These 3-bay covered hoppers were built in the early 1970s for Burlington Northern. In the early 1990s, they were obtained by Montana Rail Link and repainted hastily in MRL blue. Over time, the paint faded in a very unique way that showed the BN green underneath in places. MRL was founded in 1987, and was a profitable and critical link between BNSF and Union Pacific interchange points in the Western United States.