a treat considering most trains run with BNSF power.

Usually running in pairs, GP35's are very rare to see east of Livingston, so seeing a quad set running on the main is basically unheard of. What amounts to the MRL's entire road fleet of GP35's (4... (more)

A westbound grain train wakes up the sleepy town of Columbus during a typical Montana blizzard scene.

On a mostly stormy afternoon, a small pocket of sunshine lights up Montana Rail Link’s Bozeman turn on the curve along the Yellowstone River leaving Columbus, Montana. MRL SD45 No. 355 and SD40-... (more)

An SD45-SD35 combo in 2019 is quite unheard of! Digging in just west of Columbus, these two motors also saw service together on the I&M Rail Link. Definitely something special to witness.

On a gorgeous summer day, two true SD45's lug the local west.

Hearing all 40 cylinders wound up to get this train to track speed along a rising Yellowstone River was a wonderful sound... a rare sight in 2019!

Although not as scenic as the 10th, 4th or even 3rd Sub, the MRL's 2nd Sub still has plenty to offer and contrary to belief is not flat or straight. Seen here curving through the classic eastern M... (more)

Consecutively numbered elephant style 40's dig in as they slide through the bluffs near Columbus. Certainly a nice sight considering all 4 new ACe's are on property at this point.

MRL 4403, MRL 4402 on the L-M nearly through passing (off in the far distance) the site of a 40+ loaded coal car derailment just west of Columbus, MT along the Yellowstone River

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)

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)