From black to blue
Montana Rail Link SD70ACe Nos. 4302 and 4305 get a thorough bath by local contractor R&R Mobile Services and their high-pressure wash trailer at Helena, Montana, on October 8, 2005.
So how did these locomotives get so filthy? When Mullan Tunnel was originally built in 1883, it was bored for the smaller railroad equipment of the day, and was less than 13 feet wide. In 2009-10 MRL enlarged the tunnel, widening it by three feet and increasing its height by five feet and even shortened its overall length by 400 feet. Besides more clearance for equipment, it also allows for increased fresh air in the tunnel, which helps to keep trailing and helper locomotives from overheating. It also helped keep the locomotives and trains a bit cleaner too.
MRL SD70ACe locomotives used in Mullan Pass helper service were cleaned by contractors on a almost daily basis. Note to BNSF: You might want to the same thing (yeah… that’s not going to happen…), or maybe have a specially-assigned fleet of GEVOs painted solid black for MRL Subdivision helper service.
From black to blue
Montana Rail Link SD70ACe Nos. 4302 and 4305 get a thorough bath by local contractor R&R Mobile Services and their high-pressure wash trailer at Helena, Montana, on October 8, 2005.
So how did these locomotives get so filthy? When Mullan Tunnel was originally built in 1883, it was bored for the smaller railroad equipment of the day, and was less than 13 feet wide. In 2009-10 MRL enlarged the tunnel, widening it by three feet and increasing its height by five feet and even shortened its overall length by 400 feet. Besides more clearance for equipment, it also allows for increased fresh air in the tunnel, which helps to keep trailing and helper locomotives from overheating. It also helped keep the locomotives and trains a bit cleaner too.
MRL SD70ACe locomotives used in Mullan Pass helper service were cleaned by contractors on a almost daily basis. Note to BNSF: You might want to the same thing (yeah… that’s not going to happen…), or maybe have a specially-assigned fleet of GEVOs painted solid black for MRL Subdivision helper service.