Change is Imminent

The former Northern Pacific searchlights stood tall at EAST LOUISVILLE on the morning of August 3, 2022 guarding the turnout into the siding. Fifteen minutes before 08:00, #BNSF7689 [ES44DC] swings around the corner headed out of Helena, MT, the morning light shining down, unimpeded by the mountains to the east. 7689, along with a similarly painted C44-9W and SD70MAC in H2 paint, are powering an eastbound 112 car empty unit crude oil train, destined for someplace out east, roaring up the grade towards the summit of Winston Hill.

 

Facing towards the twin head searchlight stands it’s eventual replacement, a Safetrain “Vader”; two other Vader’s are similarly situated next to the other two searchlights on the other end of the control point. It’s was a sign of the times, the end of MRL’s tenure on the Northern Pacific mainline was near. Out with the blue, in with the orange. EAST LOUISVILLE was far from being the only control point on the MRL 2nd Subdivision with this sort of scenario, and I’m glad to say that I was able to at least frame some of the old searchlights before their imminent removal from service.

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Louisville, MT

MRL 2nd Subdivision [CP EAST LOUISVILLE]

 

Date: 08/03/2022 | 07:45

 

ID: [unknown]

Type: Unit Empty Oil

Direction: Eastbound

Car Count: 112

 

1. BNSF ES44DC #7689

2. BNSF C44-9W #4367

3. BNSF SD70MAC #9956

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© Vicente Alonso 2022

Done