Montana Rail Link

The following pictures of the Montana Rail Link were taken in July of 2007, between Garrison and Helena, Montana with the exception of the yard facilities in Missoula.

 

Missoula Yard and Engine Facilities

 

Garrison to Avon

BNSF 6224 finally crosses the Little Blackfoot river near Garrison (see Below under Avon to Elliston)

 

 

 

 

Below, a BNSF Wood product train heads east out of Garrison toward Avon and Mullan pass.

Avon to Blossburg

Westbound grain train, BNSF 6224 ES44AC sits at a red block between Elliston and Avon with 3 MRL Helpers mid train.

 

 

This is the reason for the delay. Maintenance on a single track girder bridge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Montana Rail Link SD 70ACe # 4309 approaches Avon at track speed.

4309 at Blossburg siding

Below, BNSF # 4509, a Dash 9 leads a manifest with 2 MRL helpers mid train downgrade (westbound) just west of Blossburg.

 

Blossburg and the Mullan Tunnel

 

No, the light at the end of the tunnel is not an oncoming train! This is the famous 3,847 foot long Mullan tunnel built by the Northern Pacific Railway on it's Rocky Mountain Division and completed on November 1, 1883. As it did for the NP, it's can cause MRL a great amount of grief, a single line tunnel on a very busy railroad. Much activity can take place on the long siding on the west side of the tunnel. This siding is referred to as Blossburg.

 

 

 

The Continental Divide sign that would greet passengers on the old NP North Coast Limited.

Below is BNSF Manifest # 7713 a GE ES44DC as it approaches the Mullan Tunnel.

Below is another BNSF Manifest, #8974 SD 70MAc approaching the tunnel with a MRL business car "Silver Cloud" on the rear.

 

Go here for more info about the MRL "Silver Cloud"

 

Skyline Trestle to Austin

 

From the East Portal of Mullan Tunnel the Line descends quickly through a series of sharp curves. One of these is the Skyline Trestle.

Below, a full BNSF Coal train with mid and end help from MRL helpers pulls the steep grade westbound toward the east portal.

 

 

Once the Train has reached and cleared the Summit often the helpers are left on to help with the dynamic breaking for the down hill run. Sometimes the end help will return from the Blossburg siding to Austin or Helena to assist another train while the middle help may either wait to help a west bound from Elliston or too return to Austin or Helena. Below are pictures of the helpers returning through Austin back to Helena.


 

 

 

Soon another MRL train makes it's way down the grade toward Austin and Helena.

 

 

Then the Helpers returned.

 

Helena

 

Movement over Mullan pass is dispatched from Helena. This is the former NP depot in Helena, now used for MRL purposes. The area has a park next door that gives a great vantage point for watching the helpers being added to a train.

 

 

 

 

Above is a look at the Helena yards. Above right is MRL # 4307, a SD 70ACe while on the left is MRL # 127, a GP9.