ex NP CW Branch is open!!!

[SDP45]

First train of empties is on the line.

[BoxcabE50]

This is good news! How far west are they operating?

:D

Boxcab E50

[SDP45]

Someone said they made it all the way to Hartline. Loads should be coming out in a day. Wish I could go catch it. My next day off is a week from this Thursday.

[BoxcabE50]

Have you heard if any upgrade work will be done to track? It's getting late in the summer. So if they've plans, hope it's started soon?

If it was NP Geeps out there, it would be worth calling in to work, and laying off sick!

:D

Boxcab E50

[SDP45]

I've not heard of any trackwork. I should call my uncle at the grain elevator at Coulee City to check what he has heard.
I did email the president of Central Washington Grain Growers back whent he embargo was new. Got a nice response. Lets see if I can get the nerve to do it again.

[BoxcabE50]

If they're going to keep that line open, and make it pay better, I'd believe some track work must be done soon. But then we're dealing with Watco........

Let us know if you receive a response!

:sad:

Boxcab E50

[BoxcabE50]

Meanwhile, it appears that State versus Watco proceedings are moving forward. I wonder what the State can gain, from this, now that PCC is operating it again? Perhaps some leverage in a potential purchase?

:omg:

Boxcab E50

[SDP45]

SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD

DECISION

STB Finance Docket No. 34892
STATE OF WASHINGTON V. PALOUSE RIVER AND COULEE CITY RAILROAD, INC.

Decided: August 7, 2006

On June 26, 2006, the State of Washington filed a complaint
alleging that the Palouse River and Coulee City Railroad, Inc. (PCC)
violated its common carrier obligation under 49 U.S.C. 11101 and
discontinued operations between Cheney, WA, and Coulee City, WA, without
Board authorization under 49 U.S.C. 10903 and 49 CFR 1152. PCC filed an
answer to the complaint on July 14, 2006.
In a letter filed August 1, 2006, counsel for the State of
Washington and PCC indicate that, pursuant to 49 CFR 1111.10(a), the
parties conferred by telephone on July 25, 2006, and propose the
following procedural schedule to govern this proceeding:
September 29, 2006 Discovery
completed
October 30, 2006 State of
Washington’s opening evidence due

December 13, 2006 PCC’s reply
evidence due
January 12, 2007 State of
Washington’s rebuttal evidence due
February 12, 2007 Briefs due
The proposed schedule is reasonable and will be adopted.
It is ordered:
1. The parties must comply with the procedural schedule set
forth in this decision.
2. This decision is effective on the date of service.
By the Board, Vernon A. Williams, Secretary.


Vernon A. Williams

Secretary

[BoxcabE50]

That's what I was hoping. Now, if the State can make it stick!

Boxcab E50

[SayNOtoWATCO]

Watco has a long history of taking over crap tracks, then getting loans from the various states for improving the track, then crying that they can't make a profit, so they'll have to close it down unless the state forgives their debt, buys the line, and leases it back to WATCO at a low rate.

They did it in Oklahoma and Kansas.

Want more dirt on Watco, check out this web site: www.watcocompanies.org (http://www.watcocompanies.org)

Watco has really screwed their employees as well.

[BoxcabE50]

Watco has a long history of taking over crap tracks, then getting loans from the various states for improving the track, then crying that they can't make a profit, so they'll have to close it down unless the state forgives their debt, buys the line, and leases it back to WATCO at a low rate.

Yup. That's what I wrote earlier in this thread. It's true. They've done it in Washington. And are trying it again there. Where I live now, am betting they'll try it. Except, here there's no funding available. So, they'll have no luck.

I've been watching them closely. They're doing as usual. As little as possible invested. Slowly running into the ground. One bad winter, and the tracks will be a disaster. They've already angered government people about upkeep of crossings, etc. And have even used stuff that they don't own.....

Bummer. Oh for the days of NP Geeps on those tracks.

:sad:

Boxcab E50

[Kevin M]

I drove along the CW line from I-90 into cheney yesterday and it looks like they have done some track work recently. there were several piles of old ties and it look like the ballest has been moved around a bit so I am asuming they replaced some ties.
Kevin

[BoxcabE50]

I wonder if this work might be using money that Washington state had provided? Some time ago?

Boxcab E50

[SDP45]

They made it to the end of the line, Coulee City, as of 2 days ago. Spent the night there and left yesterday morning. Not sure of how many cars were left there.

[BoxcabE50]

It's good to know the line is "open" all the way now. If you get up that way, maybe you can investigate for us!

:D

Boxcab E50

[SDP45]

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2006/12/11/news/news02.txt

[BoxcabE50]

Hey Dan-

Any chance you'll be out and about with a camera?

:D

Boxcab E50

[SDP45]

Only when the roads improve. That bad storm last week dumped a bunch of snow up that way.
It is getting better almost daily.

[SDP45]

The CW is going great guns. My uncle works the grain elevator at Coulee City and they have been loading cars and shipping as fast as they can. Coulee City will be shipping its last grain next week. Hartline may have more.
He claims he is doing "young man's work" climbing cars, weighing the grain, opening and closing hatches, climbing up to the loading chutes, all in single digit temperatures. He is 60 yrs old.

As an aside, Central Washington Grain Growers uses an 8 wheel tractor at Hartline to move cars. It has a bad clutch, so my uncle says he likes to pop the clutch a time or 2 to get it to go. Must be fun to see.

[BoxcabE50]

Gotta get some pictures for us!

:D

Boxcab E50

[BoxcabE50]

Now that winter is abating, anybody been out to check on this line? Dan? Anyone?

:D

Boxcab E50

[Kevin M]

I have talked to several co-workers wo have set out cars at Cheney for the PCC. I think it is the M-PASNTW2 (Pasco to Northtown) that does the work mostly. One of them set cars out just last week. I no longer live in Cheney itself so I do not see what is going on down there much anymore.
Kevin

[BoxcabE50]

Kevin-

Am curious- Any idea how far were those cars being routed west?

:D

Boxcab E50

[Kevin M]

Boxcab, do you mean the loads cming off the branch? If so I do not know where they are going, I only know they are setting out empties in Cheney.
Kevin

[BoxcabE50]

Kevin-

Where the empties were headed for loading. If perhaps they were going all the way. (To Coulee City?) Or somewhere in between.

:D

Boxcab E50

[Kevin M]

Oh that I do not know, If I can get a train list for one of the trains doing the setout it might say, I will keep an eye out.

[SDP45]

I was at Coulee City today. Beautiful today out there. They had 26 cars to pick up. They came into town light power and immediately shut down. I spoke with the engineer and he said they are on duty tomorrow, March 22, at 7 am to pick up these cars at Coulee City. No other stations have pickups. Should be a good trip to Cheney.

There were lots of piles of new ties in Coulee City. Nice to see some trackwork ready to take place.

Yes, I have pictures.

[SDP45]

I put together a few shots of my trip yesterday here:

http://www.railroadforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17544

[BoxcabE50]

Thanks, Dan!

I recall talk of a new operator. Is that still in the works?

Boxcab E50

[SDP45]

Yes, I think it is supposed to happen at the end of May.

I was out there again today looking through some of the old RR grades west of town. I found where the Central Washington Railroad and the Seattle Lake Shore and Eastern fought for control of a key cut through the basalt, 1 mile west of the current end of track. Neato. Pictures soon.

[CP&E 3207]

WATCO did it here too. Leased the CSX Cowen Sub for a year, whined and complained to CSX that they werent supplying enough cars, etc... and finally CSX pretty much said shut up or get out. Lets just say WATCO left and messed over a lot of employees they lured away from CSX, who found themselves jobless.

[BoxcabE50]

Ferroequinarcheologist Dan!

Drifting a little here- Have you ever walked any of the incomplete grade west of Ritzville? EVery time I have ever been by, am fascinated by it. Seems to me there are some very sharp radius curves.

:D

Boxcab E50

[SDP45]

Ken,
I've wanted to, but I have just completed a mission to seek out the Seattle Lake Shore & Eastern at Coulee City. I was very successful. Check your email.

[SDP45]

Speaking of sharp radius curves, you should see how the Central Washington looped around going up the west side of the coulee west of Coulee City. Just like the Milwaukee mainline!!
There were some pretty heavy grades as well.

[SDP45]

The Eastern Washington Gateway railroad, or something like that. Since they are using MRL SD45s for power, it really looks like the westernmost branch of the MRL.

I was surprised to hear the '45s were being used on this branch, which has been historically populated with 4 motor power. Guess these new guys know something the previous operators since the beginning of the diesel era didn't.

I did get the chance to see the MRL 375 in Davenport, WA last Friday, June, 22, parked with 15 hoppers. Elsewhere it has been said one of the other '45s is waiting repairs at Reardan.

I would hope they get to Coulee City on my next day off. I would love to see a 6 motor unit negotiate the sharp curves there!!

[BoxcabE50]

I worry about these units, on old NP rails. What work has been done, to stabilize track conditions?

Boxcab E50

[SDP45]

Not much, yet. Sounds like they are working to identify the worst spots of track and get them upgraded. There were a lot of new ties along the line for some track rehab before Watco left. I wonder if they were installed or taken away?

It really burns me to see the shortline feature in the recent Trains magazine article where Roy Blanchard sings the praises of Watco and Rick Webb in particular. Looks like he was led down the primrose path, probably by Webb himself.