IIRC - MRL only leases the mainline and bought the branches. So it will be interesting to see what happens to the branches (at least the viable ones). Do they remain MRL, get sold to shortline(s) or are sold back to BNSF?

Another consideration - MRL has always been union (BLEt but not UTU/SMART) and since the new operator is a class 1 by default the union contract goes with the sale. This means that by default MRL keeps their own seniority and work rules, but the unions will likely try to get them to match pay and benefits without the new draconian train crew attendance policy. The former Montana Western was a similar deal on a much smaller scale.

Of course, this would make any directional running or bouncing crews between the NP/MRL and GN hiline very difficult. They might try to merge the seniority rosters, but the MRL (and former MW) employees would be crazy not to reserve home road seniority preference.