An article in the Nov. 25 Spokane Spokesman Review.




Railroad considers reopening two lines

Associated Press
November 25, 2006

OROFINO, Idaho – Officials with a railroad in northern Idaho are considering reopening two abandoned lines to meet increased demand, partly the result of increased trucking costs due to higher fuel prices and an expected 25 percent increase in timber harvest by Potlatch Corp.

Kurt Gaylor, region manager for the Bountiful Grain and Craig Mountain Railroad, said some companies are paying the railroad just to make sure cars are available.

"People will actually pay us per car per day to hold cars for them," he told the Lewiston Tribune.

Gaylor said he wants to restart the rail line from Orofino to Jaype, which the railroad leased from Kansas-based Watco Companies Inc., in 2005. Earlier that year the line was abandoned by the Great Northwest Railroad. Gaylor said the line could reopen in several weeks if permits are approved.

Gaylor said a bridge on the line needs to be repaired, as well as several washouts. He said the railroad has a verbal agreement with Potlatch to haul logs on the line.

"We have been exploring rail shipping of the line for some time," said Matt Van Vleet, a Potlatch spokesman, who added that the company wants to increase timber harvest by 25 percent in the next five years. "We are still ironing out details of the proposal."

Another line that could be restarted is the Grangeville line. It was abandoned in 2000 and some of the track has been removed between Grangeville and Cottonwood.

The line has 50 trestles and seven tunnels, making it scenic but expensive to maintain.