Western Railroad Discussion > Montana Rail Link Trip

Hello,

​I and two friends will be heading to Montana at the end of July, to focus on MRL.  Having said that,with the slowdown in traffic the past year, we were wondering what to expect in terms of train frequency between Bozeman and Missoula. And if anyone knew the branch line schedules around Missoula?  Lastly, is the Missoula to Paradise line via Dixon still running?  

Any help you can provide would be helpful.

Thanks,
Tom
 

Search TO where you will find answers to most of your questions which have been answered in the last 90 days or so.

Traffic is good going into the summer with 10 or more trains each way most days.

Posted from iPhone

Thanks....   I will search out the branch line information for sure.   

Logan, MT is the center of branch line trains and locals. Other than the refinery jobs out of Billings and the gas trains from Missoula there are no longer any branch line operations other tha out of Logan to Sappington, Harrison and Whitehall.

Posted from iPhone

Hi, thanks for the info. Do they usually run the Whitehall branch daily, during the day? Or as needed?

The 844 local originates in Logan about 10:00. They go to Three Forks and Sappington 5 days a week and Harrison or Whitehall as needed. There are also BNSF and MRL ballast trains to the Pipestone Pit west of Whitehall especially in the summer.

http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,4073830



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/14/16 11:58 by fbe.

tvh25 Wrote:
<<Do they usually run the Whitehall branch daily, during the day? Or as needed?>>

The Logan Local 844 runs to Three Forks and Sappimngton almost daily, Monday thru Frinday. If you see them leave Logan with grain hoppers, might mean they are going to Harrison. Usually on a Monday. The 844 only goes to Whitehall, as needed. However, MRL loads MRL and BNSF ballast trains west of Whitehall at the Pipestone Pit (Exit 241 on I-90) several days a week during track work season. The 840 Local works out of Helena to Logan and the 841 works out of Livingston. On Fridays, the 844 may run east after completeing thier own work to meet the 841 to hand off their train to the 841. The 841 takes everytung to Livingston.

Only regular locals out of Missoula are the Gas. On duty 0500 and 1700 daily. Can run either way west, so yes, the Tenth Sub is still used. Depending on customer needs, the Gas will switch Tri-Con near St. Regis or Thompson River Lumber east of T-Falls. The Polson and Darby lines are currentky used for storage trains. The customers at Bonner, east of Missoula are switch by a switch crew out of Missoula. Was late in the afternoons, but I think they now do it after dark. There is no Paradise Local at this time.
Dave