A westbound BNSF grain train is in the siding at Quebec, waiting for the arrival of an eastbound manifest. The timing for the meet was really good, and the train is actually moving slowly (maybe 5 MPH) toward the west end.
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BNSF's Pasco to Kansas City manifest is moving at 45 MPH through Greycliff. This manifest carries the symbol HPASKCK9-14A. One of the key portions of that symbol is the "9". That indicates it is a high priority train. Very high. To the point that it shouldn't be stopped save for other higher priority "9" trains.
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When I was investigating possible photo opportunities for the MRL online, I came across a really nice shot from Big Timber, MT. This is the shot, but unfortunately one of the things I liked about the shot I saw online is not visible here! There is a mountain in the background that is obscured by the smoke (from forest fires) in this shot. Oh well! Still a descent long lens shot.
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About 15 miles east of Livingston, an eastbound BNSF manifest headed for Kansas City rounds this curve along the shores of the Yellowstone River. Some rafters are enjoying a Saturday trip down the river.
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The siding of Muir is about 8,685 feet long and leads right up to the east portal of Bozeman Tunnel. The head end of this manifest has just emerged from the tunnel, while a good portion of it remains back in the tunnel. The siding is the only one between the Bozeman Pass Summit and Livingston Yard, located roughly 12 miles to the east.
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After popping out of the east portal of Bozeman Tunnel, this eastbound BNSF manifest is on the main at West Muir. Bozeman Tunnel has sidings on either side of it, within a few thousand feet of the tunnel portal.
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The water tower in the background should give away the location of this photo. This eastbound BNSF manifest is cruising through the town of Belgrade, population just over 7,600. Although not visible in this picture, MRL is working on extending the siding of Belgrade to the east to accommodate longer trains and avoid blocking grade crossings.
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Between Toston and Logan, MRL's mainline runs through Lombard Canyon. Didn't get a chance to see the canyon on this trip due to time and the haziness caused by forest fires. It takes a train around an hour to make its way through the canyon. This BNSF manifest just made it through and is now pulling east from Logan, headed toward Manhattan.
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A great looking signal bridge still stands at the west end of Townsend on the MRL's 2nd Subdivision. Not entirely sure how much longer it will last as MRL is definitely working on putting some money into replacing older signals. An eastbound BNSF manifest passes underneath the signal bridge on a clear signal.
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A westbound loaded grain train is very slowly pulling in to the siding at Winston. The train has nearly made it up and over Winston Hill, the last major climb before reaching Helena. The train is taking the siding because there is an eastbound BNSF manifest sitting on the main.
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About 13 miles east of Helena, this eastbound BNSF manifest is starting to a slow a little. It is working on climbing the western slope of Winston Hill. While the west slope definitely has a grade, the grade isn't too bad...the east slope, on the other hand, is far steeper.
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After a brief stop in Helena, a fresh MRL crew is now on board to take this high priority BNSF manifest east toward Laurel. The train departed Pasco, WA the day before and is headed toward Kansas City.
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This eastbound BNSF manifest is just about over the top of Mullan Pass. It is approaching the east switch of the siding at Blossburg, which is located near the mouth of the west portal of Mullan Tunnel. This particularly manifest is considered high priority by BNSF, and won't be waiting around anywhere for very long.
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The summer of 2015 has been a bad one for forest fires in Montana. Over 40 of them are burning in the state and the smoke is bad! All of the haze you see here is the result of smoke. These SD70ACes are headed back east toward Helena, where the haze is, unfortunately, no better.
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A quartet of ten year old SD70ACes head east at Austin on their wait back to Helena. The units just helped a unit grain train to climb the steep grades on the east slope of Mullan Pass. After cutting off at the summit, the units return to Helena to wait for the next westbound in need of assistance.
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