Clipping along with seven cars for the cement plant at Townsend is Montana Rail Link’s Helena local just east of Winston, Montana, on June 25, 2020.

Venerable Montana Rail Link EMD GP9 No. 109 smokes it up leading the Helena local up Winston Hill at milepost 215 east of Winston, Montana, on the afternoon of June 25, 2020. MRL 109 was built in ... (more)

GE locomotives in three different BNSF paint schemes lead an eastbound coal empty through the curves leaving Winston, Montana, on the afternoon of June 25, 2019.

Under a big Montana sky
An eastbound BNSF unit oil train passes milepost 214 as it descends Winston Hill east of Winston, Montana, late in the afternoon of July 2, 2018.

Montana Rail Link’s Helena switch has almost reached the top of Winston Hill at Winston, Montana, as its returns back to Helena on June 30, 2017. Led by freshly-repainted EMD SD40-2XR (rebuilt S... (more)

Cresting the top of Montana’s Winston Hill on Montana Rail Link’s Second Subdivision east of Helena is a westbound BNSF coal train on the afternoon of July 2, 2018.

The local turn to Townsend, MT from Helena returns from Townsend, climbing Winston Hill near the top, powered by SD45 346 and a GP9.

An eastbound BNSF coal empty cruises down Winston Hill past milepost 214 on Montana Rail Link’s Second Subdivision east of Winston, Montana, on July 2, 2018.

Montana Rail Link’s Helena switch descends Winston Hill just east of Winston, Montana, on July 1, 2019. Powering the local with cars for RY Timber and the cement plant in Townsend is MRL GP9 No.... (more)

Montana Rail Link’s Helena switch dashes over Winston Hill just east of Winston into a darkening evening in Montana at 9:15 p.m. on June 25, 2019. Powering the short local with two cars for the ... (more)

After topping Winston Hill, an eastbound BNSF empty coal train rolls downgrade through the curves past milepost 216 at Winston, Montana, on the afternoon of June 25, 2019.

The sun has set as the “blue hour” settles over Winston Hill in Montana on September 25, 2007. Slowly, a westbound grain train approaches up the grade as an eastbound train waits patiently in ... (more)

A BNSF freight led by Dash 9 No. 5076 climbs Winston Hill passing milepost 215 east of Winston, Montana, on July 4, 2018. Ample spring moisture provided some locations with wildflowers, like these... (more)

A westbound BNSF grain train led by EMD SD70ACe No. 9149 climbs Montana Rail Link’s route over Winston Hill just east of Winston, Montana, on June 25, 2019.

Snaking through the curves after topping Winston Hill, a BNSF grain train heads east past milepost 216 at Winston, Montana, on June 25, 2019.