Montana Rail Link Trains on the Mullan Pass - SD70ACe Helpers on 2.2% Grades

Crossing over the Continental Divide in Central Montana, is the Mullan Pass. Located on the MRL 3rd Subdivision, this unforgiving 2.2% grade provides some of the finest and toughest railroading along the MRL system. To help the long and heavy trains over the pass, helper crews are staged at the bottom of the pass, in nearby Helena, MT. These helper sets are manned, and mainly attached to Westbound trains who need assistance going up the pass. There are usually four helpers on duty, arranged in pairs of four SD70ACe locomotives. BNSF power is seen in this section of MRL territory, however MRL crews operate them, therefore classifying them as MRL trains in this area.

On this particular day in early September 2020, the first snow fell for the season. While it was mostly a dusting and at the highest elevations, it was still awesome to experience it so early in the season!

Thanks for watching! | Video and Content by MichaelLovesTrains 2020
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Timeline:
Skyline Trestle: 00:00
Blossburg (Cont. Divide): 12:06
Elliston: 14:41
Birdseye: 16:20
Tobin: 17:36
Austin: 19:40