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.
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! Boxcab E50
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.
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
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? mg: Boxcab E50
From the NPTelltale list: 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
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 Watco has really screwed their employees as well.
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
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
I wonder if this work might be using money that Washington state had provided? Some time ago? Boxcab E50
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.
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! Boxcab E50
Only when the roads improve. That bad storm last week dumped a bunch of snow up that way. It is getting better almost daily.
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.
