You could say POTB is a sort of NWP, but it's a matter of degrees. The fact an operable NWP would take traffic off a congested 101 parallels the POTB situation with Highways 6 and, to a lesser extent, 26. But the "degree" is that, while POTB has significant storm damage, it pales compared to the rebuilding job needed to get the NWP running again to Willits, much less Eureka. And POTB has committed shippers who want to continue using the railroad. NWP doesn't seem to have too many of those ....

Will POTB ever make money? Likely not. But neither do the highways --- we consider them neccesary. And to maintain the economic (and societal, too) vitality of a region, maintaining the industry you have is crucial. So, in my eyes, the railroad serves more as a public service than a business. And if I lived in Tillamook County, I'd want that money spent.