Just curious, does anyone else here like the MRL…
They operate from Spokane to Billings on old BN rigt of ways, and operate a cool fllet of older EMDs (and some Aces) incuding SD9s, GP7s, SD35s, SD45s and F45s…
Anyone like the MRL…If so…post here!!! [:D]
MRL is pretty cool. Awesome loco’s.
I can’t help not being a fan of Milwaukee Road Lives Montana Rail Link. All of those EMDs on the roster, the breathtaking scenery, tunnels and helpers. That is a hard-working mountain railroad. They even have a senior management member contributing to this forum. I would prefer a lighter blue paint color, but it would just get dirty faster. I would also like to see them expand westward, if UP wants to lease the Eastport to Hinkle line. Would be nice to see, but it ain’t gonna happen.
It would appear to me, that MRL is beholdin’ to BNSF for their existance? Does it have interchange with any other railroad?
LOL!!! [#ditto]
I’ve always been a fan of the line too, and I was excited to see them buy the “SOO Southwestern” as the I&M Rail Link, too bad they ran it into the ground. (But all the better for the DM&E/IC&E!) Those dark blue diesels look awesome, and I’d love to see more of 'em, but they tend to be rare in this part of the country!
I don’t think you could find a single sane person here who doesn’t like MRL, they are so incredibly awesome…
F45s and SD45s, how can you not like that?
Yes, I like the MRL but I don’t get up there that often as the only reason I go there is to railfan. I have been up there a couple times though. Somewhere I have some shots with semaphores in them taken east of Sandpoint.
Not a fan, per se, but rather a huge supporter of The Hiawatha Eats Goat For Breakfast…er, Montana Rail Link, if for no other reason than MRL has taken the mantle from the former SP&S as the Northwest’s Own Railroad. And that idea of MRL taking over operations of the Washy isn’t that unreasonable, even from BNSF’s perspective (assuming BNSF get’s some normalized management). The Spokane-Pasco line is getting close to capacity, while the somewhat parallel Washy has more than enough excess capacity. Why not allow MRL trains to use the rails less traveled to get to Wallula and Pasco, then on up the Stampede Pass line to Puget Sound? Frees up capacity on the Ritzville line, and so what if MRL starts interchanging with UP and CP? Such MRL/UP interchange doesn’t even amount to a blip on BNSF’s dominance of the Northern Tier.
But…
If a MRL expansion westward was followed by an eventual DM&E connection eastward, then BNSF’s dominance (read: pricing power) through the Northern Tier is shattered. If I’m BNSF, I say go ahead and let MRL look westward, but if they even dare take a peak at tapping the PRB…[:(!][V][}:)]
LOVE IT THE MIGHTY ^$% POWERED SD$% HELPERSETS AND NOW ACe’s WHAT MORE COULD YA WANT?
My thoughts exactly [^]
The Hiawatha gets trampled by the GOAT er, Montana Rail Link is awesome, and I saw an SD45 in Duluth once!
i see them go through every once in a while i like the loco’s.
Yes, I have been a fan and supporter for about 18 years or so now. That is not unexpected since they not only provide entertainment but also pay most of the bills around the house. Not perfect but a whole lot better than any alternative I have been able to identify for quite some time.
Love the SD45s!!! I absolutely hate the “NEW” ACe’s. There “UGLY” and I hate there guts. I want the SD45s to stay around but everyone now says they must go. [:(]
But the MRL is still a cool railroad.
James
I’ve always had a sneaking suspicion that something like that might happen… but then along came the IMRL, and then along went the IMRL…! But it would still make an interesting group of railroads to put together for some modern-day “Empire Builder”… [}:)]
Got one right here…love the paint scheme on the ACe’s…i know its the same as all the others but just looks really good on the new units.
Yes it does. Love the ACes’ too.
I agree. I’m not a big fan of the AC/M-2 look but in those MRL colors they look tight.[8D]
CMSTPP,
Now do not get your knickers all in a knot. The SD45s are not headed off property in droves. You will be able to see them on the MRL and in lease service all over the country for years to come. There are only 16 new SD70ACe units on the MRL now and that is an insuffecient number to replace all the SD40/SD45/SD45-2/F45 units the MRL owns.
This has been noted on other posts about the new units. Take time to read them before getting all in an uproar. The SD70ACe units are not really that ugly and the MRL nose striping really helps to disguise the clunky lines there.
We get MRL units down here from time to time also.
