helena

More at http://trainwatchersjournal.blogspot.com/

The clock tower on the Helena Depot serves as a reminder of when passenger trains served almost every town & city in America. The depot currently houses the local MRL offices.

A BNSF grain train powered by 3 Dash 9's & an SD70ACe barels down the 2.2% grade towards Helena

MRL SD70ACe #4304 passes through a grade crossing on its way back to Helena on a BNSF grain train.

An old auto rack car still in its Soo Line livery.

One of the rail cars that looks like it has been decorated by an artist, not a graffitist.

An ex.BN whiteface SD60M on a BNSF manifest at Helena, Mt

The cab & air conditioner on BNSF Dash 9 #4595 is framed by a walk-through passage at the Helena depot

A MRL Hi-Rail pickup at the Helena Depot

A west-bound BNSF manifest waits at the Helena depot for a set of helpers after changing crew. I was able to catch a helper set heading back towards Helena up at Blossberg later that day: http://www.railroadforums.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/55670/cat/500/ppuser/4714...

close up of NP #1382's builder plate

NP #1382 sits on display at Helena

View of NP #1382 from the engineers side...

A view of NP #1382 from the front

restored Northern Pacific 2-6-0 #1382 sits on display in a park next to the Helena depot (which now houses the local MRL offices)

The BNSF empty coal train starts its decent through Mullan Tunnel towards Helena on a warm July afternoon

A closer view of Austin Creek Trestle on Mullan Pass

One can get a feel for the beauty of the Mullan Pass area & the surrounding mountains from several scenic points along Mullan Pass road. In the distance, you can see one of two major trestles on the Mullan Pass route.

Looking upgrade towards the summit of Mullan Pass from down near Austin after the train cleared the grade x-ing