Coal train gets chased up Mullan Pass by a manifest in a race to the tunnel, Montana USA

No idea what prompted the manifest engineer to be in such a rush, but as soon as he got the siding at Austin he proceeded to race alongside the coal until he ultimately was stopped at the west end of Austin siding. He never had a chance to beat the coal train, so maybe playing catchup with the coal train helpers?

[@joebidenbites1015]

I've watched a lot of train videos and that was one of the best. here's why 1. awesome scenery 2. lots of Engine action 3. no cut aways from the train because it's too long 4. steady camera, no twirling around to get to the photographer 5. no commentary as to engine type, origination/destination, train type etc. Professional quality. I liked the ending where the coal train is being over taken!

[@user-lz4uo6nr4g]

I lived in the mountains of Montana some years ago and to this day, tell my grandson about the long coal trains with engines in the front, midway and end. LOVE this video and we enjoyed watching it together.

[@robwilde855]

Here in the UK, this helps to appreciate what I've read about American railways: that the passenger services in general are much slower than they could be because, with the freight companies running longer and longer trains, it has now become impossible to divert a goods train into a siding to let a passenger train get past. The present sidings are just not long enough! Anyway, thank you. That location was an inspired discovery, and together with the patience [or luck?] to get an overtaking scenario, has produced an outstanding video.

[@ScottHiddelston]

Thanks Rob. I appreciate it.

[@katzgar]

passenger trains are too slow in a real country, air is faster.

[@robwilde855]

@@katzgar A 'real country' - whatever that is - might be well worth seeing from the civilized comfort of a train...

[@johnprice7303]

Hello from the UK. I can scarcely believe my eyes, I have tried to count the number of wagons but almost went boss-eyed in the process. Many thanks for posting this wonder video.

[@ScottHiddelston]

Glad you enjoyed it John. Thanks

[@rickbullock4331]

Wow! I don’t believe I’ve ever seen or heard such awesome sights and sounds from so many diesel electric trains before. The power needed to haul so many coal cars is unreal. The train with the aircraft fuselages isn’t even close in sight of the coal train. Thx for posting, I just happened upon this and happy I did. As a kid in the 50’s I always loved trains. I can remember hearing the old steam trains shunting cars at night when I was in bed in Toronto. They would slip those huge drive wheels on the tracks and have to back off and go at it again.

[@tomt9543]

WOW! And this is coming from a retired railroader with 41 years service! Trains aren’t that awesome to me anymore, or at least they weren’t until I saw this vid! Great, great, great! Thanks!

[@ScottHiddelston]

I'm glad you enjoyed it Tom. These beasts are something to see.

[@andrewhotston983]

Trains and landscape on a truly epic scale, and perfectly captured by the camera.

[@TheMetGuy]

Love the sound of the helpers/DPUs working hard

[@spuwho]

The green tubes at 12:13 are Boeing 737 fuselages being shipped from their maker, Spirit Aerosystems in Wichita, KS to the Boeing Plant in Renton WA.

[@user-jp7rk1uf2n]

I hauled 2 wing skins from Wichita to Renton once. They were so light and flat everyone thought I trapped an empty flatbed. They must have really needed them as they paid well.

[@AmauryJacquot]

which explains why most boeing planes are limited to a certain size, as they have to fit inside the tunnels ?

[@Retr0racin]

I worked at Boeings building 737`s for 35 years, retired 4 years ago. a good friend of mine was the guy that recived the fusalages in Renton. we had a reciving area where they take them off the rail car and prep them for the factory pos 1. the trains would sometimes be late and arrive right at shift change or during lunch lol they block the exit out and into the factory so it creates a big mess and folks are late to work or cant leave while the pull forward anc back parking the fuselages.

[@rogerarchibald2627]

Just too freakn' awesome Scott! I can see why you make regular trips to Mullan Pass. Great video!

[@ScottHiddelston]

Thanks ROGER !! I appreciate the comment

[@snydedon9636]

Scott has always had the best train videos. Always the most scenic areas and he produces high quality video. When I see one of his videos I always watch. This one was awesome! Thanks Scott.

[@ScottHiddelston]

Thanks Don I really appreciate the comment

[@cpcattin]

Hauling all that coal over Mullan Pass takes a lot of grunt. The photographer’s choice of prospective to shoot from is gold ! We see these coal trains (not trains like these trains; these very trains )while getting gas at Costco in South Seattle. I think they are frequent travelers. Multiple times a week if not daily. I believe the coal is exported to Asian countries. The second train is seen from Costco’s parking lot as well. The 737 fuselage’s are on their way to Boeing’s plant in Renton, the JBHunt containers are predominantly for Walmart and the Prime boxes are obviously for Amazon warehouse supply.

[@ScottHiddelston]

Thanks CP. Yes these trains do the round trip from the mines to the coast.

[@AndreiTupolev]

What an awesome noise! Some Boeing 737 fuselages on that manifest too

[@pjotrtje0NL]

Just MAX’s this time, sometimes you’ll find a P-8 of E-7 fuselage on them.

[@mistersquirrel0]

The Amazon containers are probably empty heading to Seattle for shipment back to China. The train's direction is westbound because of the 737 fuselages, which is built in Wichita and sent to Renton, Washington for final assemby.

[@sanddabz5635]

Good info!😁

[@wesgtx440]

Loaded coal trains don’t travel eastward over the pass either.

[@nadenolam8368]

Built about 3 miles from where I live.

[@rangefreewords]

Could it be in France with A320s? 💭

[@maxj0930]

@@rangefreewordsHell. No. ScareBus is not built in the USA.

[@SuperiorWhiteKing]

This is one of the best train videos I've seen.

[@ScottHiddelston]

Thanks WhiteKing.

[@KistRs]

Mullan Pass is amazing, I have this route on the Open Rails, sometimes I simulate huge trains up and down the grade.

[@QUIX4U]

A railways interpretation of a trucker's ELEPHANT RACE. Got to love these huge seemingly endless trains, on double track. However, I'd assume it would have been far more efficient to have used the 2nd train as a pusher to the first, and taken both trains up quicker.

[@spddiesel]

Me, watching the video: "Wow, 3 engines on the back." "Damn, 4 engines?" "It's the f'ing MIDDLE?!?"

[@siglavikingkearns8108]

I don't consider myself a railfan exactly but I enjoy watching videos like this. I've watched quite a few and I have some favourites but this is just spectacular.

[@ScottHiddelston]

Thanks sigla.

[@robertomunch4226]

​

[@johnmcgarvie4061]

Top notch video. Watching the coal train I was waiting for a knuckle to break under all that strain. The hogger on the manifest was pedalling it so he and the conductor could have a longer smoke break at the west switch for Austin.

[@iusetano]

That was spectacular. Excellent video Scott. Thank you for sharing.

[@ScottHiddelston]

Thank you Hans. Hope all is good with you

[@rolpfeiffer4011]

Thanks Scott sharing the outstanding video with awesome,powerful Locomotives figuratively as a ' unsung paladins succuring the sustenance of the territory '.Endeavors are prominent. Bliss

[@ScottHiddelston]

Thanks Rol

[@Flymochairman1]

That was a catch and a half! Quite a scene. I can only guess the 'radio talk'. Thanks for posting. Cheers!

[@ClissaT]

When I first began watching I was wating to see how many engines were required to pull the coal. Then I saw where the line turned and went back across the valley. I began to realise the valley was enormous as then later the train turned yet again to cross the same valley. Just amazing to see such big trains working so hard. PS I'm in Australia where long trains are an everyday occurrence. But we don't switch them back and forth across massive valleys! Just send them on straight runs for many 100s of miles. They also run 3 engines upfront and 4 in the middle. Returning home all empty, 6 get to doze while one does the work! And they don't have to share their line which must be a massive advantage.

[@ScottHiddelston]

Thanks for the input Clissa. These trains will only have the mid-train helpers to get them up this hill. Are that they are on their own all the way to the West Coast.

[@petercurran3723]

Honestly, one of the best photography on trains. Great location thumbs up keep up the good work.

[@ScottHiddelston]

Thank you very much Peter. I appreciate it.

[@johnblood10]

Man, you are like the Michelangelo of Mullan Pass footage, lol. The quality of your audio is something I especially appreciate.

[@robertdean3305]

One of the best train videos I’ve ever seen. Only in America

[@ScottHiddelston]

Thank you Robert !!

[@NVRAMboi]

Another great video Scott. Thanks for sharing with us

[@KIBICI]

Excellent spotting point. Thanks for the great video. Greetings from Europe, where there are only small trains, unfortunately:(

[@55VickyV]

Really cool video! A great lesson in how trains gain height to get over mountains.

[@jimwilloughby]

Mullan Pass is a place of beauty.

[@RailsandSky]

That is one gigantic coal train. Thoroughly enjoyed this video.

[@d2sfavs]

i just love the sound especially the consist of help EMDs found this by accident great views too love that double track shot

[@djsi38t]

Thats some really great footage indeed,Great timing on your part!

[@GUADALJARA]

Legal track speed for a manifest train is about 10mph faster. And that coal train was struggling not going anywhere near track speed. Coal train was probably 3 time heavier than the manifest.

[@scottb8175]

The abandoned tunnel portal visible at the end - I think that is called the Iron Ridge tunnel.

[@ScottHiddelston]

Yes that is Iron Ridge tunnel.

[@warrenpuckett4203]

The Boeing load was going to Washington. Sometimes you have to go south to go north. Detroit to Windsor, Ontario. Then North to Ottowa, Ontario. So you go around. Sometimes you take the tunnel. If you are just hauling passengers. Other wise you take the only privately owned international bridge in the world. Trains take the rail tunnel.

[@Bullifreund]

The fuselage at 12:18 could be the one of Alaska-Airline Flight 1282 😉 At this time the door plug was present...

[@tokugawa12able]

If notch 8 didn’t exist, this hill and those loads would have invented it!!!

[@ricknesbitt5949]

Absolutely love this video. Thank you for creating and posting it. That container train has to catch up with the coal train. Absolutelyawesome

[@dalesharpy9197]

Coal headed for China via the Twawassen Coal Terminal south of Vancouver, B.C.? Coal trains are a daily part of our life here in Whatcim County along with the oil from the prairies headed to our refineries.

[@wolfgangkraus1683]

Very very good catch! Thank you very much for this amazing video!

[@robingilmore1444]

Excellent! So beautiful there. Thank you

[@Sven_Okas1967]

This trainrace is great. Nice catch. Greetings from berlin/ Germany. Sven

[@scottwatson1840]

maybe once the train is stopped the cell phones can come out... but while in motion they can't

[@BDCF100]

Wow, beautiful video. Best quality I've seen yet in KZbin train vids.

[@ScottHiddelston]

Thanks BDCF.

[@bruceholmes3599]

I don't get it , so much weight , an incline and round a corner , relying on traction from metal to metal friction !

[@TheMetGuy]

Love those fuselages on the other train

[@spacecalander]

Surprised the crap 9 didn't blow up trying to catch anything.

[@OregonCrow]

Holy smokes that power! Hell of a catch!

[@MicrobyteAlan]

Great video, well shot. Thanks

[@timothymclaughlin6860]

Wow that was a great catch! Thanks Scott!

[@stanfullerton8485]

what cool trains, long & lots of helper action

[@bcdrummer1962]

Dude….your tilt, zoom and pan work is stellar!! My question: just how long do we think that manifest train is?

[@ScottHiddelston]

Thanks Drummer. I appreciate the kind words. A good tripod makes it easy.

[@Oldman808]

Locomotive engineers don’t race trains. The dispatcher controls which train uses the tunnel first. Modern PTC will apply the brakes if an engineer exceeds the authorized speed.

[@nickhammond8715]

More power in one or your trains than we've got in the whole of the UK 😂

[@Tom-xe9iq]

Don't know if you still can but I hightailed it over Austin Road to Blossburg Tunnel... in a lowly Toyota Corolla.

[@phinsgranpop]

The long grass at the start thru me for a sec , then it clicked . lol, Good one Mate.

[@ScottHiddelston]

Thanks buddy

[@chrisconley8105]

Coal train = "zero emissions" food for your Tesla!

[@anthonycapanas2932]

Can you imagine waiting in your car at a train crossing? You might as well shut off your engine and have a good lunch if you have one.

[@timbeach2409]

Imagine your the guy who originally scouted out these railroad routes in the early days.

[@tomt9543]

And no GPS, electronic etc! Excellent point!

[@ScottHiddelston]

They did a superb job. So much so that when the Milwaukee Road line came up for sale no-one wanted it. This road and the Hi-Line were just superior

[@Bruno.Trains]

Very accurate and unique you did a fantastic job making the layout

[@foranken]

Absolutely fabulous footage! (Or should I say storage?) Thank you.

[@philipzocco7377]

In TV Master Control speak, we call that timing. EGG-Cell-Ent!!

[@TheMetGuy]

That’s one heavy coal train

[@JohnnyCarroll-wi6tx]

majer footage.good stuff.

[@geoffreykail9129]

Nice shot at 3:40

[@herseem]

Despite processing by KZbin, that picture was so clear it was almost as if I had a hole in my monitor with reality in the background behind it.

[@ScottHiddelston]

Thank you Mike. I appreciate it

[@AlexKhvedor]

My friend, this is a diamond video! Huge like! Amazing story! Excellent work of the operator! It was also not clear to me where this one with planes was in such a hurry!?😁

[@ScottHiddelston]

Thanks very much Alex. Much appreciated my friend.

[@benjohnson1190]

Such a beautiful place!!!

[@petermiller9712]

Great video thanks for sharing

[@ScottHiddelston]

Thanks Peter

[@bruceholmes3599]

Only thing missing in this clip is a 'crossing' !

[@DL541]

Rumor has it that the BNSF is done with the C4 concept... it further states the C4 fleet will get two more traction motors.

[@tomt9543]

C4? Tell me more!

[@DL541]

@@tomt9543 BNSF has locomotives that are A-1-A trucked, the powered axles are AC traction motors. ES44C4 and ET44C4 The unpowered axle can be "lifted" to put more weight on the powered axles, it is mounted on cam system powered by air. It actually lowers the locomotive but beside the point. The equipment to do this is visible on the truck's side frame, two extra cylinders connected to a rod and a pivot. It does this in high tractive effort demand conditions. It was supposed to allow a 4 traction motor unit on 6-axles to deliver the same tractive effort as a C-C DC unit, like an ES44DC, Dash 9-44CW, SD75M, ect... In other words, AC traction for DC price and capability. However, although the locomotives were faster accelerating/loading in light load conditions, such as COFC/TOFC traffic, they have trouble when under heavy loads. I have heard/read that crewsdo not like them. (We operate them on the line I work and I do not like them.) They ride rougher and constantly slip. On our line: they are rough on rail.

[@daveskinner5131]

Good chance and a good shoot. Nice, Scott.

[@ScottHiddelston]

Thanks Dave.

[@stacase]

Stupendous! Wisconsin Southern RR in my backyard falls way short of this. Ha ha ha ha! Just wow!!

[@ScottHiddelston]

Glad you enjoyed it Steve. Thanks

[@truckdriver1982]

18:38 Wow, what a view! 😲😍

[@LeoStarrenburg]

¡ WOW ! Just had to stream this to the large screen and turn the volume up. This not a 'nice video' but high order cinematography ! Even the SD's do their best to live up to the occasion and they do very well indeed, it's not their fault they're not Alco's ... Thank you !

[@ScottHiddelston]

Thanks very much Leo, I really appreciate the comment

[@hawk6dm7]

I can tell by the loads on the manifest train where his destination is. Seattle.

[@martinswiney2192]

Very soothing video. Like watching a tortoise race a tortoise.

[@Bob.W.]

Nice exec MAC on the front lashup on that coaler. Give those GE's a little help. :). Quite the shot. Thx.

[@ScottHiddelston]

Thanks Bob. Exec MAC is imho the best looking locomotive that passes here.

[@rmk7641]

Fun to watch . Thanks!

[@metalinmotion]

Great video!

[@johnmcl100]

How many axles on the coal train as I am an old Guard on the train network in South Africa?

[@ScottHiddelston]

Usually 568. 520 on the railcars and 48 on the locomotives

[@ronaldradtke8577]

Sounds like a broken rail !! Y r some engines facing forward n some backwards ?? Can someone explain that concept !! Please

[@hanomag5004]

Awesome mate, awesome! Greetings from germany.👍

[@ScottHiddelston]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@galewinds7696]

Well, wouldn't do any good to try shooting at a tire to flatten it

[@rebapuck5061]

That is insanely long.

[@DL541]

Great video, just curious though, no HD?

[@oregonwinger64]

I was wondering the same. Kinda blurry, like smokey looking. Love these Mullen vids., since I'm from there and Livingston.

[@ScottHiddelston]

You tube still processing the 4K version

[@rogerarchibald2627]

@@ScottHiddelston Exactly. Sometimes I schedule a post for 12 hours or so after I upload it to avoid that.

[@DL541]

@@ScottHiddelston Just curious, was thinking it was something on my end. Great work, thank you for taking the time to film and produce the videos.

[@johnryman1366]

Dispatcher were giving orders, engineers don't decide those terms

[@antonioaraujo3029]

Parabéns belo vídeo. 🇧🇷

[@jerrymolinari9001]

Great Train video Scott, what is it like 6 or 7 Miles of train together? Thanks, Scott.

[@davidhopson729]

Very nice video!!!!

[@codyhilton1750]

A good video but I wish it had continued.

[@ScottHiddelston]

Thanks Cody. Would you rather I had continued filming the container train until it disappeared from view at the top? Asking for future videos.

[@codyhilton1750]

@@ScottHiddelston Until it had passed the coal train.

[@ScottHiddelston]

Cody, the manifest never did pass the coal train. He ran out of siding. I’ll post a drone video of him crossing the skyline trestle, filmed right after the coal train had cleared the tunnel.

[@JK-zx3go]

I see they've finally locked up Trump. Putting him in a container and shipping him by rail is probably a little harsh.

[@josephcooksley3219]

Lol never to harsh for that A hole

[@CoSpringer]

The manifest is Q-ALTPTL if WB Q-SPOALT if EB

[@sanddabz5635]

For the novice, What do all those letters stand for or mean?.....thanks in advance.

[@andrewwerner2061]

Do you think the engineers on either train is talking to each other? If so wonder what they are saying to each other?

[@sanddabz5635]

"my train is bigger than your train!".....wink wink

[@andrewwerner2061]

@@sanddabz5635 or my train is lighter than your train I can go faster lol

[@peterjohnston8116]

Boeing 737 fuselages escorted by Amazon.

[@FishplateFilms]

What a beauty Scott! Didn't feel like climbing the hill today mate ? This is a neat location and some classic older power on that coal drag! Maybe the manifest hogger had some "business" to attend to in the nose of the GE ..LOL and that's why he was racing to the signal? ...or he was notching it up for you Sir??? Great to see more clips Scott. Cheers Gregg.

[@ScottHiddelston]

I needed a different spot Gregg or I'd have been up the hill again. Honestly this spot is better in winter when the grass is down and the trees bare. Next Year !!

[@FishplateFilms]

@@ScottHiddelston It is a great location Scott for sure! Seeing the coal drag head end at 13;00 , really gives you a perspective of how steep the Pass is! Gregg 🙂

[@brandonreeves5979]

I was wondering when I was going to see those MRL helpers!!! Are those manned?

[@detroit8v715]

Most likely, yes, that the mid train helpers are manned. After the summit, the helpers are cut off and the train is rejoined. The pusher at the end is most likely remote controlled.

[@nickpickard6657]

Great catch man!!

[@ScottHiddelston]

Thanks!

[@jonc4686]

Great vid, thx.