A westbound BNSF coal train sits with its head end just short of Head Lane west of Helena, Montana, late in the day of July 5, 2001. Two sets of helpers are being added to the “heavy” down at Helena Junction. A “heavy” is what Montana Rail Link calls a unit coal or grain train. The train already has a point helper added down in Helena consisting of SD45-2 No. 301, the former Clinchfield 3617. In a few minutes, the train will blast towards the end of double track at Tobin to begin the fight against a steepening 2.2% grade up Mullan Pass.
