This is in my backyard practically! If the connection were to be built, would it diverge from UP in "downtown" Durham at Durham Dayton Road? Before the end of the Sacramento Northern, in the mid 1980's, SP used to drop off cars for Chico SN customers on a siding in this vicinity. In a day or so an SN switcher would arrive, by SP tracks from the south, then take the cars to Chico on the remaining SN trackage, some of which was street running. At the end, this was usually done on Sunday evenings. The switcher returned with cars to be picked up by SP. For as long as I have lived in Durham I have wondered about the possibilities of this connection. Interesting to see it being discussed.