BNSF wanting Tennessee Pass has been speculated for a long time. It could be a possibility. I think UP just sits on it because of a mix of: UP not wanting BNSF to get it (although I have difficulty figuring out why); UP retaining it as possible capacity if the need were ever to arise; and fears of being liable for cleanup of possible hazardous materials along the route. Who knows what some of the fills and embankments have in them - to say nothing of the miles and miles of slag ballast which some maintain is hazardous (I've always felt it was some of the best ballast in the world). Ultimately UP doesn't have to tell anyone the what or the why. They definitely have gone way out of their way to maintain their rights to the route and continue to do so. They have something up their sleeve - it will be interesting to see what that might be.

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