Yeah, it didn't take me long to hit the local attractions... Upon arriving in Austin after a dusty drive from Helena, we caught a light set of filthy big ACe helpers: A day trip to do some shopping in Helena led to a quick trip to see what Mullan's all about! The road past Austin was ice-city, so I wisely turned the family sedan around and headed back to Austin, in time to catch the Missoula-Livingston train descending the lower of Austin's horseshoe loops: This shot clearly shows the grade: A quick drive east some more, about a mile east of East Austin siding, and a quick hike up a dirtbike trail nets this shot of the ML easing downgrade:
That was a false sense of an eay chase, since once the train cleared east Austin, it picked up speed. And I mean speed. The next shot is at MP 6, almost to Helena! Carroll college stands prominently in the distance on a large hill, while a BNSF manifest and a grainer with a special treat in consist awaits in Helena... Helena's depot: BNSF grain train with a special treat--a one-of-four F45! Actually, only 3 run...
AHHHHHH... Guess I should have bucked up and come down to your place like you told me to on the phone....... grant
Carroll College- Home of the Saints. Once again the D-III National Champs in football. You sure had a nice, bright day on that side. It was gray, windy, and snowy here most of the time. Boxcab E50
Well, just wait a few weeks. Very soon, you can sit up there in the skeeters, and dust, sweating away the hours in brilliant sunlight. Boxcab E50
I have Muskol, and I know how to use it! Any good photo ops I missed int he more scenic area, that I was able to reach, minus a 5-mile hike? Has anyone been to Mullan before, and have pointers on good photo locations? This book is an EXCELLENT resource on Mullan, past and present: Mullan Pass
> BNSF grain train with a special treat--a one-of-four F45! MRL 393 is sitting in Helena today. Probably as the unmanned helper unit. Both sets of ACes were out on the hill at noon today.
Welcome, Dan! Pics? We'd love to see them! Feel free to email them to me for posting, start your very own Rail Images album, or what you have for image hosting.
Jeremy, Used to go on occasion, but that was several years ago, and while I still had relatives living in Helena. I gotta get up that way again, once I'm able to get some vacation time! If you can get the time to head UP the pass, you might try for some shots at Skyline Trestle, I believe. The first of 2 trestles encountered. And both on curves! One has a forest access road below, so it's easy to get to. Follow the road long enough, and you end up at the summit of Mullan Pass, close to Mullen(Blossburg) Tunnel! Been there as a general freight train exited the tunnel. Quite the sight, and sound!! Check here for a MapQuest map of the approimate area. Also see if you can get a VHS or DVD copy of Montana Rail Link from Pantre/Video Rails. It'll give you some good ideas as well. Hope this helps.
Thanks for the info, Keith! I bought a Mullan vid from a Yellow forum VHS sale, can't wait to see it! Mapquest? Google Earth works pretty well, too...
Mapquest is just another locating tool. It's the one I use most of the time. Wasn't aware of Google Earth until recently. Just downloaded the free version, so I'll be checking it out pretty quick!
That Mullan vid from Pentrex is nice....... The 'doubles' are quite impressive! I'm headed down again for the Helena train show in April--will hit the Pass again!
After the Helena Rail Fair, we hit the hill again. Blocked by snow again, we couldn't get to Mullan Tunnel, but got very close to the summit if the divide, in my estimations. A neat detail at West Austin; knuckle garden at 'drawbar alley':
Here's where we had sto turn around, the poor little Pontiac wasn't going to pass thru that drift. I don't think a 1-ton truck, with 49" Irok tires, Rockwell 2.5T axles, dual Detroit lockers and a big block could get thru either. Bigfoot would have a hard time, methinks. Here's a view near where we had to turn around, with light helpers westbound at Skyline Trestle:
I too took a trip up Mullan Pass to do some railfanning after the railfair in Helena. After being tipped off by my scanner that a westbound freight was heading up the pass, we drove up Austin to caught the meet. And short after the westbound had stopped, the eastbound came rolling downgrade.
