The Grangeville line was "done" when BNSF and UP sold the railroad in 1998. It's just been a slow death. I heard from a reliable source that the owner and/or his representatives did meet with Primeland Cooperatives this fall to discuss reopening the line during the river closure, but based on the outcome, apparently they weren't able to find common ground that would let it happen. My impression is that the line is just too expensive to reopen and operate for the grain traffic available at Craigmont, which is now the effective end of the line. The carloadings per mile needed just aren't there.

As a central Idaho native, I think that it's rather safe to say that we should not expect the line to be converted into a trail for a number of reasons including the low population in central Idaho and the political leanings of that area and the state as a whole. I would be stunned if a group could come up with the cash and public support needed. That's not to say that it wouldn't be very cool if it did happen.

As for the car storage, they had about 1000 centerbeams and a few log flat stored on the line, but all were west of the big trestles and tunnels. I didn't hear about any problems.

Jim