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Marshall Canyon Spokane, WA to Cheney, WA UP Ayer Subdivision & BNSF Lakeside and Spokane Subdivisions
Everybody has a different opinion for where Marshall Canyon starts and ends, but for this guide I will be referring to the limits as Sunset Jct. in Spokane, WA, to Cheney, WA. The "Low Side" and "High Side" are two different tracks between Spokane and Lakeside Jct. The Union Pacific has trackage rights between Spokane and UP Jct.(which is on the "High Side" a couple hundred yards before Lakeside, Jct.). From UP Jct. to Cheney, BNSF and UP have separate tracks, and at one point the BNSF crosses over the UP. Union Pacific normally runs between 2-5 trains a day each way. BNSF normally runs around 20-30 trains although it may be fewer some days. As for BNSF traffic, five daily eastbound manifest trains originate in Pasco, and their counterparts terminate in Pasco daily. These trains are the H-PASLAU, M-PASDIL, H-PASKCK, H-PASNTW, M-PASFTW. The counterparts are the H-NTWPAS, H-LAUPAS, H-CSXPAS, M-SPOPAS, and H-KCKPAS. In addition to these trains, there is a westbound M-SPOLVJ and eastbound M-LVJSPO that run late at night. Sometimes there is an extra train with the M-DILPAS for a symbol. Other traffic includes two daily Z-CHCPTL trains around 9AM and 8PM. Their counterparts run at about 1AM and 1PM. Then there is a V-PTLLPC and an extra train, the V-PTLKCK or V-PTLDEN that seems to run a couple times a week. The S-TCPCHC and TCPLPC usually run down around through Vancouver, WA, and then on the Lakeside sub instead of up and over Steven's Pass. Grain trains running to Pasco and the ports on the coast, and the empties headed back to the mid-west make up quite a bit of traffic too. But this traffic can vary depending on the price of grain as well as the supply and demand. The other trains found on this sub is the C-SCMCEC coal train and its counterpart which usually run about one train each way a day. Also the C-SCMRBE uses the Lakeside Sub, but the empties usually take Steven's pass since it is faster from Vancouver BC. This train has been running once a week lately but sometimes if the demand is down it could be once every other week. There seems to be about five baretables each week too which are either the B-PTLCHC or B-PTLSTA. There is one local along this line each day, and it is the Lind Turn which operates out of Spokane. They usually switch Cheney, Missile Base, CFI and a couple other industries. On the return trip to Spokane, they stop by Marshall to pick up the PCC interchange. The last train on this sub is Amtrak which you won't see (unless you are up really late or Amtrak is really late). The eastbound arrives in Spokane just after midnight, and departs back west at 2:45am. This makes up the bulk of the traffic, but then there are occasional re-routed stack trains and extra trains and I have even seen a H-BARPAS that got detoured the long way around. As for power the UP M-HKSK and M-SKHK normally have UP power usually SD40-2s. The UP trains destined for Canada have any kind of UP power, CP AC4400CWs, SD90/43MACs, or SD40-2s and sometimes you will see a CEFX SD90/43MAC. BNSF's trains operate with anything available. The Pacific Northwest seems to collect the older power in BNSF's fleet, and as a result it is not uncommon to see multiple SD40-2s on the same train. The Lind Turn normally has some kind of variation of a GP38 or GP39. Also leased FURX, NREX units are common as well as foreign power from NS, CSX, and MRL. If you catch a coal train you may find a couple of SD70MACs to add to the diversity of power. Below I have divided up the Canyon into four groups. Each group has a map, several photos, and a lot of information about it. Also below are links to pages with frequencies and a timetable for the area. At the bottom of this page is the grade for the subdivisions. Well if you are ever in the area be sure to check out Marshall Canyon! WARNING: This information does not give you any right at all to trespass on Railroad or Private property. Trespassing is breaking the law, and people do so only at their own risk!! If you would like to take pictures from someone else's land then go up to the house and ask permission. Sometimes after you explain what you want, they will not mind as long as you do not spend all day walking all over their property. Walking the railroad tracks is not only trespassing, but it is also very dangerous! Also when you are photographing trains, stay a respectful distance away from the tracks. The railroad not only owns the ground underneath the tracks, but usually they own the ground on either side of the tracks for up to 20 or 30 feet.
Ayer, Lakeside and Spokane Subdivision Timetables
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