Never again
Still crazy to think this scene will never be seen again... after 37 years the LM will never blast out of Helena again with a pair of shiny (4400's) or disgusting (4300's) MRL ACe's. This LM is passing perhaps the single most reported spot on the Montana Rail Link system during this era... Tobin. During the final glory days of the railroad from about 2019 to 2021, a lofty goal was set of moving 30 trains a day through the mountains of Montana. The location to measure these trains was chosen as Tobin. On every conference call MTO's would report out on the train count, how many through and what was projected, along with what was needed to meet the goal. The new CTC system being developed for the entire railroad was based off this 30 train a day goal, with many new intermediates to keep trains moving. Ultimately it was a fool's errand. Yes, the railroad could certainly handle it, and the goal of 30 a day was hit more than a few times. However, the railroad was hamstrung by how many trains it was given at each end ( 90% of trains inspected at either Laurel or Missoula as well) and of course two mountain ranges, and the consistency just never materialized. But try they did, like this Laurel-Missoula giving it their all as they start the climb out of Helena. With the LAUBOZ long gone by this time, the LM's were back to being a dog over the road. Leaving Laurel, the LM more likely than not had some power work at Livingston and then made a pickup and setout at Bozeman. Rolling into Helena, a fully rested crew (MISHEL crews tried to flip if trains were available) would have set out traffic for Townsend, Montana City and local business, and the much smaller train takes off. Ahead the crew will have pickup and setout at Garrison before running out their last miles home to Missoula. I'm told BNSF no longer runs the LM/ML trains. Its a shame, they were a unique part of the railroad that always ran with blue power. Oh well.
Never again
Still crazy to think this scene will never be seen again... after 37 years the LM will never blast out of Helena again with a pair of shiny (4400's) or disgusting (4300's) MRL ACe's. This LM is passing perhaps the single most reported spot on the Montana Rail Link system during this era... Tobin. During the final glory days of the railroad from about 2019 to 2021, a lofty goal was set of moving 30 trains a day through the mountains of Montana. The location to measure these trains was chosen as Tobin. On every conference call MTO's would report out on the train count, how many through and what was projected, along with what was needed to meet the goal. The new CTC system being developed for the entire railroad was based off this 30 train a day goal, with many new intermediates to keep trains moving. Ultimately it was a fool's errand. Yes, the railroad could certainly handle it, and the goal of 30 a day was hit more than a few times. However, the railroad was hamstrung by how many trains it was given at each end ( 90% of trains inspected at either Laurel or Missoula as well) and of course two mountain ranges, and the consistency just never materialized. But try they did, like this Laurel-Missoula giving it their all as they start the climb out of Helena. With the LAUBOZ long gone by this time, the LM's were back to being a dog over the road. Leaving Laurel, the LM more likely than not had some power work at Livingston and then made a pickup and setout at Bozeman. Rolling into Helena, a fully rested crew (MISHEL crews tried to flip if trains were available) would have set out traffic for Townsend, Montana City and local business, and the much smaller train takes off. Ahead the crew will have pickup and setout at Garrison before running out their last miles home to Missoula. I'm told BNSF no longer runs the LM/ML trains. Its a shame, they were a unique part of the railroad that always ran with blue power. Oh well.