The south end was signaled (CTC?) at some point in WP days. I believe UP discontinued/removed them due to changes in traffic patterns that did not justify the continued expense.

The sale to BNSF obviously brought the line back into demand for what it was originally intended - competition for the former "I-5 route" of SP (now UP). I won't argue about the increase in traffic over previous UP dark territory days, but I would bet that some of the reason to signal it might involve PTC requirements. Assuming this line might now or may in the future require PTC, the added incremental expense for full CTC/PTC versus dark PTC was probably a good investment. Have they been extending sidings as part of this? Hasn't that been on of the more recent limiting factors for the entire routing through Oregon and through the Feather River Canyon?