(HD) FULL POWER up Mullan Pass Montana (LOUD) Mountain Scenery.

[@ut000bs]

I'm listening to this in June of 2020 with headphones and sound that allows the full surround sound experience and it's coming out loud and clear here. When those engines came out of that tunnel you could actually very clearly hear the sound of the superchargers pushing power and the sound of the exhaust gas coming out of the pipes, too. The deep roar of the engines in real life came out very nice here. My hat's off to whatever sound setup you were using. It was so nice I had to comment. Thanks a lot.

[@kebwick78]

Hey, it's my home town!

[@dfk4500]

EMD'S all day!!!!!! That sound!!!!!! Wooooooo love the video!!!!!

[@UNIONPACIFIC3606]

i love the way EMD's roar and GE's rumble!!

[@drboze6781]

This is the best area for railfanning in Montana.

[@gizmothewytchdoktor-419]

this is possibly the best framed and picturesque videos for trains hauling freight i have seen so far. great work.

[@jarhead4God]

Someone posted a video of #57 passenger train headed west was a great video. All you guys keep those post from MONTANA. They are great and until the GOOD LORD RETURNS that is as close to Montana as I will ever see. Obviously He won't return soon enough.

[@railjames]

Terrence, I agree with you. I have loved the sound of 2 cycle EMD diesels since I was a child.

[@davidhopson729]

Great video! The sound was worth the price of admission!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Henry5623]

A bit of a correction here but at 0:40 seconds into the video you stated that BNSF's ES44C4's have A1A truck arrangements for better tractive effort and actually that's not true. A1A systems actually COST the ES44C4's tractive effort. The reason why A1A trucks are on those units is a cost saving measure that BNSF is gambling with whereby they remove two traction motors from the traditional six the unit would have and shift that tractive load onto the remaining four to reduce costs by cutting 50% of the total traction motor expenses by having that many fewer motors. The logic behind this is on a standard six motor ES44AC's each traction motor is only able to exert around 30,000 pounds of tractive effort even though the motors are capable of around 36,000 pounds of tractive effort. BNSF's thought being that by cutting two traction motors out of the equation but introducing a weight transfer solution due to hydraulics it consequently would put enough overall locomotive weight on the remaining four powered axles that they would be able to utilize their full 36,000 pounds of tractive effort. So simple math will tell you that 30,000 pounds of tractive effort on a standard ES44AC multiplied by six powered axles equals 180,000 pounds of tractive effort. On a ES44C4 the tractive effort is again 36,000 pounds but multiplying that by four and you get 144,000 pounds which is a difference of 36,000 pounds of tractive effort. So you cut two traction motors only to loose a bit over one traction motors overall tractive effort on a standard ES44AC. Now granted nothing is free here so yes you drop two traction motors which saves costs. However you add in a hydraulic system which has it's own operational costs as well as a computer management system on top of that. Plus you also a 20% additional load onto the four remaining traction motors which consequently will add additional wear and lead to a shorter life for them. Not to mention greater slow speed loads put on the track and related hardware as the center axle's weight carrying capacity is only returned to normal at speeds above 15 MPH. Hence why I say it's a gamble because it's kind of a running long term experiment that BNSF is doing to see if it pays off over an extended period of time. I personally don't agree with the projection in any capacity since it cuts locomotive performance right where it matters (slow speed high tractive effort applications) for a minimal savings at the cost which is offset by additional traction motor wear. I'm not alone in thinking this as BNSF and FEC are the only two roads to buy into this project. I work for UP as a engineer. Been here for a bit over 18 years now and speaking for myself and a lot of others in this industry we all feel a lot more secure knowing our power is pulling on every axle. But to each their own...

[@landruatfestival]

Thank you for your experienced insight!!

[@michaeld53]

OK question for you, with that many engine and the load it's pulling, can they feel that power when pulling.? like in a car going up hill you can feel the pull of the motor .!!

[@marksteiner3810]

Enjoyed the video greatly. Recalled the days when the NP Mainstreeter went this route. Last time I crossed Mullan Pass by rail was January 1970. The train was gone when Amtrak came 15 months later. Thanks.

[@railjames]

Mark, glad you enjoyed it.

[@rolpfeiffermuller935]

Thanks airing the Outstanding vid .your endeavors are unmatched.Bliss

[@jarhead4God]

I'll second that Wished I could be there would diffidently make it matter

[@markakin3742]

God that sounds great!! The four EMD's on the bridge..

[@marceltk643]

Very nice video! THX for filming and posting, appreciate it.

[@williamgreeter1855]

I love to hear them EMDs at run 8 the sound never gets old

[@donalfinn4205]

William Greeter ...those EMD’s.

[@gordonvincent731]

I'm a retired engineer. I've operated GG1's-E44's-E33's, all kinds of GE's and EMD, ALCo's. Give me an EMD any day on any train, 24 air or 26, I don't care. My second favorite engines are ALCo's, RS11's especially.

[@moose9598]

Talk about some power. Great video

[@worldcooking]

Such a beautiful video!

[@ModelingSteelinHO]

Love those EMD SD70ACE's . Powerful Beast.

[@mrz80]

Just a couple months ago we drove into Helena from the east. I was impressed by how busy the RR was heading west from Bozeman up into Helena.

[@mrz80]

@m. rude I know, Mullan Pass is west of Helena, but a good bit if not most of the traffic heading west over Mullan Pass from Helena had to've come from Bozeman, and vice verse, right? :D

[@jimj5617]

Super nice job "RailJames" Reminds me of being at the "Horseshoe Curve" in Pa. Lots of wheel squealing and engines roaring while only doing about 20 - 30 mph. Thanks for your efforts!

[@YourOldUncleNoongah]

when the local freight train passes by at the northern end of my street at 3.00 or 4.00 and im just getting to bed, it is literally one the the MOST relaxing sounds. i wish it would last all night, that way id never wake up.

[@gravelydon7072]

We started out from the same point as the BNSF locos on a passenger special in 1997. Two Amtrak P42DCs ( well more like 1.25 as one was sick) and 11 private passenger cars. We stalled at Iron Ridge. MRL knew we had a bad engine so added a SD40-2 to the front of the following freight in case we needed it. They coupled up to the rear and shoved us up and over the bridge doing 40 MPH. Helper cut off just the other side of the tunnel and went back for the freight. That is one tough grade with all the curves.

[@tEqUiko]

just here for the hissing sound

[@PacificNWRailfan]

There is no tunnel east of Austin rd, trestle. The only tunnel on Mullen pass is the one at the summit which is west of Austin rd trestle. There is a cut so perhaps that is what you are mistaking for the train coming out of a tunnel prior to crossing the trestle.

[@MetroVick]

Great video with great sound, thanks for posting.

[@irelandbloke]

🚂 Nice shots ! 👍🏻

[@JoshRidestheRails]

Great video. Really like the explanation about what's going on.

[@mickseymour8420]

Fantastic video. I love the effort you put in and your informative captions.

[@MRLTrains]

What a great video. This will be a valuable asset to me as I build my HO scale Mullan Pass layout. Those closeups of the Helena depot and Skyline trestle show me details I haven't seen before. Thanks for sharing. Someday I hope to visit Mullan Pass myself.

[@railjames]

MRL Trains Thanks for your comments. The MRL is certainly worthy of a HO scale layout...good luck!

[@willie8415]

Nice video. I went to GoogleMaps to see exactly where this is and amazingly, on the satellite image, there is actually a train on the bridge crossing over Austin Road!

[@ronmorgan7502]

Love loud when it’s machinery and not whistles or signals.......great video 👍

[@Pat21617]

Thanks RailJames! Nice video, well edited and good descriptions! Again, thanks

[@nlron]

Great video, thanks!!

[@walterfink7869]

Great Video. Thanks for all the information you provided on screen.

[@greatlakesrailfan586]

Montana Rail Link is really cool! Amazing video!

[@mickboakes7023]

New subscriber. Like the snippets of information and the fact they are on the screen long enough to read. Looking foreword to catching up with

[@Thomas1980]

great video. I like it

[@henkdraaijer2525]

Very interesting video 👍

[@ScottHiddelston]

Nicely done James. hit the good spots and got the action.

[@railjames]

Scott, thanks for the kind words, especially coming from you, the "Dean" of Mullan Pass Videos. Love all your work! Mine did work out well, as I had just one day to do it and had to work around some maintenance windows. You railfan a really great area.

[@derekobrien4703]

Certainly makes a lot of sense breaking a long train up into two sections with the four 4300 hp locos in the centre of the string of freight cars; saves overstressing couplings.

[@jimbos1567]

Very nicely done video. You have gained a new subscriber. Nice steady camera, and what beautiful country. Really enjoyed it. thank you for sharing.

[@Ukraine2011]

I live in Helena. Very familiar with this spot where the video starts. Worked within spitting distance of it for 30 years

[@josephchamplin5050]

Great video !!! Love the scenery and the struggle of heavy trains working upthe pass. Nice job 👍👍🙂🙂

[@tommyhaynes521]

Enjoyed this !

[@mikeelliott9469]

…..been there, done that, great train site !

[@scoobycarr5558]

Yay! Much better in the ad department - rail travel in Japan instead of Google Chrome! Who can beat this nice kind of advertising?

[@LordCarpenter]

Great video! Only way to make it sound better is for GE to install EMD prime movers. Now THAT would be awesome! :)

[@emdf59phi]

Enjoyed your video! Thank you for posting.

[@railjames]

Emdf59phi, thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

[@danstinson7507]

A minor detail - there is no tunnel on either end of Skyline trestle. On the east side there is a rock cut that causes the sound effect you note. The only tunnel on Mullan Pass is the tunnel under the summit.

[@JonathanTuom]

Sweet video, the Montana Rail Link motive power is easy on the eye. John

[@kurt8986]

Awesome video and descriptions helped alot very interesting!

[@railjames]

MadNorsky, Thank you for the kind comments.

[@kittymuffins6484]

Great video

[@redbarnz]

At 7:26 you say to listen to the train coming out of a tunnel. I have been there and didn't remember a tunnel so I checked Google Maps. Sorry, there is NO tunnel! There is a ridge that the train rounds before it goes over the curved trestle then goes into Mullan Tunnel. Maybe that is what you refer to. Also, at 3:16 between the pole and its support cable there is a little dark shape. It is a metal table that has broken coupler knuckles on it. If you are up there, check it out!

[@UNIONPACIFIC3606]

(LOUD) thats what we like is loud roaring EMD's!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@williamgreeter1855]

Arizona Rails me to I always like to hear them to when I use to live near the ex C&NW now UP line in Milwaukee Wisconsin

[@mrman4003]

The supercharged EMD sound different than the turbos engine...

[@JohnnysTrainVideos]

great video...

[@ColAngus]

Why am I watching this?! I live next to a live railroad track. :)

[@jarhead4God]

I would gladly swap housing with you. I live in Conroe, Texas/ a suburb of Houston)

[@BloodyPandaAE86]

lucky 😠

[@whiteknightcat]

@@jarhead4God The UP ex MP main of the old Navasota Subdivision runs right through Conroe, plus there's an auto unloading facility there. Rent something near the tracks.

[@dianemadigan3252]

I grew up next to a railroad track. I kinda miss it.

[@ut000bs]

I live on an island now. :(

[@mattnewell649]

I wonder how much that bridge shakes when the train goes over it each time?

[@SantaFe19484]

Awesome video!

[@andywerner838]

cool I live in Helena Montana

[@SouthernRailfan]

Great job!! I like mixed freights.

[@rj4590]

Dynamite vid.Keep em comming.

[@johnmoore8016]

very good video

[@jimmymakwega3872]

OMG those 4 EMDs where pushing so hard at the steel bridge

[@scoobycarr5558]

Go Montana! Go By Sky Country!

[@bigskytourist288]

I don't believe there is a tunnel on the east side of Skyline Trestle...I've been up there at both ends of the trestle in August 2014; on the east side is just a curved rock cut, along with a short access road (gated and locked) and some MOW equipment stored there. Distant on the west side is the east portal of Mullan Tunnel, but several hundred yards up the grade from the trestle. Someday I would like to walk over the old switchback grade the NP used before building Mullan Tunnel. I met the rancher / land owner up there and at the time he made no objection to me wandering around as long as I closed all the gates on his property before I left so his cattle wouldn't escape. I just was running out of time / daylight by then and had to continue on my journey towards the coast the next day. Interesting is how far up towards the summit of the gravel road the remnants of the old summit wye track extend...you can follow the old rails and roadbed for about 1/4 mile from Blossburg.Cool video - thanks for sharing.

[@railjames]

Big Sky Tourist You are correct. Someone pointed that out in comments shortly after posting the video. It sure sounded like that at ground level

[@albertomadeirajr7824]

I have a question I want to ask. On the helper trains why is one facing front and the others facing in another direction. What's is the purpose of that?

[@pqhkr2002]

​@@albertomadeirajr7824It is for batter visibility and comfort when heading back. Both the second and third unit can face either forward or backward, make completely no difference , and they don't need to face same direction, because locomotives have completely same performance on both directions. If you watch more videos, you will find they can face other direction, but the first and last one usually face outside, especially for a helper set. These 4 locomotives are connected together not only couplers, but also MU (Multiple unit) cable and 3 pairs of extra air hoses, they will response engineer's (or called driver, operator) command at same time, make them act as a single massive locomotive . When the first and last locomotive face outside, this will make the massive locomotive have 2 cabs on both side, equal to a dual cab locomotives. they will not need to turn about, just let the engineer move to the other cab.

[@treehugger1640]

subscribed.. your camera catches the sound of the engine very good!

[@kingtiger59]

Great video thanks.

[@railjames]

Thanks Marcel!

[@hnf1930]

Awesome video, just subbed

[@bobw7066]

Great camera work excellent sound, tunnel or not still good.

[@railjames]

Thanks. We thought for sure there was a tunnel there, until much later we saw an aerial view and saw that it was a deep cut. Still sounded cool coming out of the cut.

[@katmanclancy]

Why do they turn some engines backwards?

[@nucflashevent]

I'm betting that over stretches of track like this, locomotives are likely always running in full power. I bring it up because I've always wondered if some kind of hybrid electrification arrangement couldn't be made, where the diesel-locos could draw from electricity from overhead catenaries in areas like this where their electrical demand is always going to be pegged? I would guess that it would also be likley that you could put larger traction motors **even if** they could only be "overdriven" when connected to overhead catenaries. To explain that last sentence more clearly, a 4400hp locomotive when operating solely on diesel gensets, but perhaps able to deliver 5000 (or more) hp when drawing electricity from overhead, etc.

[@franciscogodoy9158]

That would be technically possible if AC locomotives were fed by 3000-4000 VDC from thick catenary wires. That way, electricity would go directly into the DC bus, thus adding minimum weight and complexity to locomotives (fuel tanks could be made a bit smaller if needed). However, rectifier substations should be installed no more than 10 miles ayay from each other, in order to keep low energy losses due to high currents. A system like this would be very expensive, since it would require putting new catenary, substations and power supply. Substations would have to be two-way or have power storage systems to manage dynamic braking. Modifications to the signaling system and locomotives would be required. Converted locomotives would be captive to the electrified subdivisions, thus reducing flexibility unless electrified sections are installed system-wide. I doubt railroads would be interested in something like this, especially in the near future.

[@StaceyV51]

Awesome!!!

[@pqhkr2002]

Love MRL's SD70ACe, MRL is a class II RR company with a fleet not big, but all are elite, like SD70ACe, SD45, SD40

[@13eckerlosmuerte]

Agreed, I lived in Livingston where the Paint shop is, it was aesthetically pleasing to see rust buckets go in and come out in Deep blue and black. It is considered one of the best paint schemes in the American railroad industry. Now the pain shop has been moved to the Main Rail yard and Livingston is a Mechanical diagnostic location that serves both MRL and UP in emergency situations

[@pqhkr2002]

@@13eckerlosmuerte Yeah, MRL's paint is simple but beautiful, and looks powerful.

[@TheMadNorsky]

Nice work! Great video, great sound!

[@musicuniverse1356]

I own lots od railroad stocks, I'm a proud owner of railroads although very tiny lol.

[@mountainlion124]

Why is the crossing gate between the tracks?

[@jessdine5109]

Awesome video, spectacular camera work! I like the narrative throughout that explains what's happening. Awesome sound too. I wish all the you tube videos could be this good.

[@railjames]

jess dine Thank You, I am glad you enjoyed it!

[@RogerThunderhandsGilbert]

Is this a joint operation or is BNSF running with trackage rights on MRL,,pretty awesome though. thanks!

[@davidhbingham6812]

Does Montana Rail Link still have any of the SD45's with the original 20 cylinder EMD engine's, or are they history? I remember about 15+ year's ago, TRAINS Magazine had a feature about the EMD SD-45's which included both the Tunnel Motors and the original design. 🤠

[@scoobycarr5558]

Yeah! The former NP Main Street of the Northwest!

[@jacquesblaque7728]

Anyone else notice the articulated (single truck at coupler) pair of boxcars at 11:25? Endemic to BNSF?

[@jarhead4God]

Are you referencing the auto racks???.Would have missed them b/c I was glued to the scenery

[@jacquesblaque7728]

Could be auto-racks, with those "portholes" a few feet above the bottom. In dead center of opening between trees @ 11:25, right after a string of tank-cars. Easily ID-ed as articulated, "missing" truck, saving deadweight.

[@whiteknightcat]

Articulated autoracks. They've been around for years and can be found lettered for all the major roads. The TTX cars bear BTTX stencils. Atlas produces models of the Thrall versions of such cars.

[@Jleed989]

Why didn’t they push from the back of the train?

[@mickboakes7023]

your earlier videos. Mick🇬🇧

[@TickledFunnyBone]

EMD's as Helpers for GE's sounds about right lol

[@duggydugg3937]

would it be correct that the 4 helper engines are servos to the lead engine ?

[@bwallace5945]

I would have liked to seen when they were doing this with SD-45's.

[@stretchlimo7275]

Yeah that would’ve been awesome, the 20 cylinder 645’s sound mean👍🏼

[@MultiSandtrooper]

The roar of the engines is awesome!!! great video!!! how many freight cars they usually move??

[@railjames]

MultiSandtrooper The trains I saw were about normal for an American freight train, about a 100 cars.

[@intimidate2161]

Awesome video, great sound! What did you use to record the videos?

[@TH-jt8eb]

Great descriptive video. Step by step about what is seen. I didn't like bell/whistle noise drowning out the locomotives. The description made me think I could put the headphones on and hear the roar without the unnecessary noise. Besides that, it's got great camera work showing the scenery.

[@BubbyStupidhand]

How steep is the grade that it requires that many helper units? Great videos by the way, very informative and entertaining.

[@railjames]

Railfans tell me about 2.2% in places, but about 1.5% for many miles. Thanks for the kind words.

[@christophermadden9210]

push i spose, surprise neither of the GEVOs chucked a turbo on the way up..

[@douglasskaalrud6865]

Christopher Madden Railfans have a fixation with death in their video titles and blown turbos. I’ve seen thousands of GE’s blast by my house and have yet to see a blown turbo. In fact, with a GEVO it’s highly unusual to even see a smudge of exhaust.

[@robertheinkel6225]

I question the logic on two engines up front, followed by two empty flat cars, then four engines in the middle. Seems like a recipe for derailing.

[@paulwest3905]

The bulkhead flats are not empty; they have a floor load of something, likely a material that needed to stay dry (hence the wood boxes). I noticed most steel is left open to the air.

[@ThePaulv12]

Too quiet for me. I long for the 135db unmuffled 567V16 of yesteryear.

[@GM645E]

You'll like this then...kzbin.info/www/bejne/gp-knpdsjdieq9E

[@stretchlimo7275]

Idk they sound good but I like a 645 or 710 way better

[@magaman6353]

What % grade is it? Do the cattle ever wonder onto the tracks?

[@cynicaltexan9639]

So what they just have those there to help trains out?

[@poplock1963]

Yes , only to help trains . Helpers .

[@briancummings4128]

I am curious as to how many cars do they average on a train over the pass ( Per Train) and what tonnage do they usually run Heavy. Thank You. Brian.

[@xreconusmc3156]

Load limits are 260,000 per car and cars are endless. I’ve pulled 362 at one time 8 locomotives 🚂

[@zackboone15]

To settle the GE vs EMD argument, GE is good for flat and fast, EMD is good for Hill and hard.

[@shauntrailskinner9645]

Question: Is it better to place helper locomotives on the end of a train or in the middle of a train? And why?

[@barryjaquith8287]

Better to pull a rope than push one so it would be better in the middle

[@shauntrailskinner9645]

@@barryjaquith8287 I know some parts of the country like my state of Wisconsin on the CANADIAN PACIFIC line, the helper locomotive would be in the middle of the train. Now out west, near California, the helper locomotives are connected to the end, for BNSF and UNION PACIFIC trains. Can anyone explain the difference of helper locomotives in the middle, with CANADIAN PACIFIC trains, as oppose to helper locomotives on the end of BNSF and UNION PACIFIC trains?