MONTANA RAIL LINK
Photographs by Tom Trencansky, Dryden, NY

The Montana Rail Link operates the former BN and NP lines running across the southern tier of Montana.  
Much of the traffic that runs over the line is provided by BNSF consists.  

Skyline Trestle is located west of Austin, MT.  Pictured are a morning eastbound followed by a set of MRL pushers. (10/6/00)

Austin is located west of Helena and morning action is generally pretty good.  On October 6th, 2000, there are three eastbounds, each operating with different motive power; BNSF, MRL, and CSX/BN.

MRL operates a daily general freight train in each direction from Missoula to Laurel, MT.  Occasionally the pair meet at a small town of Logan, MT, located between Helena and Bozeman (10/5/00)

The MRL local from Missoula to Polson, crossing over a trestle near Dixon, MT (3/97).

Paradise, Montana.  An eastbound MRL train eases up to the railroad office.  The next view shows an old antique shop directly across the street.  No, Amtrak does not pass through here anymore (3/97).

The territory west of St. Regis to Paradise is as scenic as they come with the highway following the tracks throughout.  Several views of BNSF GE's with MRL providing crews for these run-through's.  Rocky's kids were on the mountainside near Paradise (3/97).

St. Regis is in the middle of the remaining semaphores.  The view of the BN eastbound and Santa Fe westbound are just a few miles east of St. Regis along the old two-lane highway (3/97).

For additional views of trains, check out:      www.newyorkrailroads.com