I retired in 2008 and did some consulting. That is when I was last involved. I was not impressed with the earlier management team, either.

All of these folks talked a lot of nonsense about the traffic potential, and of how "if only" a "white knight" with the vision could provide the cash (be it the "evil" gubmint, the "deep pockets" Port, or an "investor" be it mysterious foreign, and/or domestic....????).

The "con" artists, as you, among others, have describe them, at about that time, were seen as the fulfillment of the "prophecy", of that "savior" "visionary" "investor", which as you note, in the end, they were clearly not...?

There is still talk of opening back up from the Baja group, but I still don't see a rail traffic base that would produce enough revenue to justify even the minimum $50-100 million dollar investment to bring this up to a reliable state of "minimal" good repair for a base of through traffic to the UP...... But, sand and aggregate on the east end might actually work. So this sage will likely continue to provide plenty of entertainment and troll fodder for a few more years.....

But, if someone ever has the "where with all" to open a tourist line through the Gorge, I'll sure buy a ticket on that......