Townsend runaround
On October 17, 2018, Montana Rail Link’s Helena switch arrives at Townsend to run around its train for the trip back to Helena yard after switching the cement plant seen in the distant background. Powering the train is a classy EMD GP9/SD45 set—Nos. 109 and 346. The SD45 was on the switch job this autumn, making another “last stand” for these brutish 20-cylinder machines on MRL. Vintage No. 109 was built in February 1955 for Northern Pacific, and has passed many times under the NP-era cantilever signal at Townsend siding’s west end. The years of service for both units combined in 2018 is a whopping 111 years!
Townsend runaround
On October 17, 2018, Montana Rail Link’s Helena switch arrives at Townsend to run around its train for the trip back to Helena yard after switching the cement plant seen in the distant background. Powering the train is a classy EMD GP9/SD45 set—Nos. 109 and 346. The SD45 was on the switch job this autumn, making another “last stand” for these brutish 20-cylinder machines on MRL. Vintage No. 109 was built in February 1955 for Northern Pacific, and has passed many times under the NP-era cantilever signal at Townsend siding’s west end. The years of service for both units combined in 2018 is a whopping 111 years!