Interesting that BN spun off two major sections of the old Northern Pacific main line, and now both have been reacquired.

I may not have all this history correct. Please add/amend as necessary. My recollection is that BN put the line between Auburn and Cle Elum over Stampede Pass in mothballs in the early 80s. They sold the section between Cle Elum and Pasco (SP&S Junction in Kennewick, actually) to a short line operator, Washington Central. Congestion on the Steven Pass and Columbia Gorge routes necessitated a buy-back of Washington Central and reopening of Stampede Pass in the mid-90s.

The MRL re-acquisition took an extra 25 years, but here we are with most of the old NP back in the family.