Actually it was a fiber optics company (AT&T?) that bought the Milwaukee ROW from BNSF, then transferred title to Washington State after they had their fiber optics line in. The State can still exercize the option of converting Ellensburg-Lind into railroad again, but not the Cedar Falls-Ellensburg segment. Though, of course, the state legislature can do anything it wants. But the current law covers only Ellensburg east.

Earlier comments on bridges are correct - the trestles State Parks rebuilt (Easton NP crossing and Hall Creek) are for truck weight, not railroad weight. They would need new trestles.

And, Tunnel 50 requires substantial interior work on the lining, as to several other tunnels along the route. State Parks did a condition assessment on the tunnels last year and they're not in the best of shape.

-dmg