Montana Rail Link, for all intents and purposes, is over. Simply awaiting STB approval before the final chapter is written and the company fades into the history books. The story began in 1987, when a new company was formed to lease the former Northern Pacific mainline, then owned by Burlington Northern, from Sandpoint, Idaho, to a connection near Billings, Montana.
The 60-year lease created the Montana Rail Link with a 700 mile long mainline. Complete with a few branches, The MRL system today stretches over 900 miles of railroad.
But as they say, all good things must eventually come to an end. However, through Trains.com Video exclusive series such as “Drew’s Trackside Adventures” and “Big Skies & Iron Rails”, you can continue to revel in the thrills of this “fallen flag” for years to come!
