Based on the preview at the start of the video alone, I clearly missed out on railfanning a good rail operation in beautiful scenery. Of course, the scenery will still be there in the future, but I would prefer Rail Link blue over BNSF orange.
This is an awesome sight seeing the trains going through here with this beautiful scenery all around it and have some last looks at it before it is no more and I'll be watching all parts thank you. 🚂🚃🚃🇺🇲
I use to always look over at the round house when I would go through Missoula. Can see it from i90 Very sad to hear about the Contract running out, I have over the years enjoyed seeing mrl train's when I us to visit the Big Sky state. Hopefully contract will be for Another 60years so No One loses their jobs, our Country has been suffering to much. Thank you for the video.
By far the best MRL video you have made (have all your MRL videos but the last 3. , but that will be rectified before Xmas.) love Mullen Pass . Bit hard to get there from New Zealand.
Living the dream having coffee and doughnuts watching this video. Thanks for the explanations it helps a dunce like me to understand. Beautiful scenery if is fun watching on my iPhone 16 pro max. I will close by saying thanks for your work in these videos
Back in 2013 I used to run in and out of Laurel from Forsythe and then Glendive when the BNSF ran through Forsythe and eliminating the short pool. As the story goes from the (really) old heads of the Laurel/Forsythe/Glendive subdivisions, the BN leased the tracks off to the MRL to break up a particularly troublesome local union out of Helena. I'm glad to see BNSF got it back as IMO the MRL had the best tracks in Montana! I'm also very thrilled to see that the BNSF is still running old SF dash 9's on the head end and brand new ES-44s as DPUs. Treating those crews well by forcing hoggers to be hunched over the console and short backed seats to ensure rule 1.11.1 can't be utilized! (This is complete sarcasm!)
I think "Fuel Local" would be more appropriate LOL! Years ago as a young kid travelling around the country I worked at a huge truck stop in West Memphis as a fuel desk cashier. I was inexperienced was saying will you be getting *_gas_* in your *_truck_* and got the evil eye real quick. It's *_fuel_* in their *_tractor_* is the proper terminology! 😅
I understand why a buffer car is used on the Gas trains. But why did MRL take the time & effort to put a 'man' door on the side of the boxcar? BNSF and others use old covered hoppers and have no access to the inside of the buffer car. What am I missing? @1:00:05 Left of the car's main door, panel to the right of "rail Link". The details of the steps & grab irons would be interesting to model.
Thanks for the great video! I'm from the UK and have spent some time in Missoula, over the years, and so was encouraged to see this video of the MRL. In 2012, I was driving back to Missoula on the 200, near Ravalli, and was lucky to catch the eastbound morning gas headed by 263 and 346. I attempted to track it back to Missoula but failed so it was good to see the whole operation, both west and east. Some questions: About the tank cars, I had read somewhere that loading and unloading was done through the valves in the underside of the cars. Is this correct? Also, is the branch line south from Missoula, towards Darby, still in use? I'm guessing that it's not as you had no recordings.
nother great video. One question. The 10th sub from Paradise to De Smet via Perma-Dixon etc (east side) is oneway traffic to Missoula? Or both directions?
@@shadedmuse I doubt it. The entire railroad is now BNSF's MRL Division which is a nice nod to Dennis Washington's railroad and the people who still work there.
Sad that BNSF has bought it back and is gonna replace all the old vintage signals with new boring ones and all the old vintage desail power will be gone to :/
![Farewell MRL Part 2 [The Helpers of Mullan Pass]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/TxHtBLkUDt4/mqdefault.jpg)
![Farewell MRL Part 2 [The Helpers of Mullan Pass]](/img/tr.png)
![Marias Pass [BNSF in Montana's Magnificent Rockies]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Rzli7pm-s24/mqdefault.jpg)
Wow,MRL locomotives always look so clean,a result of the terrain they traverse I guess. Thanks for another great video.
Another great video! Thank you!
Man what a great video! Amazing work
Thank you!
Based on the preview at the start of the video alone, I clearly missed out on railfanning a good rail operation in beautiful scenery. Of course, the scenery will still be there in the future, but I would prefer Rail Link blue over BNSF orange.
Excellent photography, informative narration and and riveting subject matter! Keep up the good work!
One thing's for sure. Montana's a beautiful state.
It's no wonder why it is referred to as Big Sky Country. ^^
And expensive to live in!
As always, excellent video and audio along with detailed information
👍🏿
16:06 that is a perfect shot of an EMD 710 throttle!
This is an awesome sight seeing the trains going through here
with this beautiful scenery all around it and have some last looks
at it before it is no more and I'll be watching all parts thank you.
🚂🚃🚃🇺🇲
I LOVE that wintertime footage!
I use to always look over at the round house when I would go through Missoula. Can see it from i90
Very sad to hear about the Contract running out, I have over the years enjoyed seeing mrl train's when I us to visit the Big Sky state.
Hopefully contract will be for Another 60years so No One loses their jobs, our Country has been suffering to much.
Thank you for the video.
great video 😍😍❤❤
By far the best MRL video you have made (have all your MRL videos but the last 3.
, but that will be rectified before Xmas.) love Mullen Pass . Bit hard to get there from New Zealand.
Excellent!!
Wow cool another train video.
you Sir, have earned a subscriber in me!
awesome work y'all. hopefully there's more shortline/regional rail on the way soon!
The Aussie BHP connection to MRL at 1:57:00 was an unXpected pleasant surprise
Excellent video! Wish I could do 1/10 as well. Thanks for sharing.
Living the dream having coffee and doughnuts watching this video. Thanks for the explanations it helps a dunce like me to understand. Beautiful scenery if is fun watching on my iPhone 16 pro max. I will close by saying thanks for your work in these videos
The cool thing about the Bonita Tunnel shot is that the Old Milwaukee tunnel is right next to it covered by all the trees
Hope it'll stick around a few more years. Never seen it but probably one of my favorite railroads. Awesome production
It has been BNSF since the first of the year but you can still see a few MRL engines working.
@7ideaproductions yeah, I've seen some videos and pictures but I was sure of the extent to which bnsf had taken over.
@@WesleyEast-RRfanComplete takeover as of Jan 1 2024. MRL is history.
Back in 2013 I used to run in and out of Laurel from Forsythe and then Glendive when the BNSF ran through Forsythe and eliminating the short pool. As the story goes from the (really) old heads of the Laurel/Forsythe/Glendive subdivisions, the BN leased the tracks off to the MRL to break up a particularly troublesome local union out of Helena. I'm glad to see BNSF got it back as IMO the MRL had the best tracks in Montana!
I'm also very thrilled to see that the BNSF is still running old SF dash 9's on the head end and brand new ES-44s as DPUs. Treating those crews well by forcing hoggers to be hunched over the console and short backed seats to ensure rule 1.11.1 can't be utilized! (This is complete sarcasm!)
Super!🚂🚂
I think "Fuel Local" would be more appropriate LOL! Years ago as a young kid travelling around the country I worked at a huge truck stop in West Memphis as a fuel desk cashier. I was inexperienced was saying will you be getting *_gas_* in your *_truck_* and got the evil eye real quick. It's *_fuel_* in their *_tractor_* is the proper terminology! 😅
I understand why a buffer car is used on the Gas trains. But why did MRL take the time & effort to put a 'man' door on the side of the boxcar? BNSF and others use old covered hoppers and have no access to the inside of the buffer car. What am I missing? @1:00:05 Left of the car's main door, panel to the right of "rail Link". The details of the steps & grab irons would be interesting to model.
Mrl been long time success and now bnsf has it in 2024 running better now
Oustanding first part! One question: why do they use a pair of very powerful SD70Ace for the two freight trains gas locals?
Thanks for the great video!
I'm from the UK and have spent some time in Missoula, over the years, and so was encouraged to see this video of the MRL. In 2012, I was driving back to Missoula on the 200, near Ravalli, and was lucky to catch the eastbound morning gas headed by 263 and 346. I attempted to track it back to Missoula but failed so it was good to see the whole operation, both west and east.
Some questions: About the tank cars, I had read somewhere that loading and unloading was done through the valves in the underside of the cars. Is this correct? Also, is the branch line south from Missoula, towards Darby, still in use? I'm guessing that it's not as you had no recordings.
Does this mean that there's not going to be any more trains crossing thru the town of Helena?
So the contract is up and BNSF is going to run the trains now, or is this line going the way of Rio Grande between Pueblo and Grand Junction?
Are there LED versions of searchlight signals?
I miss the blue MRL engines, I live in Billings, Montana
nother great video. One question. The 10th sub from Paradise to De Smet via Perma-Dixon etc (east side) is oneway traffic to Missoula? Or both directions?
They can run trains either direction on the 10th although the heavy grade makes it less desirable. It really depends on how traffic is on the 4th sub.
I wonder if the mrl will maintain their livery
the MRL logo per microscale is called “the lion head” that’s a little lion head on the right side of the \\
MRL has a canadian branch line called the SRY
Why mrl give there subdivisions numbers an not names?
I know it goes back at least to the Burlington Northern's Rocky Mountain Division (Pre-merger-1968) if not the NP.
@@7ideaproductions Will BNSF start naming subdivions?
@@shadedmuse I doubt it. The entire railroad is now BNSF's MRL Division which is a nice nod to Dennis Washington's railroad and the people who still work there.
Anyone notice there is no graffiti on the cars?
Little to no people in many of the areas that MRL ran through. You see the same with traffic across Wyoming or Nebraska.
Sad that BNSF has bought it back and is gonna replace all the old vintage signals with new boring ones and all the old vintage desail power will be gone to :/
Actually MRL had begun a signal upgrade before the BNSF takeover. I definitely miss the old searchlights and semaphores before them.
And the game of mergers will stop only after there are only two north/south and two east/west lines left.
A+ production guys…..I purchased the DVD’s…..!
Thank you for supporting us!