Z Train and Coal Drag on MRL's Mullan Pass

An eastbound Z Train cresting the summit at Blossburg before entering the 3,479' long Mullan tunnel and starting it's descent towards Helena. Then on the eastside of the pass is an empty coal drag making its way down the 2.5% grade and passing by at Austin, MP 12.9
I hope you enjoy the video.

[@trevorhawkins1626]

Great video! Just an FYI that Z train is actually a Q! We don't get Z trains on the MRL unless something it wrong on the Hiline. They run with the same equipment though. If you're ever back in the Missoula or Helena area give me a shout and I might be able to meet up with you!

[@PacificNWRailfan]

Thanks for the info. Definitely I'll get in touch.

[@signal_to_departure]

oh and I was at whitefish station two days ago to film a EB grain with a KCS and the crew that was going to take the EB to Havre, MT gave me a Employees only BNSF Sweatshirt, Which Was unexpected. I was just their for the KCS! because of the merger and because I have never caught a KCS on camera for my channel, So yeah,
BTW: You make Great Videos but I was kinda mad when you caught 4407 Thank You Vets Unit because I haven't caught 4407 but 4404 I have! :)

[@PacificNWRailfan]

Thanks and glad you got a sweatshirt,

[@factssoup5056]

Nice sounds of those BNSF locomotives and rail cars passing by😍 good work

[@PacificNWRailfan]

Thanks Facts Soup ,I really appreciate that and thanks for watching.

[@Thomas1980]

Nice Video! Like & Thumbs Up👍
Kind regards from Switzerland👍

[@PacificNWRailfan]

Thanks Thomas and thanks for watching, regards from the USA.

[@VisionsofEd]

Great video my friend

[@PacificNWRailfan]

Thanks Ed and thanks for watching.

[@crwplanespotting9637]

It’s called a Z train because everyone aboard is sleeping!

[@PacificNWRailfan]

I sure hope not!! lol, thanks for watching.

[@svtrains4773]

Super video!!!

[@PacificNWRailfan]

Thanks Svetlana and thanks for watching.

[@myrailfanchannel]

Could have almost called the Z a J.B. Hunt express train. Nice catches.

[@PacificNWRailfan]

Thanks EasternCanadianRailfan, just about. The majority of freight on a Z and a Q train consists of JB Hunt and Schneider. Thanks for watching.

[@myrailfanchannel]

@@PacificNWRailfan It's always a pleasure.

[@danielalmquist1264]

I did not know BNSF ran coal trains through here.

[@PacificNWRailfan]

They run them on this line all the time. Thanks for watching.

[@greglaplante7593]

Great open shot ! Love the orange and black color.

[@PacificNWRailfan]

Thanks Greg and thanks for watching my friend.

[@KistRs]

Great place for railfanning Mullan Pass, nice one, good day

[@PacificNWRailfan]

Thanks Carlos, yes it is great for railfanning. I hope to get more video from Mullan later this summer. Thanks for watching.

[@ВладимирЕлисеев-о8м]

Great video! I really like the beauty of the state of Montana! Thanks!

[@PacificNWRailfan]

Thanks
Владимир Елисеев I agree, Montana is beautiful. Thanks for watching.

[@KCTopDawg]

Wow lots of cool vantage points with those catches!

[@PacificNWRailfan]

Thanks Darryl. I couldn't get to a lot of good spots as the access roads were still unpassable. Thanks for watching.

[@willyct207]

Thanks my friend for a very great video. The 2.5 grade is steep for any train. I didn't know Mullan Pass is in your state. This clip made me jump to Google earth an I saw you stay much closer to Canada then to your Capital. I see Montana has got a Indian reserve I was going to ask you if you got native Indians there!!

[@PacificNWRailfan]

You're welcome WILLY. Yes both Mullan and Marias pass are in Montana. Canada is only 65 miles north of where I live whereas it's a 5 hour drive to Helena. There are 7 Indian reserves in Montana and yes there are also native Indians here. Thanks for watching my friend.

[@signal_to_departure]

Nice!! I going to head up that way next week!

[@PacificNWRailfan]

Thanks, Just be aware that it's still pretty sloppy up there. We couldn't go past skyline trestle as the road was unpassable unless you had a 4X4 with lots of ground clearance.

[@signal_to_departure]

@@PacificNWRailfan Thx for the warning, I have a jeep with 4X4 and 11 inches of ground clearance.

[@PacificNWRailfan]

@@signal_to_departure A few weeks ago you said you were 11 years old

[@signal_to_departure]

@@PacificNWRailfan No I have a Friend who has a jeep, Not me. And he is going down to Missoula on the 9th of may for some railfanning and he asked me if I wanted to come, and I saw a Great video idea for Mullan Pass, And the 20th through the 24th I will be over in Spokane for my Birthday on the 21th.

[@Philios2Glory1]

Amazing zoom

[@PacificNWRailfan]

Thanks Austin and thanks for watching.

[@jakalpelimohamad4110]

Ni ni

[@PacificNWRailfan]

Thanks for watching my friend.

[@solutions2exist556]

Incredible view! Thanks.

[@PacificNWRailfan]

Thanks Solutions2 Exist, yes indeed it is beautiful up there. Thanks for watching.

[@hadesdescent6664]

Like#52!
Excellent video 👍🏿🤠👌💯🎃
Are these trains pass on Greenhorn trestle?

[@PacificNWRailfan]

Thanks
hades descent 666. Yes these trains do pass over Greenhorn trestle. The coal drag where you see it go behind the hill, at 8:44 then the locomotives reappear at 8:50, on the other side of that hill the train is going around is where Greenhorn trestle is located. I wanted to get some video of the trestle but the access roads were still unpassable do to the rain and melting snow. Thanks for watching.

[@hadesdescent6664]

@@PacificNWRailfan WOW, I just now saw your reply and watched that part (and realized after while it's empty downhill trip), you caught few end cars and rear DPU descent!!!!
Only now I have a picture of how steep this grade is 😲
Thanks for explanation! I appreciate it!✅✅✅

[@PacificNWRailfan]

@@hadesdescent6664 You're welcome. This side (the east side) is a 2.2% grade.

[@danperozzo9554]

Once again good 👍 👌 job . Love the senrey over there in MT .

[@PacificNWRailfan]

Thanks Don. I love it too, it's some beautiful country. Thanks for watching.

[@تيي-و9د]

🌐🌐

[@PacificNWRailfan]

Thanks for watching.

[@TrainsOnGoPro]

Nice Video! 2 Hard working Gevo!

[@PacificNWRailfan]

Thanks TrainsOnGoPro 2015, no doubt, that was a lot of train for two units, especially a Z train. Thanks for watching.

[@skyheights001]

beautiful location ever❤️❤️❤️😇

[@PacificNWRailfan]

Thank you
railNaaz and thanks for watching.

[@DIEGOIMAGS]

Nice Video Pacific NW Railfan! 👍

[@PacificNWRailfan]

Thanks Diego and thanks for watching.

[@Silvio.S.Arruda0044]

Super show of images ... congratulations

[@PacificNWRailfan]

Thanks Silvio and thanks for watching.

[@Silvio.S.Arruda0044]

@@PacificNWRailfan 👍👍👍👍

[@brandonreeves5979]

I can’t believe that the z train was only pulled by 2 locos and no mid or rear help. Wow! Great camera footage!

[@PacificNWRailfan]

Thanks Brandon, I was surprised too. BNSF normally gives the Zs lots of power. Thanks for watching.

[@brandonreeves5979]

@@PacificNWRailfan you’re welcome!

[@maxrshelltrack7443]

The least is two the most is four engines atlease what I've seen regarding bnsf power on INTERMODALS.

[@PacificNWRailfan]

@@maxrshelltrack7443 Well, you've never seen them on the northern transcon then because 5 to 6 units on a Z is standard.

[@maxrshelltrack7443]

@@PacificNWRailfan yeah I railfan around the twin cities in Minnesota.

[@csxchicagoline5523]

Nice video!

[@PacificNWRailfan]

Thanks CSX Chicago Line and thanks for watching.

[@米米-j8p]

新幹線🚄♡新幹線🚅

[@PacificNWRailfan]

Thanks for watching.

[@米米-j8p]

@@PacificNWRailfan 日本🗾日本🏯鬼滅の刃♡