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Robert F. | profile | all galleries >> Railroad Photography >> MRL Annual Trip #9 - June 2012 tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

MRL Annual Trip #9 - June 2012

A photo essay from my 9th annual excursion to Montana to photograph and record the Montana Rail Link, the primary railroad I model in HO scale and named my internet moniker after. Photos captured between June 8 and 16, 2012. (Still adding images from the trip, stay tuned for updates.)
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S-DENTAC entering MRL's Missoula Yard on Friday morning June 8th, 2012.
S-DENTAC entering MRL's Missoula Yard on Friday morning June 8th, 2012.		 View into the east end of the yard.
View into the east end of the yard.		 BNSF 9211 on an empty coal train eastbound out of Paradise, MT.
BNSF 9211 on an empty coal train eastbound out of Paradise, MT.		 Along the curves of the Flathead River along the 10th Sub.
Along the curves of the Flathead River along the 10th Sub.		 BNSF 9211 head shot.
BNSF 9211 head shot.
Afternoon buildups behind the coal empty near Dixon, MT
Afternoon buildups behind the coal empty near Dixon, MT		 The DP passing the wannabe thunderhead.
The DP passing the wannabe thunderhead.		 MRL 346 leading the Gas Local east into Paradise, MT.
MRL 346 leading the Gas Local east into Paradise, MT.		 Running the 10th Sub east of Dixon, MT.
Running the 10th Sub east of Dixon, MT.		 Rounding the bends between Ravalli and Arlee, Mt.
Rounding the bends between Ravalli and Arlee, Mt.
BNSF 6708 leading a grain train at Lothrop, MT.
BNSF 6708 leading a grain train at Lothrop, MT.		 The train traverses the big bridge over Fish Creek near Rivulet, MT.
The train traverses the big bridge over Fish Creek near Rivulet, MT.		 Over the Clark Fork River on Bridge 208 between Paradise & St. Regis, MT.
Over the Clark Fork River on Bridge 208 between Paradise & St. Regis, MT.		 The westbound grainer coming into Paradise, MT.
The westbound grainer coming into Paradise, MT.		 Lone switcher MRL 109 tied down at Missoula watching the sunset.
Lone switcher MRL 109 tied down at Missoula watching the sunset.
BNSF 1044 leading a very backlit LAUPAS out of Missoula, MT. (6/9/12)
BNSF 1044 leading a very backlit LAUPAS out of Missoula, MT. (6/9/12)		 Cool, hazy, smokey morning in Missoula as the power passes by.
Cool, hazy, smokey morning in Missoula as the power passes by.		 MRL 401 with an early morning switch from DeSmet, heading back to the yard.
MRL 401 with an early morning switch from DeSmet, heading back to the yard.		 PASLAU east of Lothrop, MT.
PASLAU east of Lothrop, MT.		 Back at the now clouded curves just west of Missoula.
Back at the now clouded curves just west of Missoula.
MRL's 7:30 Switch running around cars parked on the west leg of the wye to the Bitterroot Branch.
MRL's 7:30 Switch running around cars parked on the west leg of the wye to the Bitterroot Branch.		 Can't miss the crew with their new Hi-vis attire.
Can't miss the crew with their new Hi-vis attire.		 MRL GP35 401 serving as the day's horsepower.
MRL GP35 401 serving as the day's horsepower.		 Eastbound coal empty through the hole at the Nimrod detector on MRL's 3rd Sub.
Eastbound coal empty through the hole at the Nimrod detector on MRL's 3rd Sub.		 Closer shot of BNSF 5785 passing the hot box.
Closer shot of BNSF 5785 passing the hot box.
The empty passing the Jens barn.
The empty passing the Jens barn.		 Still at Jens siding, the creamy DP unit would have been a nicer leader.
Still at Jens siding, the creamy DP unit would have been a nicer leader.		 KCKPAS over the Austin Creek Trestle just east of Mullan Pass.
KCKPAS over the Austin Creek Trestle just east of Mullan Pass.		 From June 2012, the 'new' east face of Mullan Tunnel. NP's old blower housing is sorely missed.
From June 2012, the 'new' east face of Mullan Tunnel. NP's old blower housing is sorely missed.		 MRL ACe helper power approaching Skyline spur, east side of Mullan Pass.
MRL ACe helper power approaching Skyline spur, east side of Mullan Pass.
Cold rain at Missoula, MT, good day to layoff sick, or just hide under the bridge. (6/10/12)
Cold rain at Missoula, MT, good day to layoff sick, or just hide under the bridge. (6/10/12)		 Headlights reflect off the stored boxcars at Cyr, MT.
Headlights reflect off the stored boxcars at Cyr, MT.		 BNSF 709 passing the equipment at Cyr along MRL's 4th Sub.
BNSF 709 passing the equipment at Cyr along MRL's 4th Sub.		 Closer shot of the grain train headend.
Closer shot of the grain train headend.		 BNSF 5314 (LAUPAS) over the Cedar Creek Bridge west of Superior, MT on MRL's 4th Sub.
BNSF 5314 (LAUPAS) over the Cedar Creek Bridge west of Superior, MT on MRL's 4th Sub.
Running along the Clark Fork River just south of St. Regis, MT.
Running along the Clark Fork River just south of St. Regis, MT.		 Closer shot around the bend.
Closer shot around the bend.		 BNSF 9308 grab shot running near 60 MPH towards me at Nimrod.
BNSF 9308 grab shot running near 60 MPH towards me at Nimrod.		 BNSF 5625 on the grain train along the Bearmouth area between Missoula and Drummond, MT.
BNSF 5625 on the grain train along the Bearmouth area between Missoula and Drummond, MT.		 The whole train in view now.
The whole train in view now.
Away shot of the train and DP snaking into the next canyon west of Bearmouth.
Away shot of the train and DP snaking into the next canyon west of Bearmouth.		 MRL 4312 & co. easing down the west side of Mullan Pass near Elliston, MT in the grey evening light.
MRL 4312 & co. easing down the west side of Mullan Pass near Elliston, MT in the grey evening light.		 At Birdseye, MT: Helpers 1 & 2 ease around the curve. (6/11/12)
At Birdseye, MT: Helpers 1 & 2 ease around the curve. (6/11/12)		 Down the long straightaway into Helena..
Down the long straightaway into Helena..		 Tele-shot of the light sets.
Tele-shot of the light sets.
ML crew, arriving at the office in Helena.
ML crew, arriving at the office in Helena.		 The ML departing Helena, MT.
The ML departing Helena, MT.		 Pacing EMDs up the hill just outside of East Helena.
Pacing EMDs up the hill just outside of East Helena.		 Near Louisville, on MRL's 2nd Sub.
Near Louisville, on MRL's 2nd Sub.		 MRL 254 In your face.
MRL 254 In your face.
Backyards with a view north of Winston.
Backyards with a view north of Winston.		 The ML nearing the top of the grade now at MP 222.
The ML nearing the top of the grade now at MP 222.		 West of Winston with buildups over the Elkhorns.
West of Winston with buildups over the Elkhorns.		 S-TACKCK accelerating down grade from Winston towards Townsend, MT.
S-TACKCK accelerating down grade from Winston towards Townsend, MT.		 BNSF 5317 leading the charge into the shifting sunlight.
BNSF 5317 leading the charge into the shifting sunlight.
Spokane Hills looming over the ML as it rounds the first bend south of Winston.
Spokane Hills looming over the ML as it rounds the first bend south of Winston.		 Empty coal gons made for a slightly unique appearance to the day's train.
Empty coal gons made for a slightly unique appearance to the day's train.		 Nearly the whole manifest in view now.
Nearly the whole manifest in view now.		 The ML rolls into Townsend, MT.
The ML rolls into Townsend, MT.		 The EMD quartet passing the town's grain loadouts.
The EMD quartet passing the town's grain loadouts.
MRL work train rolling along the siding at Townsend
MRL work train rolling along the siding at Townsend		 MRL's SDP40-2XR #290 with 24 cars of ballast and ties.
MRL's SDP40-2XR #290 with 24 cars of ballast and ties.		 Loaded grain train along Lombard Canyon.
Loaded grain train along Lombard Canyon.		 BNSF 4362 rounds the horseshoe at the western end.
BNSF 4362 rounds the horseshoe at the western end.		 The full train in view now.
The full train in view now.
A single GE on the rear.
A single GE on the rear.		 Empty coal passing Toston, MT from the canyon overlook.
Empty coal passing Toston, MT from the canyon overlook.		 The coal empty makes it's first appearance in the canyon
The coal empty makes it's first appearance in the canyon		 Round the bend along the calm water
Round the bend along the calm water		 A second view.
A second view.
A third view.
A third view.		 The first empty coal takes the horseshoe.
The first empty coal takes the horseshoe.		 More GE DPUs on the rear.
More GE DPUs on the rear.		 A second going away shot.
A second going away shot.		 The second coal empty, from a new vantage point.
The second coal empty, from a new vantage point.
Now in line with the 180° curve
Now in line with the 180° curve		 Empty coal cars destined for the Power River Basin.
Empty coal cars destined for the Power River Basin.		 The full 125 car train in view.
The full 125 car train in view.		 The headend continues into the distance
The headend continues into the distance		 The DPUs with a little sun on them as clouds pass by.
The DPUs with a little sun on them as clouds pass by.
MRL 290 and work train tied down at Townsend, MT.
MRL 290 and work train tied down at Townsend, MT.		 MRL 253 leads the late afternoon 840 local over Winston Hill.
MRL 253 leads the late afternoon 840 local over Winston Hill.		 MRL 250 is along for the ride as the train passes.
MRL 250 is along for the ride as the train passes.		 Morning westbounds at MRL's Helena Yard. (6/12/12)
Morning westbounds at MRL's Helena Yard. (6/12/12)		 M-LAUPAS starting up the westward grade between Helena Jct & Tobin.
M-LAUPAS starting up the westward grade between Helena Jct & Tobin.
Laurel to Pasco manifest and helpers through the trees at Austin
Laurel to Pasco manifest and helpers through the trees at Austin		 Headend and helpers passing.
Headend and helpers passing.		 The headend with BNSF 6861 rounds the curve into Iron Ridge
The headend with BNSF 6861 rounds the curve into Iron Ridge		 MRL SD70ACe midtrain helpers now starting around...
MRL SD70ACe midtrain helpers now starting around...		 A second view...
A second view...
Third view...
Third view...		 Pasco to Lincoln manifest making the turn through Iron ridge.
Pasco to Lincoln manifest making the turn through Iron ridge.		 Westbound Coal heavy now grinding around Austin.
Westbound Coal heavy now grinding around Austin.		 MRL ACe helper set through the headend exhaust.
MRL ACe helper set through the headend exhaust. 		The coal train (w/ mid helps, & rear DP) takes the curve.
The coal train (w/ mid helps, & rear DP) takes the curve.
BNSF SD70ACes 9175, & 9252 leading the morning coal.
BNSF SD70ACes 9175, & 9252 leading the morning coal.		 Helpers passing the distant rear DP set.
Helpers passing the distant rear DP set.		 MRL helpers around the bend.
MRL helpers around the bend.		 MRL 4309 passing left to right below the headend now approaching Weed.
MRL 4309 passing left to right below the headend now approaching Weed.		 Rear DPUs BNSF 6338 & 6403 now passing with the mid-trains at Weed.
Rear DPUs BNSF 6338 & 6403 now passing with the mid-trains at Weed.
One more view of the rear end with the mid-train helpers in tie distance.
One more view of the rear end with the mid-train helpers in tie distance.		 Eastbound manifest between Avon & Elliston, MT.
Eastbound manifest between Avon & Elliston, MT.		 Closer view of the GE lead train.
Closer view of the GE lead train.		 The M-PASLAU rounding the big curve east of Elliston, MT.
The M-PASLAU rounding the big curve east of Elliston, MT.		 A second view.
A second view.
And a third view.
And a third view.		 BNSF 5815 leading an empty coal train over the soon to be replaced Bridge 10 near Elliston.
BNSF 5815 leading an empty coal train over the soon to be replaced "Bridge 10" near Elliston.		 One more of the coal empty.
One more of the coal empty.		 An afternoon manifest easing down the east side of Mullan Pass at Austin.
An afternoon manifest easing down the east side of Mullan Pass at Austin.		 Closer shot of the train taking the main.
Closer shot of the train taking the main.
Nice mix of BNSF heritage for the train's power.
Nice mix of BNSF heritage for the train's power.		 Storm light on the Helena Helper sets.
Storm light on the Helena Helper sets.		 Grey skies drifting east as the afternoon sun hits the rain soaked ground.
Grey skies drifting east as the afternoon sun hits the rain soaked ground.		 The crew heads out to their awaiting LM at Helena.
The crew heads out to their awaiting LM at Helena.		 MRL 4312 heading the LM up the grade between Tobin & Birdseye, MT.
MRL 4312 heading the LM up the grade between Tobin & Birdseye, MT.
LM passing the 9.4 signal between Birdseye & Austin.
LM passing the 9.4 signal between Birdseye & Austin.		 Two Redballs up front for the day's train.
Two Redballs up front for the day's train.		 The manifest continues it's grind into the hills.
The manifest continues it's grind into the hills.
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Robert Jenkins 20-Jun-2012 19:47
Fantastic images Robbi. BNSF 9211 head shot and the Fish Creek trestle are top drawer for sure.
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