▚ A regional carved from the main
Montana Rail Link was created in 1987 when Burlington Northern spun off about 900 miles of the former Northern Pacific mainline across Montana and Idaho to the Washington family's Montana Rail Link. It ran as an independent regional handling BN/BNSF through traffic over the mountains.
▚ Bozeman Pass and blue SDs
MRL became famous for hard-working helper districts over Bozeman and Mullan passes, rostering a big fleet of SD40-2s, SD45s, and rebuilt units in dark blue — a railfan favorite for mountain action.
▚ Back into BNSF
In 2024 BNSF exercised its option and reabsorbed Montana Rail Link, ending its 37-year run as an independent regional.
▚ On this layout
MRL runs here as SD40-2s, an SD40, SD45s, and an SDP40 in blue and gray — the mountain railroad of the Montana main.