https://railfan.com/bnsf-railway-to...zbo3p28w9m1UCrBIJ2_JXBfhSA5T5dZgh1rJbwA9q9RKY Is there any reason federal regulators would disapprove such a move? Get your shots now....
It is mutual. I am curious as to what happens with those branch lines MRL purchased at startup. This latest action is just concerning the lease. Unless BNSF would also purchase the branches, which would seem a bit doubtful. None have any real value. Most are inactive and have been for years.
Not sure how long it will take to get all the paperwork in place for the promises about job retention, etc etc. I can't see that happening, completely. For one thing, BNSF will want to move dispatching to Fort Worth. I am wondering if they will make some offer to convince those people to move, or offer them a buyout.
Homestake was not a branch line. Actually a secondary main, which was used primarily for passenger service. MRL bought five branch lines at startup. So unless BNSF does not want those, they'd need to buy them back or lease from MRL. (I doubt it, excepting perhaps one.) The Bitterroot Branch (Missoula-Darby) is intact, but out of service. Last used for storing some coal hoppers, several years ago. The Philipsburg Branch (Drummond-Philipsburg) is long out of service. The switch at the transcon was removed years ago. Locals who stupidly believe it is abandoned, have stolen rails, ties, bridge timbers and more. Made a mess of it. (Was I being too polite? OK. They are a bunch of THIEVES.) What remains will surely go away very soon. The Flathead Valley Branch (Dixon-Polson) is intact, out of service. Taken out of service when there was a SMALL slip-out near Moise. (There is a fairy tale going around that the bridge there is bad. I checked with MRL this morning and was told they knew nothing of any issues with that bridge!) The other two branches are in service, although one is very minimally used and my guess is that it won't last too long before an embargo.
I attached pictures of the Billings Gazette article up under BNSF. This is super disappointing. I must definitely get into the trainshows out that way in April, probably the last chance I will have to see pure MRL in action. I do not believe that BNSF will treat the MRL folk very well for very long. I guess we will see.