Just north (railroad east on BNSF, RR north on UP) of the main X-ing in Athol is the logical site for the two lines to connnect, since both are at nearly same elevations there. Part of the abandoned NP grade that swings out west of the big Athol cut comes very close to the UP, but using it for the connection will require creation of a new public road, since that ROW is used by several folks living back in the woods. Another project that will change the look of the Funnel is the rebuilding of U.S. 95 to a limited access route. Latest report on this said there would be an overpass near Granite, which means there would have to be another one somewhere north of there to return highway traffic to the east (RR south) side of the BNSF. Then there's the big fiasco of rerouting U.S. 95 onto the narrow spit of land (the "sand point")that's presently occupied by BNSF at Sandpoint. Might never happen. Bad enough the view of the lake from the station platform has now been blocked by a hotel/condo complex.