Helena Mini Intermodal Rush and the Return of the Light

Newly snowcapped Mt. Edna looks down on the typical westbounds pile up at Helena.

Westbound ocean containers prepare to depart as a roundhouse crew puts the derail back up behind an oddly configured double light helper set.

These stackers must be mostly empty containers. They are fairly long, and go over Mullan with just two units, no DPU, or helper. Its also hard to keep up with these guys if you get hit by Helena's stoplights on the way out of town.

Right on his heels comes the Texas-Seattle Q Train.

You could just about call it the J.B. Hunt train, as they make up about 80% of these trains.

I have seen a total of four trailers on the Q Trains, and this one had a five-pack all to itself.

A bright sunny day last Thursday, and the carmen are busy with westbounds as usual.

A Laurel-Spokane gets underway. The red flag is for the I-15 bridge replacement project.

After a summer of forest fire smoke, this dramatic sky was a welcome change.

Unusual to see just a single 737.