Montana Rail Link

The railroad is a top-notch, efficiently run operation that has several connections with Class I carriers BNSF Railway and Union Pacific. Not only does the railroad’s property compete with many Class I railroads in terms of speed but it is also one of the few smaller lines to purchase brand new locomotives, in this case EMD’s new SD70ACe.

While the Montana Rail Link's system is made up of ex-Burlington Northern trackage its roots actually go all of the way back to BN predecessor Northern Pacific. To give a brief history of the NP it was the first of the three major Northwestern railroads to begin construction. Unlike many other railroads the Northern Pacific did not change names numerous times throughout its existence and would likewise never acquire numerous other smaller roads to form its system. Perhaps what the railroad is best remembered for is its Ying Yang herald and its distinguished flagship passenger train, the North Coast Limited, which used a beautiful two-tone green livery.

Being that Hill held such an influence over the three railroads, including the jointly owned Seattle, Portland & Spokane, the Northern Pacific likely was destined to be merged with the other two roads at some point. The railroads tried for decades to merge but were blocked numerous times by the ICC, mostly citing monopoly issues as the reason. It took until 1970 when the ICC finally granted permission to do so (partly because the Milwaukee Road consented after years of trying to block the merger) forming the then Burlington Northern. The BN, however, would last only 25 years before merging with the Santa Fe to become the Burlington Northern Santa Fe, today known as simply BNSF Railway.

Currently Montana Rail Link has an exceptionally large roster although all of its locomotives are strictly of EMD heritage. The below roster is courtesy of The Diesel Shop:

#12-15 - EMD SW1200: Ex-Burlington Northern

#16 - EMD SW9: Ex-Burlington Northern

# 17 and #18 - EMD SW1200: Ex-Burlington Northern

#51 and #52 - EMD SW1500: Ex-Island Steel

#106-114, #16-17, #19-21, and #23 - EMD GP9: Ex-Burlington Northern and Chicago & North Western

#125-128 and #30-33 - EMD GP9

#151 - EMD GP19-1:

# 200, #204, #208, #209 and #211 - EMD SD40

#213-216, and #218 - EMD SD40: Ex-Burlington Northern

#220-225 - EMD SD40: Ex-Chicago & Northern Western, ex-Chicago Great Western

#250 - EMD SD40-2: Ex-Burlington Northern

#251-265 - EMD SD40XR: Ex-Burlington Northern

#290 - EMD SDP40R: Ex-Burlington Northern, ex-Great Northern

#301-308 - EMD SD45-2: Ex-CSX, ex-Seaboard, ex-Clinchfield

#309-311 - EMD SD45-2: Ex-Santa Fe

#313 - EMD SD45-2: Ex-CSX, ex-Seaboard, ex-Seaboard Coast Line

#314-331 - EMD SD45R: Ex-Southern Pacific

#332 - EMD SDP45R: Ex-Conrail

#342-344 - EMD SD45: Ex-Burlington Northern

#351-358 - EMD SD45XR: Ex-Burlington Northern, ex-Great Northern

#359-389 - EMD SD45: Several units are gone, including: 360, 362, 367, 368, 370, 372-374 and 377-378

#390 and #392 - EMD F45XR: Ex-Burlington Northern

#401 and #402 - EMD GP35: Ex-Detroit, Toledo & Ironton

#403-406 - EMD GP35: Ex-Rio Grande, ex-Southern Pacific

#501-505 - EMD SD45: Ex-Southern Pacific

#602, #604, #608 and #610 - EMD SD9: Ex-Elgin, Joliet & Eastern

#605-607 - EMD SD7: Ex-Southern Pacific

#651 and #652 - EMD SD19-1: Ex-Burlington Northern

#701-703 and #705 - EMD SD35: Ex-Norfolk & Western (#703 is ex-CSX, ex-SCL, ex-ACL)

#4300-4315 - EMD SD70ACe: Purchased New

#7544, #7555, and #8941 - EMD SD45: Ex-Southern Pacific (except #8941)

Indeed, the Northern Pacific Railway is best remembered for its Ying Yang herald and the North Coast Limited but most importantly it helped to fuel the growth of the Western states it served when few communities were settled in that region of the country during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

For more reading on Regionals like the Montana Rail Link consider the book Regional Railroads of the Midwest by Steve Glischinksi. While the book obviously does not feature every Regional in the country it does cover the "Chicago Central Pacific; Dakota, Minnesota Eastern; Escanaba Lake Superior; Iowa Interstate Railroad; Iowa, Chicago Eastern; Indiana Rail Road; Kyle Railroad; Red River Valley Western; Twin Cities Western; Toledo, Peoria Western; Wisconsin Central; and Wisconsin Southern" with plenty of photographs and information about each. If you have an interest in smaller carriers like Regionals, and/or are interested in learning more about their operations, you will almost surely enjoy the book.