The BNSF DID own the MILW R of W thru most of the state; they have since sold/donated it to the State Dept. of Natural Resources. Easements granted by MILW to Puget Power/ Puget Sound Energy continue. A small segment of mainline is still in use in the Othello - Royal City - Warden area, as well as the branch from Warden to Moses Lake. BTW, in the confusion following MILW's abandonment, one rancher in Eastern Washington was able to claim the R of W in the Rock Lake area; he supposedly used MILW's agreement to return their easement obtained from the original landowner. The U.S.Army tried to take over the R of W across the North end of their Yakima Firing Range, for use as a "Safety Impact Area". ( In case they use too much powder in the artillery shells ??? )This would have severed the John Wayne Iron Horse Trail across the Saddle Mtns. between Ellensburg & the Columbia River @ Beverly. DNR fought them & won...