A 4 unit set of MRL Helpers dig in for the 17 miles climb from Helena to Blossburg and over Mullan Pass. Here the job gets to the 2.2% grade and the fight begins. The helpers cut in at Helena Jct ... (more)

The couple days we spent west of Helena, the weather was about everything you could imagine. Sun, snow, wind, rain, clear skies, cloud skies, cold, and warm weather was coming and going about ever... (more)

Even it appears both trains are heading the same way, but soon the trains will meet in 1/2 mile. This is near Weed on the MRL 3rd Sub. The coal train is working up thru Austin and the many reverse... (more)

It is pretty crazy how filthy the Helena Helpers get by shoving thru the Mullan Tunnel. The tunnel was originally built in 1883 at 3879' long. 400 feet at the west end was taken out as a part of a... (more)

We made a big family vacation to Yellowstone in June. The boys hope to see the MRL for the 1st time before it is gone. I figured the Bozeman Turn was a good bet to try and get the 1 evening we had... (more)

With a 16:00 departure from Laurel, this Laurel to Bozeman local is pretty popular chase on the MRL 2nd Sub. Back in May 2002 the job has a green signal at West Rapids so the engineer pours on the... (more)

With a 16:00 departure from Laurel, this Laurel to Bozeman local is pretty popular chase on the MRL 2nd Sub. Back in May 2002 the job pokes along following a grain train west, while meeting a few ... (more)

This double oil empty is back rolling after slowly making their way thru the yard/siding at Livingston the MRL 2nd Sub. An old EMD white MAC still hangs on helping out. One of these empties is bou... (more)

The normal junker freight train across southern Iowa is this Lincoln to Galesburg and counterpart. These trains usually drag everything possible between Galesburg and Lincoln and are dog-along tra... (more)

An Itasca, WI, to Parson, KS, freight is in heavy dynamics as they drop down the .80% grade out of Chariton into the Chariton River Valley. The train is 20 miles from the Missouri border as they w... (more)

An extra freight train from Des Moines, IA, to Herington, KS, is back on the move at Williamson. Williamson is located at MP 31 on the UP Trenton Sub on the old ex-Rock Island Spineline. The train... (more)

This old ex-Rock Island depot along the UP Trenton Sub in Chariton is still used by the UP. It is hard to believe that this old gem has stood the test of time. The UP Trenton Sub is the south end ... (more)

A Global 1 to Shops Yard, LA, (Los Angeles, CA Container Facility) stacker hammers upgrade as they works south on the UP Trenton Sub towards KC This is part of the old Rock Island Spineline betwe... (more)

A Global 1 to Shops Yard, LA, (Los Angeles, CA Container Facility) stacker hammers upgrade as they works south on the UP Trenton Sub towards KC This is part of the old Rock Island Spineline betwe... (more)

The daily Waterloo, IA, to Kirk Yard near Gary, IN, manifest train is 8 miles into the trip out of Waterloo. The train tackles the grade Big Raymond Hill on the Dubuque Sub. With all 3 GE's barkin... (more)