MRL 4406 @ Frenchtown, MT

Eight days from the impending take over from BNSF, Montana Rail Link and its fantastic employees, surprised the Vice President of the Railroad with one last trip around the railroad to celebrate his retirement for his long lasting career on the MRL.

 

Moving right along the 4th Sub is the MRL 4406 sandwiching the beautiful set of business cars with the MRL 4408 bringing up the rear, the OCS is seen here splitting the Northern Pacific searchlights on the east end of siding in Frenchtown, MT. The train would continue its trip up to Superior, MT where the crew would change ends and back to Missoula later in the day, giving my father and I the opportunity to chase all day and have a variety of shots. The sun tried to poke out here but alas, mostly cloudy for the whole day.

 

Fast Forward almost 2 years, the vintage Northern Pacific signals have been replaced, not long after this shot was taken. The MRL image has been put in BNSF’s rear view, as our favorite regional railroad is now apart of the Orange conglomerate. This was a chase I’ll remember, as I got to experience the beauty that surrounds the MRL and doing it all with my dad. Taken: 12-23-23

Done