The LM is accelerating out of Logan and will wind its way out towards Helena thru Lombard Canyon. The weather was significantly different from this spot west, coming out of overcast, snowy condit... (more)

A very short LAUBOZ aka "LB" is speeding into Livingston and will take a yard route to get around two trains on the main and zip across to Bozeman. This is a revised way of running loca... (more)

Montana Rail Link's Day Gas local heads east towards Missoula, snaking along the banks of the Clark Fork River behind a pair of SD70ACe's outside Eddy, Montana.

Under a plethora of stars on a clear Montana night, the Northern Pacific-era cantilevered signal announces the dispatcher’s decision to route a BNSF train west on Montana Rail Link’s main line... (more)

On a pretty July 5, 2018, morning, Montana Rail Link’s MLAUMIS manifest freight climbs the last bit of grade on Winston Hill approaching Winston, Montana.

Coal loads work their way up to Muir.

Spirit AeroSystems loads arrive in Helena for a crew change. This is always a bit of a head turner out on the wide open range.

At 8:20 a.m. the morning of September 1, 2003, Burlington Northern Santa Fe’s V KCMPTL 29 blows by the mile 207.2 semaphores at Donlan, Montana. In the left seat of this former Santa Fe GP50 is... (more)

An eastbound Burlington Northern Santa Fe freight crosses Cedar Creek Trestle east od Superio, Montana, on July 3, 2001. Leading the train is recently-repainted SD60M No. 9299 (former BN “Desert... (more)

A well-powered "LM" is sinking its teeth into the grade heading up to Mullan Pass. While there were initially only two Aces on the train, a helper set was added not only to assist in dr... (more)

Well now. So, here, a helper set is actually headed east on the rear of the SPOLAU from Logan back to Livingston with, of all things, a GP9 added. It evidently died on the 844 local and was repl... (more)

It's about 20 degrees below zero as the sun rises over the mountains and the first rays of light cast a warm glow on the outskirts of Whitehall, Montana. The engineer of the MRL's Whitehall Extra ... (more)

A thin layer of water on top of the ice reflects an eastbound BNSF coal empty crossing Bridge 55 at Trout Creek, Montana, on February 6, 2023.

Westbound BNSF coal loads pass some rapids on the Clark Fork River along Montana Rail Link's Fourth Sub. This location is very close to where the recent derailment of a BNSF manifest occurred whic... (more)

Blue thunder
One of the visceral treats of Montana Rail Link’s route over Mullan Pass is listening to a heavy unit grain or coal train assault the hill from a location near the top of... (more)