Selected roster images of various Montana Rail Link rolling stock. All photos taken between 2003 and 2022. This roster has been occasionally expanded as more MRL freight cars are photographed from time to time.
It was publicly announced on Monday, January 10, 2022 that the Montana Rail Link leadership has entered into an agreement with the BNSF Railway to terminate the remainder of its lease of the railroad right of way set in place with the Burlington Northern Railroad in late 1987. This lease termination will effectively end the stand-alone Regional operation of the MRL as we've grown to know it, returning the MRL to BNSF control/operation after MRL union and STB approval of the lease termination. It has been a fun and enjoyable 35+ year run for the MRL.
As of this typing in March 2023, the US Surface Transportation Board has tentatively approved the re-acquisition of the Montana Rail Link back into BNSF Railway. Many questions still remain as to what the BNSF will do with what remains of MRL’s fleet of EMD locomotives and especially their now aging rolling stock assets. Perhaps this gallery will simply transition to a historical record of the soon to be fallen-flag railroad operation that is and will forever be recorded as the Montana Rail Link.
12 updated images from a quick trip in September 2021. Good luck finding them all..
:: MRL 50' Boxcars (156 photos) ::
:: MRL 50' Highcube Boxcars (78 photos) ::
:: MRL 60' Boxcars (74 photos) ::
:: MRL Gondolas (105 photos) ::
:: MRL Woodchip Gondolas (108 photos) ::
:: MRL 2-bay Cement Service Hoppers (89 photos) ::
Very,very good site for MRL cars. Been a big fan of the MRL, and you've done a good job of putting their fleet together.
Zak Gardner
03-Jun-2009 17:27
Robby,
I'm so glad that you are putting this list together. I've started to put together a list of what HO cars that are out there that are compatible to MRL's cars. Your photos help so much.