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Spokane capacity
Author: Butler
Date: 02-28-2007 - 10:25
Spokane does seem to stay relatively fluid. Lots of trains in the morning, then again in the evening. Mid-day is quiet. The fueling station at Hauser yard can be a bottleneck. I often see 2 or 3 eastbound trains delayed on the mainline waiting to fuel.
The short single track segment between Otis Orchards and Irvin, about 3 miles, has the Sullivan road overpass and the Spokane river bridge as major constraints. I suspect that this one is waiting to see how the "Bridging the Valley" project unfolds. It seems to me that bridging Havana street, planned to begin this year, is just about the least important part of this project. The whole project may take on the time frame of the north-south Spokane freeway project!
I do not understand why they haven't yet double-tracked from West Athol to East Ramsey. There are no constraints here and this would create several more miles of double track.
Most of the remaining single track sections to Sandpoint do have major impediments that will make double tracking difficult and expensive.
Bruce Butler
The short single track segment between Otis Orchards and Irvin, about 3 miles, has the Sullivan road overpass and the Spokane river bridge as major constraints. I suspect that this one is waiting to see how the "Bridging the Valley" project unfolds. It seems to me that bridging Havana street, planned to begin this year, is just about the least important part of this project. The whole project may take on the time frame of the north-south Spokane freeway project!
I do not understand why they haven't yet double-tracked from West Athol to East Ramsey. There are no constraints here and this would create several more miles of double track.
Most of the remaining single track sections to Sandpoint do have major impediments that will make double tracking difficult and expensive.
Bruce Butler
