Me too. Furthermore it's an interresting unit set, a brand new loco with a rather old one... Reminds me a video recorded on the now dormant SP's Tenessee Pass about 20 years ago, that showed a then brand new GE SP AC4400CW neighbouring one of the last D&RGW's GP30s in a same lashup... Dom
Not sure if they're still doing this, as I have not as yet this year been down there for a chase. It was quite common to have one of the SD70ACe units paired with an older EMD, on many of their gas trains. I have a photo on my web site. Link in my signature. Not MILW nor Butte, but a number of former MILW folks ended up in various capacities with the MRL.
Before the new SD70s arrived, the most common helper set(s) on Bozeman Pass were a pair of ACe's with an SD40 in the middle. The 40 had the new meatball logo and the 70's the lions head. That's still one of my favorite things about the MRL..........GP9's running alongside SD70ACes. I see the GP35's almost every day. They just put a GP40 into service. And I continue to be amazed at the condition MRL keeps it's locos in...........I swear they must repaint them once a month. Saw this photo on Facebook..........even their "big hook" looks incredible!
One thing about how MRL is operated, it is much more like railroads used to be, as businesses. Compared to the mega-merger era, where they are investment assets to be milked to death. MRL ownership and most of the people take great pride in their railroad.
I miss living in Montana. I really enjoyed chasing MRL trains over Mullan Pass. Here is a pic of the BNSF on its back to Butte from Garrison just north of Deer lodge. For a few years before moving to Texas the MRL was running dirt trains from Missoula to Opportunity south of Deer Lodge on the BNSF Butte line.
Nice photos! I have tried to catch that BNSF local many times. Each time, they've used a different schedule from normal. As if they knew I was stopping by there!
Although I grew up with the Milwaukee Road and the Northern Pacific, I really enjoy seeing what MRL is doing. Years back they had a herd of old CNW locomotives parked outside the Livingston rebuild shop and started running these rebuilt locomotives and as we move to today, the newest locomotives are showing up. You never know what is going to show up with them. And my favorite just outside of Plains, MT I like it better than the green and white below.
I think they're up to 4407. Working in Belgrade, not to far from the main line I have seen some of them.
You sure can see a lot of railroading between Thompson Falls, through Plains and toward Ravalli. The highway and tracks cross back and forth across the Clark Fork River with some really beautiful scenery. A lot of the time highway 200 is just above the tracks for great picture taking.
MRL sure does keep their stuff in good condition. Having been a part of LRC in Livingston for a while in the 90's, we worked on a lot of MRL stuff. They were cost conscious, but the engines had to end up looking good and clean! When I left there that line of old CNW GP's was still there, so when I next went through there, many years later in 2012, imagine my shock to see no GP's, many new engines and then lately the ACE's! And getting them in that scenery sure aun't bad either! Chet - thanks for the photos. Nice! Boxcab and all else, seeing this area and going to the Helena Railfair will get you in the middle of MRL action. Yup, that was a bare boned plug for that show......... :sweat:
I'd love to come, but have medical bills up to my ears, which strangely insurance no longer pays..... :angry:
