I have always liked this option. Here is a brief summary, moving from east to west:

1. connect BNSF to MILW west of Easton, where the temporary connection existed when they pulled up the MILW rails about 1988. Maybe do the connection at Easton itself.
2. rebuild the MILW from that point west to Bagley Jct, a few miles west of Cedar Falls. They shouldn't have to DO A THING to MILW's Snoqualamie tunnel.
3. Rebuild the center portion of the washed out Hull creek bridge. Remember what killed this bridge; it wasn't Cascade geology, but careless logging! MILW built their bridges hell for stout and the rest of them should be good for another 100 years or so.
4. build a new connection on the MILW Enumclaw branch between Bagley Jct and Palmer Jct (near Kanaskat) on the reconnect to the BNSF line. I think this segment is about 6-8 miles.
5. Abandon Stampede line between Palmer Jct and Easton connection.

There WILL BE problems with ANY solution, but I still think this one is the best one in the long run, short of drilling a new, longer tunnel at a lower elevation.

Bruce Butler