Well, well. With New SD70ACE’s the MRL is well progressing ino the future!
Did anyone else see that short but cool article in Trains Mag. 2006 about the Montana Rail Link. What did you think about the article?
I think the MRL is located in an awesome geographic location in Montana.
What other info can you provide about the MRL?
It is good to see they are keeping the SD45s, even with the new locomotives. One of the three ex SP grey and scarlet units were painted blue and renumbered early this year. 7555 is now 326-
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=57386
Is hi -nose 680 still on the roster ?
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=90086
The MRL is one exciting railroad to watch in action. I just got back from living up in Bozeman where I went to school at MSU. If it wasn’t for my wife crying that it was cold and that she missed her family here in Los Angeles, I’d still be up there taking pictures. Now Patrick Petroff is taking all the good shots. I left right before the ACe showed up. They told me that they were coming in June, I left in July and there was still no sign of them. I think that one of the main things that I loved about the MRL was that they had some old engines still pounding the rails. I’m talking GP9s and SD24s that were before my time. Other than that my greatest high was seeing their 4 cowls running the hills–Those I like. If anyone ever gets a chance to go up to Montana, make sure you stop in Helena and head up the Mullan Pass. One of the most exciting hill climb that I’ve ever seen. Theres nothing like seeing a 100 car coal train with four in the front, four in the middle and four in the back–engines that is. I had pictures but my computer ate them, really.
Zak, what would the 24 avg train count be on the MRL?
Sorry Chad, I was off in space, I mean trying to look like I was working while my boss was looking over my shoulder. I would say that about 3-5 MRL power trains would go through. You would also have the Livingston-Bozeman Local that would run the pass everyday, but the BNSF mostly would run the tracks but it was MRLs man power that would “Bridge” the BNSF trains from Laurel (Just on the westside of Billings) to at least Missoula. there Had to be about 50 BNSF or more that would come through Bozeman.
That’s busier than I thought. I’ll have to get back up there one of these days.
Chad, my number could be a little off or should I say exaggerated but all I know and heard was that there is more traffic through there now than ever. I’m going to say somewhere from 30 to 50 BNSF but I’m kind of shooting in the dark.
Looks like 680’s gone, don’t see it on roster.
http://www.thedieselshop.us/MRL.HTML
That roster is not very good. I one i did next door is more acurate.
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=47871