Montana Rail Link (reporting markMRL) (now operated by BNSF as the MRL Subdivision) was a privately heldClass II railroad in theUnited States. It operated on trackage originally built by theNorthern Pacific Railway and leased from its successorBNSF Railway. MRL was a unit ofThe Washington Companies and was headquartered inMissoula, Montana.
The railroad ran betweenHuntley, Montana andSpokane, Washington, largely within Montana, and the main line passes through the towns of Missoula,Livingston,Bozeman,Billings, andHelena. Montana Rail Link connected with theBNSF on both ends and also inGarrison, Montana. The railroad had over 900 miles (1,400 km) of track,[1] served 100 stations, and employed approximately 1,000 personnel. The main classification yard was in Laurel, Montana, with smaller yards in Missoula, Billings, Bozeman and Helena.[2] Repair and mechanical facilities were in Livingston, Montana; turntables remain in Livingston and Laurel.
In January 2022, MRL and BNSF agreed on an early lease termination to return control of the line to BNSF. This took place on January 1, 2024; MRL became a subdivision of BNSF, and all employees of MRL were offered employment with BNSF.
Montana Rail Link's independent status and main line dates back to October 31, 1987, when MRL under Missoula businessmanDennis Washington commenced a 60-year lease ofBurlington Northern's southern Montana main line betweenSandpoint,Idaho andHuntley, Montana, near Billings.[3][4] This spin-off was controversial as it happened during contract negotiations between Burlington Northern and theUnited Transportation Union. MRL workers were represented by various unions. Montana Rail Link trains operated between Billings and Spokane using trackage rights over BN successorBNSF's tracks connecting those points.
Montana Rail Link usedcabooses until the BNSF takeover in 2024, which were used to carry remote control switching equipment on Laurel switch engines. A significant number of MRL movements were actually BNSF trains, complete with locomotives, that MRL received at one end of its track and forwarded back to BNSF at the other end. MRL also operated trains of its own to gather and distribute local freight along its lines. Forest products and grain were primary commodities, and MRL also operated a special train, called the Gas Local, between Missoula and Thompson Falls, Montana, to bridge a gap in a long-distance gasoline pipeline.
On September 8, 2005, Montana Rail Link took delivery of locomotive number 4300, the first of 16 newEMD SD70ACe locomotives. This was the first locomotive that the railroad has ordered new from a manufacturer, and it and the rest of the class were intended to replace agingSD40 andSD45 locomotives on trains crossing theRocky Mountains over thecontinental divide atMullan Pass near Helena, Montana andBozeman Pass near Bozeman, Montana.[5]
In January 2022, BNSF agreed to pay MRL $2 billion for an early lease termination.[4][6][7] The return to BNSF control required the approval of theSurface Transportation Board,[8][9] and this was later approved on March 8, 2023.[10] BNSF took over operations on January 1, 2024.[11] This absorbed the MRL into BNSF, integrating MRL operations, technology and personnel. All 1,200 employees were offered employment with BNSF.[12]
In theHelena train wreck of February 2, 1989, 48 decoupled rail cars rolled into Helena, hit a parked work train, caught fire and exploded. While property damage was extensive, there were no casualties.[13]
On July 3, 2014, a MRL train with 90 railcars derailed nearAlberton, Montana, en route fromLaurel, Montana toSpokane, Washington. Twenty cars derailed, including three containinghazardous materials and sixBoeing 737 fuselages. The 737 fuselages had been built in Kansas atSpirit AeroSystems and were being shipped toRenton, Washington, for final assembly. Three of the fuselages fell down an embankment, with two reaching theClark Fork River.[14][15] The six fuselages were recovered and scrapped within the month.[16][17][18]
On the morning of Sunday, April 2, 2023, a westbound MRL freight train derailed at Quinn's Hot Springs Resort inParadise, Montana. About 25 cars derailed, including cases of canned and bottled beer, clay powder and one with highly flammable gas (alternately described as butane or propane); some cars tumbled into theClark Fork River, and others derailed in the nearby tunnel. There were no injuries, fires or release of hazardous materials. Strong winds blowing the clay powder appeared like smoke and guest cabins were evacuated as a precaution. As the derailment site was only accessible by water, the fire district's water rescue team ferried responders across the river in a small boat.[19][1]
On June 24, 2023, part of a westbound freight train derailed nearReed Point inStillwater County, while traveling on a bridge over theYellowstone River. The bridge collapsed and ten cars derailed, of which at least eight fell into the river.[20][21]
Breached cars included either molten sulfur or asphalt. Two cars carried sodium hydro sulfate, however, these did not rupture. Yellowstone County Disaster and Emergency Services stated that several cars were damaged and leaked petroleum products. Yellow liquid flowing out of the cars was visible. MRL stated that several cars carried hazmat products. As to whether the bridge collapsed first or the cars derailed first is under investigation.[22][23][24]
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