From "Grapevine" 11/19/09: The firm hoping to start running "Cougar Special" excursion trains to WSU home football games has stated the removal of all side tracks in Pullman has killed the idea. Dean Jennings, owner of Football Flyer, says that removal of all side tracks along the former BN branch line by the City of Pullman makes operating the excursion unworkable, "an official with the Pullman Parks and Recreation Department told us the some of the tracks were to be removed for the city to build a park greenway, but the passing track was to remain as it was away from the stream that is intended to be the center of the park." Jennings learned this week that all side tracks in Pullman along both the former BN and UP lines were being lifted, leaving no where for the train to move locomotives from one end to the other. "My partners have passenger cars that feature observation ends, and that, and the car owners desire not to have a locomotive banging against the rear of the train make a passing track a requirement...and running another 16 mile round trip to the state line to use private industry tracks for a run around is too costly and requires additional insurance." Jennings was hoping to run an excursion featuring wine tasteing of Washington wines and serving other Washington grown products. "It would have been a low key, fun trip." Jennings stated he had invested $9,000 of his own money on legal research on getting permission to use the lines from the state and researching insurance needs and market research. Jennings was about to contact the operator of the line, W&I Railway, to start formal discussions but has no plans to do so now. "We were waiting to see if we wanted to bid on operation of the whole branch the next time the state offers the lease, but we found that the state has allowed so much trackage to be removed that it is nearly impossible to recruit new freight customers, so we were planning on working with the current operator." Jennings noted that he and his partners were also considering a dinner train along the river between Pullman and Colfax, but the state's unwillingness to repair a burned bridge along the line, and now, the lack of any side tracks to park the train when not in use also kills that plan as well. Jennings added, "I know there is at least on other operator working on reviving the "Cougar Special" concept, but I doubt they will continue to have any interest for the same reasons as myself."