Mullan Pass - Helena, MT

Railfanning Mullan Pass - Helena, MT. The MRL ballast train over Austin Creek Trestle was pulled with 2 SD45's and pushed with 2 SD45's and an SD45-2. Nice!!!

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• MRL
• mullan
• pass
• SD45
• montana
• rail
• link
• helena
• railfanning
• railfan
• BNSF
• railway
• railroad
• EMD
• locomotives

[Deputydog1956]

Really great footage you shot !

[mtrails]

Thanks! I always love to railfan there. Going back up there this April

[WiltWa]

Oh this brings back some memories! I only made a few train chasing trips to Mullan Pass in the early 90's, my family would drive down from Great Falls to chase trains and eat at Pioneer Pies! My 1st time was at night & we beat the train to Austin Creek. The train stopped with the helpers in the center of the trestle, silhouetted by the full moon! When it started moving again the sound and image was spectacular, as we all stood there my step-father looked at my mom and said "I need a cigarette!

[mtrails]

Great story! Thank you for sharing that, and glad my video sparked your memory. The first time I was up there was with my friend Nick in 2007. The sun had just set and we chased the MRL L-M train up the pass to Austin curve where it stopped in the siding for an eastbound doublestack. That night the moon was out, and was very calm. A day on Mullan is like a weeks vacation, so relaxing, and stimulating all at the same time.

[KSE828]

sorry for double posting, but are those MRL units all new, or just meticulously taken care of? If the latter, I give kudos to a railroad who finally knows how to take care of their locos.

[mtrails]

Well, a little of both. They are relatively new (about a year) in this video, and MRL does take pride in keeping their equipment clean. If you have seen my "MRL Helper exchange" video, you can see them in soot, but I'd wager they sparkled the next morning.

[locoman306]

the MRL has to have the best looking SD70ACe i've ever seen!!

[UFOSPACE1999]

To the poster of this Video...WELL DONE...Finally someone got it truly right..My grandfather years past had a super 8mm and he learned quickly..Put the damn camera on a tripod and let the action come to U...THIS POSTER got it right...some of the best editing and all...A PLUS......great job...makes me want to see ur other work...

[ussoldierrail]

@ussoldierrail Also A very good vid. I like the fact that in toledo ohio we get so many trains a day one cannot keep up with them .LOL. Anyway I dig how the EMDSD40s are still being used on BNSF and other old engines on BNSF and UP but we get the latest power here from them out of chicago ect. My point is thanks for sharing this. We get a lot of old BNSF and UP through power but it isa mostly HLCX other lease deals. just caught a X Mill W road SD40-2 short fule tank last week now HLCX

[ussoldierrail]

@mtrails Too bad MRL even though they are a scab RR that cannot get it together did not buy some used X SP tunnel motors SD45-2's since the scab republican owner seems to like EMDSD45s. Would have been cool in the tunnel before they daylighted it. toledoOHindependenrrailfan @ photrobucket please feel free to enjoy our pictures. Hope at some point I can find somone to give 20 plus yrs of vids and DVDs to put online. A lot is even from the cab of chessie and CSX conrail units yards ect

[Peonygreenleaf]

I used to live across the street from the MRL yard in Helena. Very interesting indeed.

[jorgeniscool]

nice video clips!

[trainboy94]

and how good is train action over Mullan Pass?????

[trainboy94]

What is the closest place to Forsyth where the MRL passes through?????

[trainboy94]

Hell yeah they do, they are beautiful in blue

[BudmanPackfan]

They don't have to match up or be sync'd. They just all pull. Think of a tug of war, not all teh people on one team pull the same on teh rope, they pull what they can and together they get the job done (or not).