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Re: Geiger Spur
Author: Butler
Date: 11-25-2008 - 09:03
G. Jenista Wrote:
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> Do I understand that Western Rail Switching was
> Spokane County's rail operations entity, and EWG
> is the permanent private operator?
Perhaps some clarification is in order. Spokane County is the OWNER of the existing Geiger Spur, and the new 3+ mile line recently constructed to bypass Fairchild AFB. Western Rail Switching has been the DESIGNATED OPERATOR of the Geiger Spur since the county acquired the spur from BNSF in 2004.
The State of Washington is the OWNER of the former NP's CW branch which extends from Cheney to Coulee City, 108 miles. The state purchased it from WATCO in 2006. EWG is the DESIGNATED OPERATOR of this line.
WRS and EWG reached an agreement to transfer the operation of the Geiger Spur from WRS to EWG. This agreement was approved by both the county and the state. The STB filing simply reflects this agreement and the operational change that will result from it. The word "permanent" doesn't fit into the equation.
To use a simple analogy. Suppose you operate a business in a leased building. You sell the business only to somebody else. The owner of the building does not change.
To answer another question about motive power. While the new line certainly could handle EWG's SD45 units, they would be quite marginal on the remaining existing trackage of the spur, and the curve into the industry spur at the east end of the line is too tight for 6 axle units.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Do I understand that Western Rail Switching was
> Spokane County's rail operations entity, and EWG
> is the permanent private operator?
Perhaps some clarification is in order. Spokane County is the OWNER of the existing Geiger Spur, and the new 3+ mile line recently constructed to bypass Fairchild AFB. Western Rail Switching has been the DESIGNATED OPERATOR of the Geiger Spur since the county acquired the spur from BNSF in 2004.
The State of Washington is the OWNER of the former NP's CW branch which extends from Cheney to Coulee City, 108 miles. The state purchased it from WATCO in 2006. EWG is the DESIGNATED OPERATOR of this line.
WRS and EWG reached an agreement to transfer the operation of the Geiger Spur from WRS to EWG. This agreement was approved by both the county and the state. The STB filing simply reflects this agreement and the operational change that will result from it. The word "permanent" doesn't fit into the equation.
To use a simple analogy. Suppose you operate a business in a leased building. You sell the business only to somebody else. The owner of the building does not change.
To answer another question about motive power. While the new line certainly could handle EWG's SD45 units, they would be quite marginal on the remaining existing trackage of the spur, and the curve into the industry spur at the east end of the line is too tight for 6 axle units.
| Subject | Written By | Date/Time (PST) |
|---|---|---|
 Geiger Spur
|
William W. Webb | 11-22-2008 - 11:49 |
|
Re: Geiger Spur
|
Butler | 11-22-2008 - 16:17 |
|
Re: Geiger Spur
|
hepkema | 11-22-2008 - 20:00 |
|
Re: Geiger Spur
|
Tabasco | 11-24-2008 - 16:21 |
|
Re: Geiger Spur
|
Tabasco | 11-24-2008 - 16:22 |
|
Re: Geiger Spur
|
butler | 11-24-2008 - 23:35 |
|
Re: Geiger Spur
|
G. Jenista | 11-24-2008 - 20:44 |
|
Re: Geiger Spur |
Butler | 11-25-2008 - 09:03 |
|
Re: Geiger Spur
|
Tabasco | 11-25-2008 - 16:17 |
|
Re: Geiger Spur
|
Ross Hall | 11-25-2008 - 17:16 |
|
Re: Geiger Spur
|
butler | 11-27-2008 - 11:20 |