The MRL Logan Local curves along the Harrison Branch through the fields outside of Harrison.

For a few days this summer the usual SD70 pair for the gas local was broken up as #4408 was taken offline and replaced with #253, an SD40. This was a rare opportunity to see a conventional cab bac... (more)

MRL's Laurel-Missoula heads up the grade just outside of Helena. This train overnighted in town after arriving late at night and finally got a crew the next day, after getting helpers added onto t... (more)

With a GP35 and SD40-2XR on the point, Montana Rail Link's Logan Local rounds the bend at the Missouri Headwaters State Park and approaches Trident, Montana with cars for the GCC cement plant. The... (more)

After helping a westbound BNSF train over Mullan Pass west of Helena, Montana, a set of Montana Rail Link SD70ACes slowly makes its way downgrade between Weed and Austin on July 6, 2022. They are ... (more)

The last in a series of westbound trains up Winston Hill this evening was the MRL Helena Local heading back west to Helena from Townsend.

The MRL Bozeman Local heads over Bozeman Pass towards Livingston.

The MRL Helena Local heads west on the Montana City Branch.

The MRL Logan Local makes its once a week run on the Harrison Branch to Harrison.

Bolting over Winston Hill
Weather turned quite storming in parts of Montana on the afternoon of July 8, 2022. My brother Tom, his son Charlie and I were waiting on Montana Rail Link’s ... (more)

The MRL Night Gas snakes around some curves along the mighty Flathead River making its way towards Thompson Falls in the late evening

After meeting a loaded grain train at Muir, MRL 250 descends the east slope of Bozeman Pass.

On the afternoon of June 29, 2022, Montana Rail Link’s Laurel to Missoula manifest freight, commonly called the “LM,” climbs the eastern slope of Mullan Pass west of Helena, Montana. Six MRL... (more)

A Montana Rail Link “Jimbo” work train full of ties rolls east downgrade on Winston Hill at milepost 214 between Winston and Townsend, Montana, on July 8, 2022.

MRL 403 creeps around the corner pulling 6 MRL 3 Bay hoppers bound for Harrison.