Helena yard power is setting over a centerbeam flat loaded with ties while big ACe helper power lays over at the engine terminal.

This nose view of engine 1382 creates a sense of geometric concentric circles as the old NP S-4 stands guard over Montana Rail Link operations outside the Helena, MT station.

A westbound unit ballast train climbs out of Helena into the setting sun. The engineer shades his face in order to see the track ahead. A brace of MRL helpers shove hard on the rear as the train ... (more)

MRL 4400 is on the point of westbound freight LM-Laural to Missoula, as it pauses at Helena.

MRL 4400 is on the point of westbound freight LM-Laural to Missoula, as it pauses at Helena.

MRL forwarding BN train 121 starting up the grade westbbound out of Helena

MRL 321 leads 3 more flared SD-45s and half of a unit grain train in October of 2008 just below Austin on MRL's 3rd Subdivision over Mullan Pass

Westbound BN train 125 departing Helena, MT

Exhaust singes the sky as the Laurel-Missoula Manifest screams out of Helena. The train will soon reach grades of 2.2% on its twisting climb up and over the Continental Divide.

Three workers from a contract mobile wash service clean new Montana Rail Link EMD SD70ACe No. 4302 being used in helper service on Mullan Pass. Even one trip through the Mullan Tunnel could coat t... (more)

Two sets of four Montana Rail Link EMD SD70ACes, along with a couple of SD45s and yard switcher GP9 No. 120 gather at the engine facility at Helena, Montana, on May 23, 2011. The SD70ACes are used... (more)

Helper coming back from Avon to Helena

Crews are seen wrapping up one of their biweekly power-washing sessions on one of MRL's SD70ACe helper sets at the Helena Roundhouse. After 48 hours of hard runs up and over Mullan Pass, even thes... (more)

A westbound manifest with three Boeing climbing to the Continental Divide near Mullan Pass. I never thought I'll see one day one of these rare trains. It was the surprise of my trip.

Chasing the setting sun..........