Montana Rail Link

model railroader mag ran an article on an N scale MRL layout not that long ago, and there seems to be a fair amount of MRL equipment out there, i like the MRL i just wi***heir HO models where easier to find in Australia ah well, good luck with your project if you go ahead with it.


James

The Montana is a coal hauling railroad. A few years ago pretty much there whole roaster of locomotives were the SD45 and FP45. They have now recently started ordering the brand new SD70ACe. The SD70ACe is a brand new lococmotive that came out in the last year. The unit has 4300 Horse power and is an excelent puller with long trains. The unit uses AC power. The SD45 and FP45 that are now being replaced were great locmotives but will probably not be around for much longer. SD45 is a 3600 horsepower unit and was the primary loco on the railroad and its time. The not so common FP45 was also used but I don't remember the horse power for this unit.
As it states the Montana rail link runs in Montana in the rocky mountains.
Someone with more idea about the railroad could explain it.

James

Montana Rail Link took over part of the NP's route through Montana and into Idaho. It runs basically from Billings MT to Sandpoint, ID, with trackage rights into Spokane, WA.

Their website: http://www.montanarail.com/

I went to school in Montana just by the tacks in Bozeman. I would go everyday after class to a town called Livingston which was just over Bozeman Pass. I think I studied MRL more than I did CET (Construction Engineering Technology). If you have questions about MRL, I just might have answers. I'm thinking about modeling some MRLs on my layout but I will use Kato SD40s and 45s, and paint them myself. That is mainly what MRL consists of. Oh, and they used F45 not FP45.

Why is it if theres an Alaskan around theres an Australian lurking somewhere nearby. I lived 28 years in Sitka AK So I know. By the way I travel along the MRL 2 or 3 times per year and am able to get some good photos, Even of their steam excursion train when I know its running. Runs thru some of the most beautiful country in the US but the winters are really cold. Minus 30F and below at times also check this link for fotos.RailPictures.net

Awesome thanks guys. I think i will look into this more, this seems like a very well layed out railroad.. with a good bit of diversity in locomotives. Where is the best site for purchasing locomotives? I have ran across a lot of good sites.. but none that sell a variety of diesels in various different roads.. hope you guys can help with this?

I think anyone who seriously wants to model the MRL needs to seriously look into painting there own equipment.

I've incorporated the MRL into past layouts and I found that there is not an abundance of MRL equipment out there, But, there are some nice pieces if you can find them.

If it is an option...Helena, MT has a NICE show every April.
There are PLENTY of MRL items sitting around at that show (MRL modelers come out of the woodwork it seems like), it's also a great time to do some railfanning.

One of the Roads i Model is Montana RailLink I do dhave pics of some of them Ill post for you later

Carl....

Strashiem1023 is right about Helena train show. I went last year and saw a lot of great engines that guys had painted up. I was able to get me a F45 that one guy had did a superb job on. For the rest, I will paint myself. Just keep looking for websites, I'm sure that there is someone that paints and sells there work.

If you ever do make it to Helena save some time to go to Mullan Pass. Just make sure you have a SUV. Once I used my wife's Ford Focus, it did okay on those dirt roads up that moundain but not smart.

Believe it or not, I saw a MRL loco heading up a KCS manifest freight on Jan 17, 2006 in Plano, TX. What a time NOT to have the camera!

dont forget there is alot of run through power so it wouldnt be uncommen to see a BN or ATSF or BNSF locomotive in a consist.

Hey James, you mean something like this?

MRL bridges for BNSF through Montana, so when they need some more power to make it over that next hill, they will add a MRL on.

Thanks Ac4400fan, pics would be great. As far as painting them myself... that looks like a very fun . I think by starting with a unpainted locomotive, that would be my best bet. What are some good brands of paint to use? Ive heard so many different kinds work well. And what is the key to weathering them.. that looks really complicated

I was talking to one conductor for the MRL about modeling the MRL, he said jus take you model and stick it in the mud, and that's how you weather it. He told me that they really don't keep their engines clean.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Texansoldier As far as painting them myself... that looks like a very fun . I think by starting with a unpainted locomotive, that would be my best bet. What are some good brands of paint to use? Ive heard so many different kinds work well.

I used to model MRL in N scale. I only had three engines: 1) a Kato SD-40 that I kept in BN paint, 2) an Atlas non-dynamic GP-35 that I kept stock, but painted it myself in MRL, and 3) a detailed GP-9 that started out as a Life-Like GP-18. I chopped its short hood, added several Gold Medal Models brass details, placed it on an Atlas GP-7 drive and custom painted it for MRL. When I sold the layout, I threw in the SD-40, but kept the two MRL engines as keepsakes.

I seem to remember when I painted these two that I used a Santa Fe blue, which I later decided was too dark. Polly S had an acrylic paint that it called MRL blue, but I didn't think it looked right and I always had difficulty with Polly S in my airbrush. Today, I would use Poly Scale paints, which work well in my airbrush and come in a variety of colors - one of which is sure to come close to MRL blue.

Of course, once an engine has put in a few years out in the elements, the paint color tends to change so I wouldn't worry too much about finding the "right" blue. The truth is that there are many "right" shades of blue depending on the service the engine has seen.

Microscale makes a sheet of N scale MRL locomotive decals, which has enough decals to fini***wo or three engines.

If you need any more encouragement and/or inspiration to detail and paint your own MRL fleet in N scale, take a look at the Tom Danneman article in Model Railroader from about six months ago.

Good Luck,
Tom

PS, don't stress over weathering right now. Wait until after you have an airbrush and have knocked out a few custom paint jobs to get comfortable with painting. And then you should buy a bunch of "cheap" freight cars to practice weathering techniques on before starting on your engines.

Now thats funny right there. Well ive seen some pics. They do look pretty grimy. So that means for even more trouble with weathering it! I know there are some of you who know the ares of the MRL. How is the terrain? Im starting to want to get out there someday ans see this for myself!

QUOTE: Originally posted by zgardner18 Hey James, you mean something like this? MRL bridges for BNSF through Montana, so when they need some more power to make it over that next hill, they will add a MRL on.

exactly like that [:)]

Most of the terrain that I've seen is along the Yellowstone and Missouri Rivers, surrounded by beautiful mountains. Some grades, but the two main ones are the Mullan and Bozeman. They are spectacular. Long tunnels, high bridges and small towns. There is nothing more special than the time I saw a BNSF coaltrain with 4 MRL helper in the middle and 4 in the back heading over one of the tall bridges on the Mullan Pass. So, you'll need pine trees, rivers, mountains and grass. Farms, flatlands, cattle, and light traveled roads.

Sounds like an awesome layout. Id better get started..its gonna take years! I bet theres some of you out there that have spent years on yours. Whats the drive that keeps you going.. i know that mine is just seeing a train.. and i know why i love it!

I have looked on many sites now and am getting conflicting information on what types of locos that the MRL has. Can anyone help me out with this?

Go to www.rrpicturearchives.net and click on "By Railroad", Click on Reginal, then click on MR. A list of all their fleet will come up. What is neat is that they tell you what most of then were before the MRL picked them up. Click on the engine number and pictures will come up. Good luck.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Texansoldier I have looked on many sites now and am getting conflicting information on what types of locos that the MRL has. Can anyone help me out with this?

Here's a subfolder in that MRL corporate link that brunton posted above - it lists every type of loco that they lease out - even some GP9's!
http://www.montanarail.com/leasing/leasing.htm

Excellent information guys, im gathering that MRL has taken over some SP and Up routes in the area. Does this mean they run those engines still in SP and UP paint? Ive even seen a CN within a MRL consist. Or are these just leased?

All I can really tell you is what I saw, and that was mainly that BNSF was being bridge over MRL's tracks, so I saw just about everything: CSX, NS, CN, CP, KCS, UP etc. I don't know about them taking over any routes though. I know that they've abandoned a few. Maybe someone else knows better than I.

Sounds to me like ML might as well be losing its track. A relatively new RR that had other lines running all over it? I dont know.. it may just be my thoughts. Unless they have a huge impact on the coal industry

No, I think that you missunderstood me, BNSF pays MRL to have MRL's train crewmen run BNSF trains on MRL's tracks. MRL is the one making money off of BNSF. What I heard was that BN sold the tracks to MRL and now BNSF would love to have them back. I'm sure the two have a great relationship going on.

And one more thing, MRL was hardly ran coal, all I saw was BNSF coal trains.

OH ok i gotcha, So basically BNSF is preatty much paying MRL to do BNSF work with MRL crew? And about the coal, i read that MRL was a heavy coal hauling line. But i guess once again, i ready false info. Other than grain and various odds and ends.. what does MRL haul?

To be honest with you, every MRL train that I saw come through Bozeman was a mixed freight train.

Makes since. Well after reading into it a little, MRL looks like its driving on BNSF lines still. Unless theres been an update, im seeing as BNSF still owns the majority of montana. So what im gathering that MRL has its own engines, with track rights? Or did they just buy out a lot of BNSF trackage? This is more complicated than i thought, but its something any MRL railfan should learn