Thursday Proto Photo, Feb 19,2026

[Lenny53]

VIA Rail 63 Dorval, QC Feb 17,2026

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[wm3798]

South Shore commuter in Gary, Indiana, March 25, 2021

[samusi01]

BNSF 266 leads an SD60M and another 75 (not pictured) out on a local.

[Bulbous]

We just finished installing the new tracks at Midland Station for the reopening of the line this weekend - dual gauge (standard gauge and 3'6" gauge) approaches into narrow gauge metro platforms and dual gauge regional platform, then extension down to the Bellevue Depot and Alstom plant. New crossover west of the station with common rail reverser between the turnouts:

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Regional track diverging right from the up main, with both narrow gauge metro lines heading into the station island platform:

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Cheers,

Matt

[lock4244]

Spending an afternoon with MRL's 840 local out of Helena.

First stop is the cement plant in Montana City, where they are shoving ten loads of coal into the plant. Before they depart, they'll lift ten empties sitting in the siding beyond the switch. This short branch, only a few miles between the mainline east of Helena yard and Montana City, is the southern remnant of the GN's Great Falls to Butte line.
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After dropping the empties at the junction with the mainline, they grabbed one car for Graymont Limestone at Townsend.
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Working Graymont Limestone.
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[Westcoast_Trains]

The view looking east from the western entrance of CP's Kamloops yard. Taken April 2025. Featuring CP 9700 and 8887.

[Westcoast_Trains]

Spending an afternoon with MRL's 840 local out of Helena.

First stop is the cement plant in Montana City, where they are shoving ten loads of coal into the plant. Before they depart, they'll lift ten empties sitting in the siding beyond the switch. This short branch, only a few miles between the mainline east of Helena yard and Montana City, is the southern remnant of the GN's Great Falls to Butte line.
(Attachment Link)

After dropping the empties at the junction with the mainline, they grabbed one car for Graymont Limestone at Townsend.
(Attachment Link)

Working Graymont Limestone.
(Attachment Link)

Love it, beautiful photos. Gotta get the blue before its all gone.

[lock4244]

Love it, beautiful photos. Gotta get the blue before its all gone.

These shots were in February 2022, and my last trip was in January of 2023. Was planning to visit in September of 2023 but that was scuttled by work. I'm not sure if there's any blue power left, but it was tough enough to get pure blue sets when MRL existed, so I cannot imagine driving out there again on a chance to get a blue set... BNSF is not worth the drive.

I wish I had started visiting in the 90's when I got into foaming, but unfortunately I was not that smart. My first glimpse of MRL was in 2005 in Billings, and I drove Sandpoint to Missoula via Evaro and Missoula to St. Regis in 2008 (to say things were dead in 2008 is an understatement), but my traveling companion was more interested in shopping and doing anything but chasing trains, and she tended to get her way. I spent three weeks on MRL in October of 2018, which really is the only way to properly do MRL if your goal is only shooting blue power (that was my goal). Without prejudice, the MRL is hands down the best railroad I ever shot... the operations coupled with the scenery was a simply magical combination.

We will never see its equal.

[Scottl]

I saw blues in Helena yard in July 2025 on my last visit.

[Westcoast_Trains]

These shots were in February 2022, and my last trip was in January of 2023. Was planning to visit in September of 2023 but that was scuttled by work. I'm not sure if there's any blue power left, but it was tough enough to get pure blue sets when MRL existed, so I cannot imagine driving out there again on a chance to get a blue set... BNSF is not worth the drive.

I wish I had started visiting in the 90's when I got into foaming, but unfortunately I was not that smart. My first glimpse of MRL was in 2005 in Billings, and I drove Sandpoint to Missoula via Evaro and Missoula to St. Regis in 2008 (to say things were dead in 2008 is an understatement), but my traveling companion was more interested in shopping and doing anything but chasing trains, and she tended to get her way. I spent three weeks on MRL in October of 2018, which really is the only way to properly do MRL if your goal is only shooting blue power (that was my goal). Without prejudice, the MRL is hands down the best railroad I ever shot... the operations coupled with the scenery was a simply magical combination.

We will never see its equal.

Unfortunately I have never been able to see it, but I have read a lot and had friends go at the end of ops in 23 and they say it was a great experience. Due to my young age and the general cost of travel and missing work nowadays, I have not had a chance to have many of those 3 week railfan trips. We have the "mini mrl" up here in the form of Southern Railway of BC (SRY) but that is as close as I have been able to get.

[lock4244]

I saw blues in Helena yard in July 2025 on my last visit.

Helper sets?

[Scottl]

I think so, hard to be sure flashing by on Interstate.

Shelby is always good for action, usually the yard has a few trains active.

[lock4244]

I think so, hard to be sure flashing by on Interstate.

Shelby is always good for action, usually the yard has a few trains active.

LM/ML, LAUBOZ, Gas Local, and the locals out of Helena and Logan was what I focused on. I did shoot the Mullan helpers of course, but the sets on Bozeman were a bigger draw for me, due entirely to the presence of the SDP40.

[lock4244]

Unfortunately I have never been able to see it, but I have read a lot and had friends go at the end of ops in 23 and they say it was a great experience. Due to my young age and the general cost of travel and missing work nowadays, I have not had a chance to have many of those 3 week railfan trips. We have the "mini mrl" up here in the form of Southern Railway of BC (SRY) but that is as close as I have been able to get.

Yeah, we've all been there. While I spent hours watching CN and CP's big MLW's on Toronto's east side in the late 80's, I wasn't an active photographer until they were gone. The MRL that I knew was the mature version... I sure wish I'd have known the earlier, wild version!