CSX Heavy Tier 4 on Mullan

One of three westbounds yesterday afternoon in Helena Yard. Who will get out first?
CSX 3398 is an ET44AH, "H" for heavy, i.e. ballasted.

Ta Da! - The sag at Tobin.

At the intermediate at Birdseye.

Coal empty at the east switch at Austin, one of two EB's met there.

Rounding the sharp curve at the east end of Austin.

Still can't get over those radiators.

The DPU of the coal empty just clears the Mullan Pass Road grade crossing.

This EB grainer empty was met non-stop on the upper, recently extended portion of Austin siding.

Loving the reappearance of the H1's

It's interesting that CSX has ordered ballasted versions of the ET44, given the decline in coal traffic, but they must figure that there is still plenty of heavy tonnage yet to haul across the Appalachians.

Great Wall of Taiwan Visits Montana

CSX 117 W. leaves Helena, Montana - August 18, 2013

Getting Settled

T'aint West Virginny

The Great Wall of Taiwan

I had been wishing for something different to come through Helena, a solid set of EMD's on a coal train would be nice. Instead I got the first intermodal train I have seen here on the MRL, and with CSX power no less. No rear DPU on this guy, and most of the Yang Ming containers had refrigeration units, so I am thinking these are empties, and maybe this train originated in Jacksonville, Florida.