Uploaded January 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This is the epic battle of high tonnage trains verses gravity! Montana Rail Link utilizes manned helpers based in Helena to assist heavy westbound trains over Mullan Pass, a stiff 2.2% climb to the Continental Divide in Montana's Rocky Mountains. Five-unit sets of EMD SD70ACe's spill their guts as swing-helpers lugging heavy tonnage over the grade. Classic SD40's and 45's get a good workout along with BNSF GE Dash 9's, GEVO's, and EMD SD70MAC's.
With news that the MRL will soon fade into the BNSF, we thought it was fitting to share some of our favorite scenes from the winter and summer of 2011.
This is from our 2011 DVD release "MRL Montana Mainline Part 2." If you would like to purchase the entire program, it is available at www.7ideaproductions.com. 7ideaproductions.com/products/mrl-montana-main-line-part-2?_pos=1&_sid=419f21349&_ss=r
This is the epic battle of high tonnage trains verses gravity! Montana Rail Link utilizes manned helpers based in Helena to assist heavy westbound trains over Mullan Pass, a stiff 2.2% climb to the Continental Divide in Montana's Rocky Mountains. Five-unit sets of EMD SD70ACe's spill their guts as swing-helpers lugging heavy tonnage over the grade. Classic SD40's and 45's get a good workout along with BNSF GE Dash 9's, GEVO's, and EMD SD70MAC's.
With news that the MRL will soon fade into the BNSF, we thought it was fitting to share some of our favorite scenes from the winter and summer of 2011.
This is from our 2011 DVD release "MRL Montana Mainline Part 2." If you would like to purchase the entire program, it is available at www.7ideaproductions.com. 7ideaproductions.com/products/mrl-montana-main-line-part-2?_pos=1&_sid=419f21349&_ss=r
![Farewell MRL Part 2 [The Helpers of Mullan Pass]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TxHtBLkUDt4/mqdefault.jpg "Farewell MRL Part 2 [The Helpers of Mullan Pass]
Since its founding in October 1987, the Montana Rail Link has plied the rails laid down by the Northern Pacific in the Big Sky country of Montana. It has served as a bridge line for the Burlington Northern and later BNSF between Jones Junction, Montana and Sandpoint, Idaho. In addition to handling main line freight, MRL has provided rail service to many local customers along its 900 plus miles of track utilizing several branch lines.
In January 2022, news of the MRL reaching an agreement with BNSF to end its lease brought many railfans out to Montana to see their beloved regional railroad one last time, not knowing exactly when the end would come. We made several trips in 2022 and early 2023 to capture some of the hot spots at various times of the year and are proud to present this four-part series showcasing Montana Rail Link in quite likely its last years of operation.
Part 2 covers MRL’s army of EMD SD70ACe’s in helper service shoving BNSF trains over Mullan Pass. Up to three sets of helpers, made up of four or five engines, assist heavy trains over the pass. The sight and sound of big two-stroke EMD’s battling the 2.2% mountain grade is what this show is all about! This is the greatest showcase of MRL power preserved here for you to enjoy!
This series was created to preserve the memory of this amazing regional railroad. Farewell MRL!
This program is available on DVD and Blu-ray at 7ideaproductions.com. https://www.7ideaproductions.com/products/farewell-mrl-part-2?_pos=3&_sid=939fff21c&_ss=r
0:00 Intro
3:33 Map
6:01 Garrison
17:38 Bradley
19:19 Avon
22:22 Elliston
25:18 Blossburg
42:33 Skyline Trestle
49:04 East Portal Mullan Tunnel
55:36 Skyline Trestle
1:01:48 Austin Siding
1:28:45 Seven Mile Creek
1:38:27 Helena Junction
1:40:23 Tobin")
![Steam and Snow [Rotary OY on Cumbres Pass]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Uotv4QMNmgs/mqdefault.jpg "Steam and Snow [Rotary OY on Cumbres Pass]
Watch the Cumbres & Toltec Rotary OY in operation for the first time since 1997! In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, Rio Grande Rotary OY was brought back to life for an exciting two-day event, plowing snow between Chama, New Mexico and the summit of Cumbres Pass in Colorado.
The two-day event kicked off on February 29th with the rotary working between Chama and the New Mexico/Colorado state line, followed by a rare nighttime photo session. On March 1st, the OY battled icy drifts around Windy Point to the 10,015-foot summit of Cumbres Pass.
Two K-36 Class Mikados number 487 and 484 put on a great show of brute force against gravity lugging the OY and its classic snowplow train up the 4% grade. The San Juan Mountains thundered in a continuous eruption of steam, snow, and smoke!
Narration is limited so you can enjoy the sight (and sound) of classic Rio Grande narrow gauge equipment working in the dead of winter. If you weren’t able to see this event in person, this program is the next best thing!
This program is available on DVD and Blu-ray at 7ideaproductions.com. https://www.7ideaproductions.com/products/steam-and-snow-rotary-oy-on-cumbres-pass?_pos=1&_sid=5ad01f809&_ss=r
0:00 Intro
3:02 Chama Yard
10:15 Rotary vs Snow Man!
12:53 Plowing Begins
15:14 The Narrows
25:10 Lobato Siding
32:43 Dalton
43:20 Second Crossing of Hwy 17
52:12 Approaching Colorado State Line
57:57 Nighttime Photo Shoot in Chama
1:00:01 Photo Line Below Coxo
1:00:28 Coxo
1:08:14 Windy Point
1:14:06 Approaching Cumbres Summit
1:19:05 Summit of Cumbres Pass")
![Across the Utah Desert [Union Pacifics Green River Sub]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/V1Lj2ooWYL4/mqdefault.jpg "Across the Utah Desert [Union Pacifics Green River Sub]
Taken from our 2013 DVD release, explore this remote and beautiful railroad main line framed by the majestic Book Cliffs between Grand Junction, Colorado and Helper, Utah.
Hike into Ruby Canyon and see Amtraks California Zephyr rolling beneath giant sandstone cliffs. Watch heavy Union Pacific coal trains climbing the grade at Thompson Cut. The scenic highlight of the route is the thirty-seven mile Cane Creek Branch near Moab that twists and winds between Arches and Canyonlands National Park.
This program is available on DVD and Blu-ray by visiting 7ideaproductions.com.
https://www.7ideaproductions.com/products/across-the-utah-desert?_pos=1&_sid=018f32025&_ss=r
0:00 Intro
2:29 Map
4:29 Grand Junction
12:07 Fruita
13:55 Mack
15:58 Ruby Canyon
27:13 Utahline
32:19 Cisco
36:00 Elba
40:23 Thompson Cut
45:30 Thompson Springs
47:10 Cane Creek Branch
1:10:53 Brendel
1:11:57 Floy
1:13:47 Solitude
1:20:30 Green River
1:25:04 Desert
1:26:58 Vista
1:31:17 Woodside
1:32:09 Cedar
1:36:36 Mounds
1:38:36 Sunnyside Branch
1:47:41 Wash
1:49:31 Castle Valley
1:50:35 Savage Coal
1:53:36 Maxwell
1:55:56 Helper")
