CW branch
The CW Branch (Central Washington Branch) is a 108 mile segment of track from Cheney, WA-Coulee City, WA. It was built from 1888-1890 by the Northern Pacific RY.[citation needed]
History
The CW branch was built in 1888 by the Northern Pacific RY. Construction was finished in 1890. The line was owned by the NP from 1888-1970. When the NP merged with the Great Northern Railway ,Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway & Chicago, Burlington & Quincy in 1970, it became Burlington Northern trackage until it was sold to the Palouse River & Coulee City RR in 1996.[citation needed]
It was Acquired by Washington state in 2007 and in 2008 the Eastern Washington Gateway Railroad began being the designated operator. In 2009 the EWG built a segment called the Geiger Spur. It connected the CW branch to the GN track that accessed Contech Inc, Western Rail Inc and Seaport steel.[citation needed]
from 2008-2016 the Inland NW Rail Museum built a little yard to store their museum locomotives and train cars a few miles west of Reardan, WA.
In August 2016 Highline Grain was built outside of Four lakes to transfer grain from EWG to the BNSF Railway.
Route
The CW branch starts in Cheney, WA at Mile post 1 and continues east towards Four Lakes. After it Reaches Four Lakes it curves Northward going to Highline Grain at Mile Post 6.22.
After Highline it goes NW towards Geiger Junction. At Geiger Junction the CW branch goes left where as the Geiger Spur goes right.
After Geiger Junction it goes west to Medical Lake and then NW to Deep Creek hill . Once it descends the 1.2% grade it goes NW to Hite, WA.
After Hite it goes West to Reardan, Mondovi, Davenport & Rocklyn, WA. After Rocklyn it goes NW to Creston, WA and Wilber, WA.
Once it leaves Wilbur it goes SW to Almira, Hanson, Hartline, Odair and Coulee City.
From Medical Lake to Almira the CW Branch roughly pararels Hwy 2. At Hartline it again pararels Hwy 2 to Coulee City.