1. MRL's gas trains are pretty much still on the same scheduled on duty times as in the past. Day Gas is o/d 0500 and the Night Gas 1700, seven days a week (there's a relief crew in the mix). They usually run with a pair of ACes, so enough power to go the Tenth Sub via Evaro, both directions. The Paradise Local goes to work 0800 Monday thru Friday. Pair of GP-9s. Works between St. Regis and Thompson River Spur. Follow these guys around all day with a scanner and the DS will be telling them when to be in the clear for main line traffic, etc. In Missoula, the 1500 switch (M-F) goes to Bonner about 1630 with ex-WP GP40 MRL 500. There's a wood chip operation there. The Darby and Polson lines are currently OOS.

2. Seems BNSF's Copper City Sub local is on duty about 0800 (M-F) Butte, works Silver Bow and Deer Lodge before arriving Garrison for the interchange with MRL. They did lots of track work this year, which may still be on going. So I don't know if they have raised the speeds above 25 MPH yet. You might keep an eye on the BA&P. They have had two jobs working, a dirt train in Durant Canyon that goes to the dump site across MT Hwy 1, east of Anaconda. And a pair of Geeps that work out of Silver Bow to Butte and return.

3. Last I heard, same M-W-F schedule. Not sure about the Dillon Local.

Dave in Msla