February 2021 Modeling the End of Steam on the NP’s Mullan Pass and Montana Rail Link: Railfan Today’s Prototype

Modeling the End of Steam on the Northern Pacific’s Mullan Pass
Tour Kirk Thompson’s HO scale Mullan Pass layout as the Northern Pacific. The layout connects Laurel and Missoula, focusing on the pass itself. We have explored this layout previously as the Montana Rail Link, but now Kirk has stepped back to the transition era. You will see both steam and diesel motive power at work on this beautiful railfanning layout.

Montana Rail Link: Railfan Today’s Prototype
In this feature, we share photos and video of the actual Montana Rail Link (not a model) as we railfan on Mullan Pass. You will enjoy seeing coal drags climbing the Rockies and you will see some of the same areas that Kirk models on the layout.

Build a Highway Guardrail
We built and weathered an HO scale guardrail using a Rix Products’ rail with a customization to make it more like what we see locally.

Kirk Thompson’s HO Scale Mullan Pass

MRL Mid-Train Helpers on Mullan Pass