Where does Union Pacific head for after they leave the rail exchange at Kingsgate/Easport? Just a simple question from an inquiring mind.
Southwest through Spokane, WA, to a major yard at Hinkle, Oregon. From there most of the traffic would head west to Portland, Oregon.
Thanks, Naniamo, for letting me know. Doesn’t BNSF have a large yard in Spokane? How big is the Union Pacific one there in Spokane?
The UP trackage is the former Spokane International Railroad. It drops south from the border through Bonners Ferry, ID to Sandpoint, ID on the way to Spokane, WA. Then it is on UP tracks to Hinkle. The line has undergone massive upgrades to rail and ballast over the last few years raising speeds from the 10mph-25mph range towards 45mph with all new 132# welded rail. Increasing levels of potash and grain traffic were just tearing up the old lines.
The UP took over the former MILWAUKEE Road yard in Spokane and has a modest facility just south of the BNSF Yardley/Parkwater complex. BNSF also has a substantial yard and fueling facility at Hauser, ID (Rathdrum on the map). Both roads have small facilities with local switching at Sandpoint/Boyer, ID.
Might also mention that the SI line had a few other problems that weren’t rectified until a few years ago. The original wooden truss bridge over the Kootenai River in Bonners Ferry was still used until it collapsed back in the 1980’s(?) under the weight of a grain train while a new bridge was being built. Also, the SI line ran through Sandpoint Idaho at street level, causing a lot of motorists delays once the CP traffic picked up. Eventually, UP negotiated for use of the ex-GN line west of town, and the SI tracks through town were finally torn up.
Yep, all that over a rinky-dink line at 10 to 25 mph!
And for what it’s worth…
[2c]
…the UP line through Spokane was superior to both the ex-GN line and the current BNSF/ex-NP viaduct through town, and it was and is a disgrace for that line to be taken out in deference to the EXPO '74 nazis. The Union Depot was the best of the town’s passenger depots and would have made an excellent Amtrak depot in modern times, especially with the adjacent bridge over Spokane Falls. For the most part, the UP line skirted away from downtown, and in fact made an excellent natural divider between downtown proper and the riverfront area. The UP line and depot could easily have been fitted into the ambience of both the EXPO '74 exibition and the subsequent conversion of the site into today’s Riverfront Park.
UP should have stood it’s ground and kept it’s line and depot facilities right where they were, instead of capitulating to the EXPOzos. Now their trains are constantly held up at Fish Lake and East Spokane by BNSF dispatchers, and crews running dead while being forced to wait for access onto BNSF’s line through town is now a common occurance. Serves 'em right!
I lived in Cranbrook for a few years during the 90’s. At that time there was just one general frieght from Cranbrook to Kingsgate/Eastport. Now there grain trains, potash, generals and I think even chemical trains and coal trains going to the UP exchange there.