Since October 1987, Montana Rail Link has plied the rails of the Northern Pacific through central and western Montana. Trains roll over the 900 plus miles to the tune of two-stroke EMD locomotives dressed in the Washington Companies’ blue and black paint scheme.
With news the MRL would soon fade into BNSF, we set out to make a four-part series to document this beloved regional railroad in its final years.
In addition to mainline action, we will head up the former NP’s Butte Line through Three Forks, Sappington, and the Jefferson River Canyon to Whitehall. We will also see a rock train loading at the Pipestone Quarry and visit the remote Harrison Branch.
Two Hours
WIDESCREEN DVD NTSC No Region Code
1080i Hi-Definition Blu-ray BD-R
May be viewed with or without narration
This program was shot in 2022 and 2023.
Additional footage by Christian Schultz