Western Railroad Discussion > MRL Gas Local

My son, his dog and I went off to chase MRL's eastbound Day Gas today, since it was a Code Blue and puffy Kodachrome cloud day. So we zig-zag across the Flathead Reservation from Polson to Dixon and then west to Plains for fuel. By the time we got done the pit stop and started west again we heard the welders on the scanner at East Eddy tell the Gas highball. Pulled off at West Plains for our shot and were soon joined by other chasers. On east we went and we maintained our speed limit through Plains were Mr. Highway Patrol was sitting in the 25 MPH. We shortly pulled across the crossing at Paradise for our angle along with the other chasers. We had the shot west of Perma to ourselves. 

1) West Plains, MT
2) Paradise, MT, the other chasers on the wrong side of the crossing.
3 West of Perma, MT

Dave in Polson

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Then hurried over to east of the old NP siding at McDonald where all four of the other cars chasing today pulled off for a photo line next to me. Didn't have time for introductions, other than a "howdy". Then on to Dixon and Ravalli, where we gave up the chase as the sun was starting to get too high in the sky. 

4) East of McDonald, MT
5) East of Dixon, MT

Dave in Polson, MT



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/11/22 21:08 by monaddave.

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Love that third spot. 

Very NICE shot all, like #1 with the train and cantilever seachlight signals! Great chase!

Larry

Man I'd hate to roll outta bed and have to chase trains through all that...;^)

Good stuff!

JG

It looks like you "still got it" behind the camera!!

:^)

I see that you're no longer in Missoula. Polson is one of the most beautiful cities in Montana! Good choice! Beautiful photos!

Jim Burrill in Belle Fourche. 

Great shots!

RC Lundgren
Elgin, TX

santafe199 Wrote:
>>It looks like you "still got it" behind the camera!!  >>

I try to keep in practice.

tolland Wrote:
>>I see that you're no longer in Missoula. Polson is one of the most beautiful cities in Montana! Good choice! Beautiful photos!  >>

Hi Jim. Yes, we moved "up to Da Lake". Fifity minutes north to the ex-GN and 40 minutes south to the ex-NP. And my wife gets a view of the lake.
Dave

I remember when Polson was a sleepy little town!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/12/22 10:44 by trkinsptr.

Nice to see some photos out of you again Dave!  Hoping to get back to the MRL sometime soon myself.  That 4315 looks pretty dirty.  Looks like it was in helper service before the Gas Local without getting washed.

Brian Ambrose
Renton, WA

Is the Polson branch still operating?

march_hare Wrote:
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> Is the Polson branch still operating?

Track condition looks pretty bad on google maps, so I'd assume no?

Nice pics!!

Nice shots, gonna miss the MRL when it's gone.

I like the third shot... I feel the dirty locomotive blends with the scenery a bit better...

SLORailfanning Wrote:
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> march_hare Wrote:
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> > Is the Polson branch still operating?
>
> Track condition looks pretty bad on google maps,
> so I'd assume no?

Correct. It is not.

Posted from Android

march_hare Wrote:
>> Is the Polson branch still operating?  >>

Out of service past MP 5 near Moise, MT. Right of way sluff out. MRL has anbd still is, been using that 5 miles for car storage.
Dave

Great series.  Super like each and every photo.
ALLEN