While switching out Imerys Talc America plant in Three Forks, the 844 local had to pull across the Bench Road grade crossing a couple of times. Here, the pair of (ex-DRGW) GP35s is shoving back against the train, spotting some cars at the plant.
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The 844 local switches out the Imerys Talc America plant in Three Forks. As cool as it was to see Montana Rail Link for the first time, these two engines have an extra special meaning to me as they were originally Rio Grande GP35s! MRL 403 started life as DRGW 3039. Great to see it well maintained and still working hard in 2015 on a fantastic (mountain) railroad.
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The 844 local is about to cross over the Madison River and then under I-90 as it enters the town of Three Forks. In the distance, one of more than 40 forest fires burns, generating a significant amount of smoke.
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Montana Rail Link's 844 local passes by some standing water, offering up a nice reflection as the train heads toward Three Forks. There, it will spend about an hour switching out the talc plant before continuing west.
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Montana Rail Link has a local (called the 844 local) that runs from Logan, MT down MRL's 5th Subdivision. It services industries in the towns of Three Forks, Willow Creek, Sappington, and Whitehall. Here, the local is paralleling I-90 on the way to Three Forks.
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A pair of two-year-old SD70ACes leads Montana Rail Links "ML" manifest. The train left Missoula late last night and is headed for Laurel. This curve is just east of the siding (and very small town) of Greycliff. The train has about 55 miles left to go on its journey.
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About 10 miles west of Laurel, Montana Rail Link's "LM" manifest is moving at track speed as the light quickly fades. The sun set about 10 minutes earlier and the train is ready for a night run to Missoula...or at least to Helena, which is a crew change point for MRL trains.
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Montana Rail Link's "LM" manifest is pulling west on Main 2 through the interlocking at West Laurel. You can see an Approach (yellow) signal at the intermediate and a red way off in the distance at Spurling. By the time the train reaches Spurling, the dispatcher will have a clear signal for the train. Forest fires in Montana help to generate a very orange sunset.
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Sun glistens off the newest power on Montana Rail Link's roster. This SD70ACe was built in December 2013. MRL ordered 16 SD70ACes in the summer of 2005. They seemed to be a success as they ordered two more in July 2013 and then a final two (to date) in December 2013.
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The only "through" freight that MRL runs on its system that isn't BNSF is the "LM" (and its counterpart, the "ML") between Laurel and Missoula. A trio of MRL units leads this evening LM as it departs Laurel westbound. For those wondering about the MRL logo that looks somewhat like a "W". That is actually the logo for "The Washington Companies", the owner of Montana Rail Link.
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As the sun rapidly approaches the horizon in the western sky, Montana Rail Link's "LM" manifest is headed out of Laurel Yard on Main 2, crossing Fifth Street. The train is starting its journey to Missoula, roughly a 340 mile long journey that includes running over Bozeman Pass and Mullan Pass.
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After completing its switching work in the top yard, this MRL SW1500 is returning to the roundhouse at the end of the day. This SW1500 originally came from "Island Steel". I assumed that this was a steel mill that had a couple of engines for switching around cars.
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A BNSF train manifest just arrived in Laurel Yard while a crew for MRL's "LM" manifest (from Laurel to Missoula) walks toward the head end of the train. The train will depart shortly for a (mostly) night run to Missoula.
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One of the main things that Montana Rail Link does is run BNSF trains over the MRL system between (roughly) Billings, MT and Sandpoint, ID. The train is this shot has been handed over to MRL by BNSF. The BNSF power will remain on the train, but MRL crews will run the train over the system. It will then be delivered back to BNSF at Sandpoint.
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When I was a kid, BN had about a half dozen SDP40s on their roster. The steam generators had, of course, been removed. BN liked to use them as power on the Beer Run train in Denver (between Denver and Golden). It was rather cool seeing one of these units, now wearing blue, in Montana. On this evening, the unit is on the "LM" manifest.
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