Montana Rail Link, I&MRL and IC&E Rosters

[nanaimo73]

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[nanaimo73]

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[Murphy Siding]

What? No DM&E roster?[:P]

[wctransfer]

Hey guys. I got the DM&E roster covered. When i get home ill post it. I'll also try to dig up a complete WC roster.

Alec

[blhanel]

Where do you guys get your information from? Especially you, Nanaimo73?

[nanaimo73]

QUOTE: Originally posted by blhanel

Where do you guys get your information from? Especially you, Nanaimo73?

I added a list called sources which should be complete.

[Anonymous]

Hey, the rostwer looks great... If you need any further MRL info, like freight cars or something, I own several MRL books, so give me a hollar if you need anything.. great work!!!

[arbfbe]

Well, the CTC Board roster as well as the earlier one in Mainline Modeler are my work with all sources of information duely credited.

The frame number punched into the deck plate for MRL 4300 is 20046621-001. MRL 4301 is 20046621-002 and 4305 is 20046621-006. You can see the pattern emerging here but I will not commit to the other numbers until I have been able to physically confirm them.

[wctransfer]

Sorry guys, i really dont want to type all this stuff, plus looks like he has a link to the DM&E roster. I can give a link to the WC roster one of these days too.

Alec

[Anonymous]

I doubt the info on MRL 329, claiming to be ex-SP 7556, is correct.
SP/MRL 7556 can be found in red-yellow in many places on internet.
I have personally seen it still Kodachrome, with hand-stenciled MRL
logos - as recently as a year ago, maybe less, here near Bozeman,
MT. I doubt the photo of MRL 329 from Nanaimo, which appears to
be identical to Petroff's photo on rrpicturesarchive.net, is in fact
the same unit.

*** Chaffer , Bozeman

[nanaimo73]

Here is the link with the information I used-
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=36437  
This shot is the before-
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/mrl/mrl7556.jpg  
In the June Trains Greg McDonnell mentions in January 2005 there were still 3 SP gray SD45s, 7544,7545 and 7555. He does not mention any Kodachromes.
Please read the following post by MrMRL.

[MrMRL]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jrchaff

I doubt the info on MRL 329, claiming to be ex-SP 7556, is correct.
SP/MRL 7556 can be found in red-yellow in many places on internet.
I have personally seen it still Kodachrome, with hand-stenciled MRL
logos - as recently as a year ago, maybe less, here near Bozeman,
MT. I doubt the photo of MRL 329 from Nanaimo, which appears to
be identical to Petroff's photo on rrpicturesarchive.net, is in fact
the same unit.

*** Chaffer , Bozeman

OK, let me straighten this out...

First I assume that you are talking about MRL 327, not 329. MRL 329 was an SP (gray/red) unit painted MRL back in July of 1998 at CEECO. Now, MRL 327 is indeed ex. SP 7556 (Kodachrome). It was painted at CEECO on December 14 of 2004, almost 11 months ago. Presently, there are only three, I repeat (3), ex. SP units left in SP-ish paint on MRL's system; MRL 7544 (318), MRL 7545 (319), & MRL 7555 (326). There are no immediate plans to have these rebuilt & repainted since they are still being held captive in helper service.

MRL has not acquired all of their SD70ACes yet, only ten out of the total sixteen have been painted with nine on the system and one in transit right now. Helper sets over Mullan and Bozeman pass now consist of pairs or trios of SD70ACes with one or two SD45s mixed in. This can be considered a transitional period for the MRL helper sets. Over the course of the next few weeks, maybe a month, the remaining six SD70ACes should be released from CEECO to the MRL, when that happens, then look for more of the SD45s to either be in line for scrap/parts or rebuild/repaints. Suspect SD45s that will be on this list include the three remaining SP units mentioned above, the ex. CNW unit (367), EMD Lease unit (342), ex. NYS&W unit (365), and the remaining ex Seaboard/CSX units (8900 series). Any further questions?

Robby F. (Mr. MRL)

[Anonymous]

I have a question for you Mr.MRL

I too am an MRL fan, I went out there this summer to witness the incredible helper sets witht he old SD45- how are the ACEs working out in the setsw???

[nanaimo73]

Thanks for clearing that up Robby.

QUOTE: Originally posted by MrMRL

Any further questions?

Would you happen to know the former numbers of GP9s of 128, 131, 133 and 135 ?
How about SD45s 376, 379, 380, 381, 383-87 and 389 ?
Even 1 or 2 of those would be greatly appreciated.

Does anyone know if the Tim Harris roster is back on the web ?
It is not here any more-
http://www.cco.caltech.edu/~timharri/mrl.html 

[MrMRL]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rgroeling

I too am an MRL fan, I went out there this summer to witness the incredible helper sets witht he old SD45- how are the ACEs working out in the setsw???

The ACes initially were having "issues" when MUed to the SD45s but it turned out to be a software error on the ACes, problem solved. A new discovery is that the "Montana Rail Link" lettering on the sides of the cabs is peeling off, I don't know what MRL is doing to solve this.

QUOTE: Originally posted by nanaimo73

Would you happen to know the former numbers of GP9s of 128, 131, 133 and 135 ?
How about SD45s 376, 379, 380, 381, 383-87 and 389 ?
Even 1 or 2 of those would be greatly appreciated.

Does anyone know if the Tim Harris roster is back on the web ?
It is not here any more-
http://www.cco.caltech.edu/~timharri/mrl.html

GP9
128…BLT 5-57…S# 22804…CRI&P 1318…CRI&P 4484:2…C&NW 4555…MRL 4555...MRL 128
131…BLT 3-52…S# A-348…QNS&L 108…C&NW 4355…MRL 4355...MRL 131
133…BLT 3-57…S# A-1065…QNS&L 171…C&NW 4525…MRL 4525...MRL 133
135…BLT 8-57…S# 22721…NP 318…BN 1903…MRL 1903...MRL 105...MRL 135

SD45
"376"…BLT 12-66…S# 31845…ACL 1029…SCL 2005…SBD 8905...CSXT 8905...VMV 8905...MRL 8905 (still painted VMV #8905)
"379"…BLT 12-66…S# 31846…SCL 2018…SBD 8918...CSXT 8918...VMV 8918...MRL 8918 (still painted VMV #8918, don't know it MRL still has it)
"380"…BLT 9-71…S# 37715…SCL 2024…SBD 8924...CSXT 8924...VMV 8924...MRL 8924 (still painted VMV #8924, on lease to BNSF)
"381"…BLT 9-71…S# 37716…SCL 2025…SBD 8925...CSXT 8925...VMV 8925...MRL 8925 (still painted VMV #8925)
"383"…BLT 10-71…S# 37727…SCL 2036…SBD 8936...CSXT 8936...VMV 8936...MRL 8936 ...IMRL 8936..IC&E 8936 (no longer on MRL roster)
"384"…BLT 10-71…S# 37731…SCL 2040...CRR 3627…SBD 8940...CSXT 8940...VMV 8940...MRL 8940 (still painted VMV #8940)
"385"…BLT 10-71…S# 37732…SCL 2041...CRR 3628…SBD 8941...CSXT 8941...VMV 8941...MRL 8941...IMRL 8941 (no longer on MRL roster)
"386"…BLT 7-66…S# 31956…N&W 1701...WC 1701…W&LE 1701...MRL 1701 (still painted WC #1701, on lease to NS)
"387"…BLT 8-66…S# 31973…N&W 1718...WC 1718…W&LE 1718...MRL 1718 (still painted WC #1718, stored in Livingston, MT)
"389"…BLT 7-67…S# 32708…N&W 1744...WC 1744…W&LE 1744...MRL 1744 (still painted WC #1744, on lease to BNSF)

Tim Harris no longer works at Cal Tech in Pasadena, CA so he lost his website. He now lives out in New Mexico at a new job. Last I spoke to him, he had plans on getting a new (improved) site up, but I haven't heard anything else yet.


Robby F. (Mr. MRL)

[nanaimo73]

QUOTE: Originally posted by MrMRL

GP9
128…BLT 5-57…S# 22804…CRI&P 1318…CRI&P 4484:2…C&NW 4555…MRL 4555...MRL 128
131…BLT 3-52…S# A-348…QNS&L 108…C&NW 4355…MRL 4355...MRL 131
133…BLT 3-57…S# A-1065…QNS&L 171…C&NW 4525…MRL 4525...MRL 133
135…BLT 8-57…S# 22721…NP 318…BN 1903…MRL 1903...MRL 105...MRL 135

SD45
"376"…BLT 12-66…S# 31845…ACL 1029…SCL 2005…SBD 8905...CSXT 8905...VMV 8905...MRL 8905 (still painted VMV #8905)
"379"…BLT 12-66…S# 31846…SCL 2018…SBD 8918...CSXT 8918...VMV 8918...MRL 8918 (still painted VMV #8918, don't know it MRL still has it)
"380"…BLT 9-71…S# 37715…SCL 2024…SBD 8924...CSXT 8924...VMV 8924...MRL 8924 (still painted VMV #8924, on lease to BNSF)
"381"…BLT 9-71…S# 37716…SCL 2025…SBD 8925...CSXT 8925...VMV 8925...MRL 8925 (still painted VMV #8925)
"383"…BLT 10-71…S# 37727…SCL 2036…SBD 8936...CSXT 8936...VMV 8936...MRL 8936 ...IMRL 8936..IC&E 8936 (no longer on MRL roster)
"384"…BLT 10-71…S# 37731…SCL 2040...CRR 3627…SBD 8940...CSXT 8940...VMV 8940...MRL 8940 (still painted VMV #8940)
"385"…BLT 10-71…S# 37732…SCL 2041...CRR 3628…SBD 8941...CSXT 8941...VMV 8941...MRL 8941...IMRL 8941 (no longer on MRL roster)
"386"…BLT 7-66…S# 31956…N&W 1701...WC 1701…W&LE 1701...MRL 1701 (still painted WC #1701, on lease to NS)
"387"…BLT 8-66…S# 31973…N&W 1718...WC 1718…W&LE 1718...MRL 1718 (still painted WC #1718, stored in Livingston, MT)
"389"…BLT 7-67…S# 32708…N&W 1744...WC 1744…W&LE 1744...MRL 1744 (still painted WC #1744, on lease to BNSF)

Tim Harris no longer works at Cal Tech in Pasadena, CA so he lost his website. He now lives out in New Mexico at a new job. Last I spoke to him, he had plans on getting a new (improved) site up, but I haven't heard anything else yet.


Robby F. (Mr. MRL)

Thank you Robby. That made my day.
Have a great day yourself !

[MrMRL]

Glad I could help out, thank you for doing the hard work putting together such a complete MRL / I&MRL roster. I have saved this thread for future reference.

Robby F. (Mr. MRL)[^][bow]

[Anonymous]

Well, I stand corrected. Many thanks to MrMRL and Nanaimo for their contributions. It turns out my latest photo of MRL 7556 in Kodachrome was Oct 2003. This is a great roster and a big help to those of us who model MRL. I've been in Bozeman 5 yrs and watched the myriad colorful helper sets - ex SP, ex WiscCen, Guilford, EMD tricolor, etc etc. It was hard to believe that the clean-looking '327' really was the same unit, even tho it was listed as "(327)....7556:2", on page 36 of Del Grosso's MRL book in 2000. Currently building an HO model of MRL 7556 and much appreciate all the corrected information on here.

*** Chaffer - Bozeman

[nanaimo73]

MRL grey and scarlet 7555 is now blue 326, probably painted early 2006.
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=57386  

GP9 110, 119, 122, 124 and GP7u 129 transfered to sister railway Southern Railway of British Columbia.
110 and 119 sent to new Southern Railway of Vancouver Island June 2006.

[Anonymous]

yesterday i went to welcox yard(Espalende ST) and i see 2 new rail link engine. number 119 and 108. The 2 esquimalt of nanaimo engine are in such bad condition.

[ericsp]

Dale, it must have taken a lot of time doing this, quite impressive. However, I see something that needs to be corrected. You list MRL 325 as being former SSW 7554, this should be SP 7554, none of the SD45Rs (or as SP called them SD45-2s) were Cotton Belt.

[nanaimo73]

Thanks Eric. Good eyes. I did not notice it switched ownership when SP rebuilt it.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=29913

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/LocoPicture.aspx?id=11607

[Anonymous]

    Just curious, have you seen what kind of motive power Southern is using on their new Island venture?

[nanaimo73]

GP9's 110 and 119 came over from the Southern Railway of British Columbia in late June. They handle propane cars here in Nanaimo, and that's about it. GP9 122, 124 and GP7u 129 are still on the Southern Railway of British Columbia. I would guess all 5 are owned by MRL and leased out.

I would have never guessed I'd see another torpedo geep over here, but 110 is. Too bad MRL chopped the nose.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=214223
 

[Anonymous]

    Yep, that's an interesting looking JEEP. I wondereed if MRL would supply some motive power or if you  would see a consist of SW900's over there.
I hope the Southern Railway group can make a go of the "E&N" legacy. They certainly do have the experience running a short-line.


Jim

[nanaimo73]

SD45-2 312 and SD45 345 have been scrapped due to accident damage.

RTEX MP15DC 229, which has been in Calgary and was to be Canadian Pacific 1448, has gone to CEECO in Tacoma with MRL painted on it. This seems to be a temporary reporting mark for the trip.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=62995

[wctransfer]

Great roster guys! One thing, could anyone please supply a roster of units currently leased out on other railroads? That would be great to see! Thanks for all the time you've put into this Dale.

Alec

[nanaimo73]

The MRL Yahoo group reported the following have been sold to Progress Rail, Feb 2007-

SD45 348, 357, 360, 362, 372, 373, 374, 377, 378, 8918, 8940

SD9 600, 601, 607

March 2007-

SD45 367, 368, 370

F45 391, 393

[Railfan1]

Good stuff.....

[wcaudle]

Coming and going to Texas from Washington for several years, I have railfanned the MRL.  I track locomotives as a hobby, and have seen their power on the BNSF near Fort Worth.  My thanks to all that have contributed to putting this list together.  First, Montana is one of the most unique and beautiful a states I have ever seen.  From the forests and lakes to the rolling prairies, it is fantastic.  I miss the Northwest, where I lived for more than 50 years.  So this forum is my way back home, even if it is pictures.  Again, my gratitude to you all.