Montana Rail Link Vol. 3, The Final Countdown: GP9, SD40-2XR, and SD45 Locomotives

[@ThomasKlimoski]

Excellent video and filming techniques. The pacing shot of locomotives 251 and 252 was incredible. Beautiful scenery and a great railroad, who could ask for more. Thanks for capturing the history of the MRL. -Tom

[@CVisionContributor]

Thank you, Tom!

[@beeble2003]

"Beautiful scenery and a great railroad, who could ask for more." Me. I want ice-cream, too. 🤣

[@CVisionContributor]

@@beeble2003 At very least, we want frozen yogurt!

[@guyfuller1369]

That segment near the end, 32:50 to 33:46, subtitled Nagos, Montana-I believe I’ve seen a railfan’s image of paradise! Wow! And thank you.

[@CVisionContributor]

The hills being so green added to that area’s splendor. And thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@cdiddles.]

Sad to see them go, but "nothing gold can stay". Nevertheless, thanks for the high quality productions of the MRL during their prime. The shot at 8:40 was absolutely amazing!

[@CVisionContributor]

Thank you so much!!! And yes, all good things MUST come to an end. That’s the way things are going these days. ETTS...

[@minnesotarailfan11]

Nothing gold can stay thats from a book right

[@railroadfansandfun]

This is phenomenal footage! Love all the different scenery with varying lighting. Great work!

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you!

[@rowlandlarkham3206]

I used to run the Pinckneyville Local the IC had million years ago - Sc1 to Carbondale, SM3,5, to Cairo Ill

[@CVisionContributor]

Very cool. Glad to have you aboard!

[@CVisionProductions1]

Man, that must have been a great run! Thanks for sharing!

[@7ideaproductions]

This is very well done. Great coverage and informative coupled with fantastic looking footage!

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you very much Aaron! I hope you are doing well!

[@neilschwerdt3493]

Hi this is Neil schwerdt in west valley city Utah I do Montana Rail link in HO . I love watching your video that are very good to watch. Thank you for what you show From Neil schwerdt

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you so much, Neil! We do everything we can to make the viewing experience pleasurable for our audience. Modeling the MRL would be lots of fun -so many cool locations to recreate on a layout.

[@derrickwong5337]

Excellent! Montana Rail Link Volume 1-3 is good! Congratulations 👏!

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you very much!

[@derrickwong5337]

@@CVisionProductions1 You're very welcome!!

[@michalsuma3854]

Supr thanks to at least a little optimistic videos. Greetings from a grieving Europe. Here one gentleman went mad. Michal

[@CVisionContributor]

Thank you, Michal! Very much appreciated.

[@lorenwillis425]

Once again, so good to see so much of the Montana that I grew up in. Great video work.

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you very much, Loren! We’re glad that you enjoyed the video. Montana truly is a special place.

[@xCharjx]

Wonderful footage and great throwback to the 2004 shot! Does anyone know what will become of the GP9??

[@CVisionContributor]

Thank you!!! We’re hearing it’s not looking good for the GP9s... Shoot them while you can!

[@DENVERRIOGRANDEMAN21]

Good mashup man

[@CVisionContributor]

Thank you!!! MRL EMDs never disappoint!

[@0fficialdregs]

RIP to a glorious railroad and strong family like bond.

[@CVisionProductions1]

It’ll be sad to see them go. They are arguably the most popular railroad in the country. Thank you for watching, and for your comment.

[@0fficialdregs]

@@CVisionProductions1 thank you for uploading footage of them operating.

[@CVisionProductions1]

You’re very welcome. It was our pleasure to share it with you.

[@0fficialdregs]

@@CVisionProductions1 :)

[@jerryhuddleston738]

This is great. Classic MAS: EMDs, searchlights, code line, rainbows and thunderstorms. Reminds me why I like the west.

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you Jerry! MAS does wonders with that camera.

[@AMPProductionsVideo]

Very nice video of MRL👍👍👍

[@CVisionContributor]

Thank you very much, AMP Productions!

[@jamtuazon5216]

If I will predict, once MRL is fully absorbed into bnsf, they’ll probably only see value in the gp35s, sd40s, and sd70aces (of course) and buy them while putting the others up for sale, probably scrap, use in lease companies or transferred to their sister system in the lower mainland of BC, the SRY rail link and the SVI rail link

[@CVisionContributor]

That is what we’ve been hearing. Not looking good for the GP9s and SD45s.

[@timwilliams5072]

Excellent video!

[@CVisionContributor]

Thank you, Tim!

[@Nicola636128]

Another excellent video.

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you!

[@heinzbreuer2674]

Good mornig Sir! Wunderschönes Video toll gemacht weiterhin good Lucky Train. Wo san i DVD blue raye oder eine Box kaufen?€how many...Greetings from Germany Cologne ein Fan aus Krefeld

[@CVisionProductions1]

Hello, sir! Greetings from Minnesota, USA. This particular video is not available on DVD or Blu-ray, but we have many others that are. Most are in the $20-30 range, plus $18 for overseas shipping. We have already uploaded quite a few of our full videos on KZbin for those who wish to watch for free. If you are interested in our DVD/Blu-ray selection, we will include a link to our website below. Thank you! www.cvptrains.com

[@cpjjp4705]

Awesome horn on 19:05

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thanks for noticing, JJP! The MRL has a fantastic collection of horns on their equipment. We appreciate the comment.

[@romanvasiliev3021]

Great footages! 👍 I love these dark blue locomotives. I hope they don't disappear if BNSF takes over MRL 😌

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you for the compliment on the footage! And yes, MRL’s color scheme is one of our favorites! Dark blue was an excellent choice. Not too flashy, but still attractive. We’re guessing a few will hang on for a while, but it’ll only be a matter of time before the units are retired or repainted.

[@romanvasiliev3021]

​@@CVisionProductions1 Btw, continuing the theme of blue, it would be interesting to watch a similar video about Pan Am, which became "fallen flags" with the purchase of CSX 🙂

[@CVisionProductions1]

Agreed!

[@MinnesotaOtter]

Any chance of shooitng the TCW in Minnesota? Lots of great opporunities west of Glencoe

[@CVisionContributor]

For sure! Stay tuned.

[@darrelgibbs4898]

I Don't see Any Montana Trains Any More Amazing

[@CVisionContributor]

Thank you! We appreciate the comment.

[@bnsf8610]

Great video :)

[@CVisionContributor]

Thank you very much!

[@logandetwiler4483]

That Conrail SD50 on that grain train

[@CVisionContributor]

Pretty neat, for sure! BNSF had a group of ex CR, UP, and CNW SD50s leased from NRE in those days.

[@mikepriceup]

It's Sad to see MRL being absorbed back into BNSF. Hopefully all MRL employees find jobs with BNSF as that would be the right thing to do. Those beautiful dark blue locomotives will be missed.

[@gusterposey]

I've read that BNSF said all MRL employees could keep their position and location.

[@CVisionContributor]

It certainly is. End of an era. And yes, hoping everyone gets to keep working. At least in the short-term, it sounds like that’s going to happen.

[@CVisionContributor]

@@gusterposey That’s what we understood too. Hopefully it all holds up.

[@corduerorose9747]

just like the rest of the 70s 80s and 90s railroad company this is going bankrupt too

[@willberestartingthischanne9984]

Nice Video

[@CVisionContributor]

Thank you so much!

[@Eli_J_G]

Do you know where 351 and 382 ares stored or something like that? I looked in Livingston but only found the SDP40-2XR and a training cab. I really want to see those ones.

[@CVisionContributor]

Should be stored inside the shop at Livingston. No access, unfortunately.

[@Eli_J_G]

@@CVisionContributor Dang, thank you for letting me know.

[@CVisionContributor]

@@Eli_J_G You’re welcome. Not sure if either will see the light of day again. We’ll find out soon enough.

[@retr0bits545]

It is now 2023, any more news on what will happen to the older Motive power?

[@CVisionProductions1]

Nothing set in stone yet, from what we know. Once BNSF officially takes over, there should be more information available. Stay tuned, and thanks for watching!

[@trainknut]

I find it kind of funny(in a sad way) that for all the SD45s they scrapped in the 2000s and early 2010s, flared radiators never actually left the MRL. For their entire existence, the SD45 was MRL's mascot, even when they had them replaced by SD70s, we still just remembered MRL for the '45s. Sad to see the blue go for good, but to be honest without the long strings of 645 and 567 powered equipment, it's just not the same anymore anyway. MRL truly was lightning in a bottle, they remained a glimpse at 2nd gen mainline railroading, even into the era of fourth generation diesels. Man I really hope Reading and Northern doesn't go anywhere soon, in many ways they're the last of their kind now.

[@CVisionProductions1]

You really hit the nail on the head here. Things just aren’t the same on MRL. And really, it might be time for all of us to let go. Whether we like it or not, it’s time for signal upgrades, it’s time for new equipment, and unfortunately it’s almost time for BNSF to end MRL operations. All of this was inevitable. The past 36 years have been an absolutely incredible adventure. Now it’s time for the next phase to begin. It’s somewhat fitting that a single operational SD45 will make it to BNSF. And it’s an original BN unit! On January 1, 2024, it all will come full circle. Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts.

[@kingoflovetrain6426]

Excellent video!, it’s Sad to see Montana Rail Link being absorbed back into BNSF.

[@CVisionContributor]

Thank you very much! And yes, it wasn’t the news we wanted to hear back in January. 2022 isn’t going too well..

[@kingoflovetrain6426]

@@CVisionContributor don’t worry be happy

[@SailorMoonRailfan]

What’s going to happen to it

[@CVisionContributor]

MRL will be passing into history soon. BNSF will take over once the STB approves it.

[@richarddrum9970]

I suppose those SD45’s will not be repainted in BNSF colors will they. I hope they aren’t scrapped, they are iconic power of the 60’s and 70’s. Too bad.

[@CVisionContributor]

We’re guessing not. 355 is the only one operational, currently. 346 needs work that was unjustifiable to perform at this point, and 351, 382 seem to be a parts source.

[@SouthernWXMedia]

This is quite sad! I didn't know they were a part of BNSF. Well, all the more reason to invest in some quality HO scale MRL models! And thank you for making this really good video.

[@CVisionContributor]

Very soon they will cease operations. Not sure of the exact date yet. Stay tuned for more news!

[@SouthernWXMedia]

@@CVisionContributor Thank you, I will!

[@beeble2003]

They're not part of BNSF. They're an independent company, but they lease the track from BNSF -- originally from Burlington Northern, before the merger. Honestly, I never really understood the logic of having a line whose only purpose is to interchange with BNSF in seven different places but, hey, even as somebody living 4,500 miles away, it's sad to see them go.

[@CVisionContributor]

@@beeble2003 Lots of history here. We’re guessing you know most of the MRL story. The MRL itself has been a ray of sunshine in the railroad world. However, how it came to be is not the prettiest story. The short story is that it was part of the massive transformation of the railroad world post-Staggers. The term “PSR” may not have existed in that era, but it almost could have been applied to the mid-80s BN operating philosophy.

[@mwand89]

What's the difference between an SD40-2 and an SD40-2XR?

[@CVisionProductions1]

“SD40-2XR” is the designation given to the straight SD40s that were rebuilt by LRC in Livingston between 1990 and 1993. They carry road numbers 251 through 265. Supposedly, XR stood for “extra reliable”. MRL 250 is the only true SD40-2 on the roster. As a note, MRL 290 is one of the “XR” units as well, but that locomotive was built as a Great Northern SDP40, which is pretty cool. We appreciate the question. If you would like more details on the upgrades, we may be able to provide them for you.

[@mwand89]

@@CVisionProductions1 thank you for the great information.

[@CVisionProductions1]

You’re very welcome. Thank you for watching.

[@amm8796]

Ok so if Montana rail is gone who took over BNSF?

[@CVisionProductions1]

Berkshire Hathaway. That transaction occurred over a decade ago. Thank you for the comment.

[@CVisionContributor]

@AMM BNSF is taking over MRL operations. That must have been what you were actually asking.

[@spacecalander]

Too bad, BNSF hates EMD, so say goodbye to all these classic EMDs and ACes. Will be replaced with dash 9s lol

[@CVisionContributor]

Very well could be! The older stuff, for sure. Sad times.