WOOF! Even dogs can be foamers.

Late-afternoon sun casts the classic shadow of an SD40 onto the big cut above Austin as a clean pair of MRL's older units assist two modern GEs on the climb to the summit of Mullan Pass.

westbound BN train 121 running on MRL near the summit of Mullan Pass west of Helena, MT

BNSF 796 looked a whole lot better in Warbonnet paint, I think. Here it tip toes downgrade into the tight curve at Austin, MT in its descent of Mullan Pass. It is nice that MRL left the NP-vintage... (more)

A BNSF WB pounds upgrade at Austin on Mullan Pass.

Mid train helpers on westbound coal up Mullan Pass

Four MRL SD45 helpers on the rear of a loaded grain heavy snaking around the big cuts of Iron Ridge above Austin, MT on their way up Mullan Pass.

Five MRL SD70ACe's cross the trestle at Austin, helping a loaded grain train over Mullan Pass.

Four MRL SD70ACe's shove a heavy coal train up Mullan Pass just below the siding at Austin. The track zig zags up the canyon on this part of the grade.

Boeing fueselages appear to "fly" up Mullan Pass behind BNSF's Kansas City - Pasco Manifest; the Kickpass.

Three Boeing 737 fueselages appear to be "taking off" as they climb Mullan Pass on the front of the Kansas City - Pasco manifest.

Trouble on Mullan Pass. With sister 4300 not loading properly, 4309 and another MRL ACe are cut into the middle of the heaviest train to ever cross Mullan. The head-end and other mid-train helpers... (more)

The heaviest train to ever cross Mullan Pass climbs up the stiff 2.2% grade.

The heaviest train to ever cross Mullan Pass is stopped on the hill as the helper crew tries to get SD70ACe 4300 to load. After several failed attempts, the train moves up to Austin where it will ... (more)

Six MRL Aces wind their way back down the 2.2 percent grade at Austin towards Helena where they'll get their next assignment.