Shortline railroading at its best….85lb rail meandering through the landscape, 40+ year old power, a one-man crew, 11 loads and 108 miles to the interchange. Rail was laid between Cheney To Coulee City by the Northern Pacific in 1890 to reach the grain belt west of Spokane. Not wanted by BNSF, the line was considered essential by the local growers to stay competitive and they petitioned the state to keep the line open. Washington State eventually bought the line and the Eastern Washington Gateway Railroad was selected as the operator of this line. Here Stephan Gibson, Director of Operations, filling the role of engineer, conductor, brakeman, and mechanic, applies his nearly 40 years of railroad experience to get the train over the road.
