In an effort not to “derail” the other thread (which is very interesting by the way) about Niles Canyon Ry, I wanted to start this as a new thread.

Dr Zarkoff Wrote:
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Over the last several years, there has been
> a big hub-ub in Idaho/Montana by summer cabin
> owners over an RR filing on a rail to trails line
> (former NP -?-) and putting back the trackage to
> run trains, unit coal trains I think. Last I
> heard, the cabin owners, who built their cabins
> after the line had been torn up, "went to court"
> and lost.

Where exactly is/did this happen? I live in the area and have never heard of it until now. Would love to know more if it is actually true.

The one and only NP main line in the Idaho Montana area is the MRL, there was an NP branch line over lookout Pass that served Wallace Idaho, but I know for a fact that hasn’t been rebuilt, and I don’t think it was ever rails to trails. About the only other mainline (again NOT in rails to trails) in Idaho Montana was the Milwaukee Road, which is now the Hiawatha Trail. So unless this is some little branchline somewhere that I’ve never heard of, I can’t think of anywhere in Idaho or Montana that an NP (or other railroad) line was converted to a trail and then had tracks relayed. Anyone with any information about this rumor please share.


Matt F
Moscow Idaho