On September 2, 2003, a westbound Burlington Northern Santa Fe grain train thunders through Iron Ridge cut just east of Weed, Montana, on Montana Rail Link’s crossing of Mullan Pass. Twelve six-axle locomotives are required to lift the heavy train up the steep 2.2-percent mountain grade, with two sets of manned helpers located in the middle and rear of the train. This large cut allows MRL to bypass the original Northern Pacific Iron Ridge Tunnel in this rocky ridge located on the horseshoe curves above Austin.
