*IF* there were a propane dealer on the SMART/NWP line who wanted to get deliveries by rail, and who was willing to construct a suitable spur or use an existing one, would SMART prohibit NWP from serving such a customer?

Could an existing team track would be used?

I suspect that, if a new spur is needed, SMART would not allow the new connection. That's simple. Next, if the existing spur is not to an existing propane shipper, SMART would probably demand that the County/City do an EIR for the Use Permit (separate from rail activity - land use approval) effectively killing the project. Finally, using a team track (if any exist), which IMO would be the most insecure option: would SMART be able to prevent that too? I'm suspecting they could, and in any case the local government/fire department would have a fit.

So in practice, under present circumstances, a propane (or practically any other) tank car load should never appear on NWP tracks unless moving through (if things are ever fixed) between Lombard and north of Cloverdale. AFAIK, there aren't any carload propane or other hazmat shippers or receivers on presently operating NWP/SMART tracks (are there?). How about empties for storage? Are they placarded even if empty?

But suppose such a shipper did exist, or somehow overcome the legal and political obstacles and establish itself - would SMART be able to prevent NWP from serving it?