As of last week, POVA said their wood products customers in Idaho and the locomotive shop in Usk should sustain them for the time being. It does seem like they could get by with stationing their power at Newport or Priest River instead of Usk, and only run north of Newport when there's equipment needing to be shuttled to or from the shop.

Regarding north of Usk, POVA was approached at the beginning of this year about the notion of resuming passenger trips between Ione and Metaline Falls. The North Pend Oreille Chamber of Commerce said it was seeking funding to help cover the cost for bridge inspection, any bridge repairs, and clearing of slides that have been left as-is since no trains have run up there in some three years. Needless to say, much has changed since that conversation happened, and the chance of any kind of excursion service on POVA this year seems mighty slim.