A. Lee Graham Reporter BNSF Railway Co. of Fort Worth has selected Montana Rail Link Inc. as 2013 Shortline of the Year for its significant growth and continued emphasis on a strong safety record. Meanwhile, Bighorn Divide & Wyoming Railroad won special recognition honors, with both awards given as part of the annual Oct. 21 BNSF Shortline Conference in Irving. Montana Rail Link connects with BNSF main lines at Huntley, Mont., and Sandpoint, Idaho. “MRL is an important BNSF business partner committed to enhance service to customers by focusing on network and terminal velocity initiatives, responding to changes in traffic volume, and investing in infrastructure while always emphasizing the safety of employees,” said Dean Wise, vice president of network strategy for BNSF, commenting in a news release. BNSF selected Bighorn Divide & Wyoming Railroad for special recognition because of its commitment to growth, customer service and efficiency. The company interchanges with BNSF at Bonneville and Bishop, Wyo. BNSF created the awards to honor shortlines that exceed the railway’s expectations for innovation, determination, vision and entrepreneurial spirit. BNSF Railway operates on 32,500 route miles of track in 28 states and two Canadian provinces. More information is available at www.bnsf.com. lgraham@bizpress.net