MRL Helena to Thompson Falls 

Beautiful photography. Thank you for your work.

The first of two videos taken along Montana Rail Link over the course of a week in June 2022. This video focuses on trackage from the state capitol of Helena west to Thompson Falls, which is the western limit of where MRL powered trains run. MRL powered trains or helpers took priority over shooting "regular" BNSF trains. Even if MRL disappears the amazing scenery, canyons, and mountain passes won't go away. ---Locations--- 0:00 - BNSF coke train starts up Mullan Pass at Birdseye (with the city of Helena in the distance). 1:37 - Continuing its climb up Mullan Pass, the same BNSF coke train at the east end of Austin siding. 5:06 - Same BNSF coke train one last time crossing Austin Creek trestle (or Skyline trestle, if you prefer). 6:58 - MRL M-MISLAU (Missoula to Laurel road freight) at Jens. 7:43 - BNSF Q train with Boeing fuselages at Bearmouth. 8:24-9:30 - Chase of afternoon gas local* on the 10th subdivision around Arlee. 9:30 - Westbound ballast train followed the afternoon gas. Locations are around Arlee and Perma. 10:57 - Arriving at Paradise. 12:25 - Same BNSF Q train with the Boeing fuselages heads into the fading light at Weeksville. 13:57 - Morning gas local returning to Missoula the following morning. This location is near Eddy. 14:54 - Exiting the siding at Plains after meeting a westbound BNSF (not seen here). 15:52 - Meeting yet another BNSF at Paradise. 17:06 - Along the Flathead River on the 10th Subdivision near Paradise. 18:00-20:05 - The same ballast train shot the previous evening followed the gas local, dumping ballast on the 10th Sub as far as Dixon. 20:05 - Afternoon gas local on the 4th Subdivision climbing the grade out of Missoula. 20:34 - Superior. 20:59 - Crossing the Clark Fork River between St. Regis and Paradise. 21:25 - Coming to a stop at Paradise account bad signals. 22:42 - The following morning an eastbound BNSF oil train slowly descends Evaro Hill on the 10th Subdivision into Missoula. 24:13 - That same oil train meeting the MRL M-LAUMIS at Drummond. 25:49 - BNSF grain train ascending Mullan Pass the following morning. 27:37 - BNSF H-PASLAU (Pasco, WA to Laurel, MT) near the east end of Austin siding in outstanding storm light. 30:01 - The H-LAUPAS was next. Seen from roughly the same location (and hole in the cloud cover). 33:14 - The MRL M-MISLAU descending the grade at Austin with our favorite ballast train (and power) in tow, then back east a few miles where the sun was out. It was very windy this day, and tough to keep the camera steady. *While a Google search will yield a result...since I know people will not read the description and ask...the gas local runs twice daily from Missoula to Thompson Falls to bridge a gap in a ConocoPhillips pipeline. As of the time of my visit the gas locals went on duty in Missoula at 0400 and 1600 (that's 4:00am and 4:00pm). Evaro Hill on the 10th Sub is 2.2% in both directions, so most trains use the longer mostly water level 4th Sub via St. Regis. Lighter trains and the gas locals generally use the 10th Sub.

I love the all EMD show of MRL

Perfect!

Great photography and beautiful scenery and love all those sd70ace’s it’s rare they outnumber the GE’s but they sure do on the old MRL