Montana Rail Link (MRL) 4307 - EMD SD70ACe
Photo Gallery
BNSF SD70ACe 8775 leads an XCLX coal drag at Roggen, CO
BNSF SD70ACe 8775 and MRL 4307 lead an Xcel Energy coal at Roggen, CO
Surprise trailing unit on the BNSF manifest.
Covered in Blossburg tunnel soot, a Mullan Pass helper set has tied onto the M-PASLAU and works eastbound on the Third Sub.q
Mullan Pass helper set heading back to Helena for another shove.
MRL 4307 crosses Austin Creek Trestle as part of helper set on a westbound tank train
The helpers of a westbound tank train cross Austin Creek Trestle
A mid-train helpers of a westbound tank train ascend the grade while an eastbound manifest waits to descend.
Four ACe's assist a westbound tank train up Mullan Pass.
Four ACe's assist a westbound tank train up Mullan Pass.
The mid-train helpers of a westbound tank train round the bend at Austin Road.
A helper set departs Helena for its day's work.
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Built July 2005.
Helper 3 assists the coal drag west.
A helper set of 3 ACe's plus 2 SD45's wait to be called to duty. This downtime allows for the trailing 2 SD's to get a nice bath before going out again...a class act!!
MRL 4314 and company at sunset
4307 leads an LM up grade through Austin on a cloudy and very cold day.
They are not nearly as loud as a set of SD-40s but still magnificent. The picture gives a good idea why this much power is required.
These MRL ACes look great! Five are spliced mid-train to boost yet another grain train up Mullan Pass. This is the third load today, and it is just 8:30 in the morning.
The L-M climbing Bozeman Pass.
Thats my truck down there.
Mid-train Helpers
Mid-train Helpers on a unit grain train
Helpers? Head on? No. Two Laurel trains meet at Tobin.
MISLAU (ML) glides down into Helena after tackling Mullan Pass.
LM is westbound from Garrison.
LAUMIS (LM) is making a set out at Garrison.
They got here somewhere around 1300hrs & it is now 1800hrs....they are STILL not ready to go, but need headroom out of the yard to perform another switching move. The straight set out/pick up that normally takes 30 minutes or less was not to be had today. BNSF evidently left them more work than they could have ever hoped for in the yard, I am pretty sure they moved each & every car around a dozen times.
ML picking up helpers set out in Garrison.
ML picking up helpers set out in Garrison.
ML is easing down from the yard with a cut of cars, for brake testing purposes, to pick up a set of helpers.
ML emerges from Nimrod Tunnel with a little less "zing" than normal, the trailing unit isn't online.
ML is struggling as the trailing motor is shut down. This will be the least of their concerns when they reach Garrison, where BNSF has left them enough work to prevent them from making Helena before going on the law....
Missoula-Laurel manifest departs Missoula Yard.
WB at Livingston