What I am suggesting is that if the state had let the line die, the additional loads on those "highways" which would provide the most direct route would result in significant additional taxpayer costs due to significantly increased required maintenance, police presence, etc. etc. Each 4750 cu. ft. hopper is approximately equal to 3.5 trucks. The average yearly trains have been a bit over 3000 car loads a year. The truck drivers aren't going to take highway 2 clear past Airway Heights to pick up the interstate for the trip to Ritzville. Hence, maintaining harvest deliveries on the CW is very cost effective. Perhaps this argument would be specious if your buddies at BN hadn't shoved Ritzville down everyone's throats, then forced the shuttle trains in order to justify the damn thing by rearranging the costs of the cars and the trip to make any other option unfeasible.