Re: Old Milwaukee Line
Author: George Andrews
Date: 03-30-2009 - 19:07
The Milwaukee right of way is owned mostly by the state of Washington under the Dept. of Natural Resources. It is a bike / hike trail & R of W for fiber optic cables & power lines. I predict it will NEVER be reopened as a railroad line in my lifetime.( I am 45 years old. )
As the story goes, the Ewe - Pee was eyeing the ex - NP line over Stampede Pass in the mid - 1990's; even made overtures to buy the Washington Central to gain access from Tri - Cities. Keep in mind BNSF still owned the line from Cle Elum to Auburn, WA. Ewe - Pee's interest prompted BNSF to rebuild & reopen Stampede Pass, so their competitor couldn't claim it was abandoned & ask the I.C.C. to award rights to them.