BNSF ES44DC 7918 leads two CSX units on a westbound vehicle train past a cattle ranch west of Avon, MT. The train is out of Helena, headed to Missoula on Montana Rail Link.

The race is on out of Spokane as a Z train behind BNSF 6115 uses the old NP main to overtake a westbound manifest climbing the old SP&S main at Marshall, WA. The Z will top the hill and take the l... (more)

Montana Rail Link's local to Montana City has left the mainline at East Helena and is headed south on former Great Northern trackage to drop coke loads at the Ash Grove cement plant at Montana Cit... (more)

Montana Rail Link helpers descend back to Helena after helping a train west over Mullan Pass. The quartet is cruising east of Austin near Birds Eye on the former NP main.

The Eastern Washington Gateway RR "Scooter" train arrives at Hite. A crew member, driving in a separate van throws the switch allowing the train to enter the elevator siding where it wil... (more)

The Eastern Washington Gateway RR crew has time to plan their work while SD45 EWLX 329 takes on fuel just outside of Medical Lake, WA. Soon the train will head west to Coulee City distributing emp... (more)

MRL 4314 brings up the rear of a quartet of helpers inserted in the manifest headed west behind BNSF 5113. The train is crossing the first of two crossings over the road into Austin, MT. Once thro... (more)

BNSF 5730 bears down on Head Lane crossing with an empty coal train fresh off Mullan Pass, while BNSF 5133 and 4684 get their manifest underway with MRL helpers in place.

A pair of GEs led by BNSF 5113 slow to a stop at Head Lane railroad crossing just outside Helena. A helper crew will insert a quartet of MRL SD70ACes into the train for the lift up Mullan Pass. Th... (more)

BNSF 8229 heads north and east towards Whitefish, MT with an empty grain shuttle. The train is about to cross a typical Idaho crossing at West Colburn, just north of Sand Point, ID. A bit unusual ... (more)

The control stand of EWLX 329 shows off its former owner's initials, Montana Rail Link. The SD45 has found new life once again after originating as an SP unit, then MRL. Not bad for a 20 cylinder ... (more)

CREX 1308 gives a shove on a westbound oil train as it passes an eastbound grain empty at Lamphier siding east of Sprague, WA. The BNSF conductor from the grain train may get a little wet before h... (more)

NS 1117 leads a BNSF vehicle train along a single track stretch of NP's former mainline between Lakeside Jct. and Cheney, WA. At Cheney it will regain a short section of double track as it heads f... (more)

MRL 109 and SD40 259 handle switching at Montana City, spotting coke loads at the Ash Grove Cement plant. This late Sunday afternoon move will be fairly quick as they have no loads to pick up. The... (more)

BNSF 7918 and two CSX units hustle a vehicle train past a Montana Rail Link "Jimbo" tie train parked at Elliston, MT. MRL SD40 264 heads up the latter train and will head west early the ... (more)