Re: NP Trail / Hi Line Traffic
Author: Bruce Kelly
Date: 11-15-2013 - 08:02
They have been routing some traditionally Hi Line stack and manifest symbols via MRL through much of the past year. That option does get more consideration this time of year when Hi Line traffic picks up, but with how congested and short-handed MRL is right now, I don't think there's much room for absorbing any more. I guess I could point out the other single-track portions of the Funnel: Cocolalla to West Algoma; Rathdrum to Athol (with Ramsey siding between those points); and Irvin to Otis Orchards. It's a familiar sight when we drive home from Spokane along Trent Road and see three or four westbounds stacked up and waiting from Otis Orchards clear over the State Line to Hauser Jct., and even to Hauser Yard. Grading has been underway, and a road bridge is being rebuilt in Rathdrum, to eventually extend two main track east from Rathdrum to Ramsey and Athol. I believe Bruce Butler talked earlier about the UP factor between Napa Street in Spokane and UP Jct. in Marshall Canyon. Having eight or more UP trains a day using BNSF track between those points is one thing. But when northbounds headed for Eastport come to town, they typically change crews on BNSF track, blocking one of the two mains between the Amtrak station and Napa Street for a period of time.