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Timetables: You're listening to the Montana Rail Link in the Big Sky Country of Montana. You'll be hearing the "MRL East" dispatcher directing traffic from the MRL dispatching center in Missoula. You are listening to the Main Line channel, 160.335. Others channels may be added at a later date. There are two subdivisions that we'll be hearing, MRL's 2nd Subdivision Main Line (Spurling-Helena) and 5th Subdivision Branch Line (Logan-Spire Rock). You'll hear the dispatchers answering "Shadoan Radio" and "Three Forks Radio".  | | MRL's Livingston Helpers have just helped a westbound DM&E unit grain train over Bozeman Pass. Seen here at Bozeman, the helpers are hitching a ride out to Logan where they will detach from the grain and reattach to the M-L for an assist over Bozeman Pass. |
The 2nd. Sub is part of MRL's east-west main line though southern Montana. Originally built by the Northern Pacific Railway, MRL has a long-term lease to operate this line. Most of the trains operating over this Subdivision are BNSF "bridge" trains, BNSF trains with (mostly) BNSF motive power operated by MRL crews. These include; vehicle or "V-Trains" (mixes of autoracks, containers and TOFC), "P" Trains (Premium Intermodal), unit coal and grain trains which are always loaded westbound and empty eastbound and "high priority" manifests. Manifest trains currently originate and terminate at Pasco, WA, Laurel, MT and Kansas City, KS. As on any railroad these traffic patterns can and do frequently change. MRL operates two daily manifests through the area, the Laurel-Missoula, referred as the "L-M" and it's eastbound counterpart the Missoula-Laurel referred to as the "M-L". These trains usually operate with all MRL 2nd generation EMD power (SD 40-2XR's (200 series) and various types of SD 45's (300 series). One regular local operates from Livingston five days a week (M-F), known as the "Livingston Local" it is commonly referred to as the "841 Local" or "841". It switches local industry in Livingston, Bozeman, Belgrade and Manhattan. It usually operates with 2 GP 35's (400 series). Another local that operates out of Livingston occasionally is the "Twin Bridges" Local, which can be heard working the 2nd or 5th subs. Bozeman is located on the west side of Bozeman Pass at the base of a tough 12-mile climb up a 1.9 % grade eastbound (1.8 % grade westbound) which necessitates the use of manned (and sometimes unmanned) helper power. The helper set, referred to as either "Helper One" or "Helper Two", is based in Livingston on the east side of Bozeman Pass. The Livingston Helper operates as needed, but is always called to help westbound coal and grain trains. The helper set uses "Helper Link" to detach or "cut off" on the fly from the rear of the train. Listen for three tones and the crew to say, "helpers detached". Helpers can attach/detach onto trains at any siding, Bozeman being a common place. Helpers can also attach at any point in the train consist (front, rear or anywhere in between). Helper motive power is usually a combination of MRL 5 or 6 SD 40-2XR's and SD 45's. You will hear one talking detector located at MP 154.7, just west of Belgrade. Listen for MRL detector "Belgrade" for a temperature reading, axle count and hopefully the "no defects" information. Train meets are common occurring (from east to west) at Livingston, Muir, West End, Bozeman, Belgrade and Logan sidings. The 5th Sub Branch Line is under Track Warrant Control (TWC). Trains you may hear talking with the dispatcher are the "Helena Local", which operates 6 days a week (M-S) out of Helena. It switches local industries as needed at Townsend, Trident, Logan, Three Forks, Sappington, Whitehall and Harrison. This local is also referred to as the "840 Local" or "840" and operates with a mix of MRL power, usually GP 35's (400 series) and GP 9's (100 series). Logan also has a small yard used by the 840 as well as other trains. "The Pipestone" ballast train is a seasonal train (March-November), which loads its train at Spire Rock. It operates with a variety of motive power, usually 2 BNSF SD 40-2's. The equipment used to bring you the radio chatter is an indoor TrainTenna and Motorola Maxtrac M216 Radio which are connected to my computer which is an HP Pavillion. This stream contains radio transmissions which may be delayed up to five minutes, please don't use it for situations where you could be in danger. As always use common sense when railfanning, stay clear of the tracks and enjoy the Montana Rail Link (and Montana!) I hope you enjoy listening and look for periodic updates to the site. Mark in Bozeman, Montana This stream is broadcasting courtesy of
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of Bozeman, Montana
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