Bountiful Grain and Craig Mountain Railroad
Encyclopedia
The BG&CM Railroad or Bountiful Grain and Craig Mountain Railroad is a Class III
shortline railroad operating between Spalding
and Cottonwood
, Idaho
, along the former route of the Camas Prairie Railroad
. Spalding is located about 10 miles (16.1 km) east of Lewiston
along Idaho's western border with Washington. BGCM connects with Great Northwest Railroad at Spalding. At this writing, BGCM also operates the portion of the former Camas Prairie Railroad which runs from Spalding to Orofino
, then to Kooskia
along the river grade of the Clearwater River
.
BGCM's route consists of the former Camas Prairie Railroad's Grangeville Branch, which is 66.5 miles (107 km) long. As of 2005, only the 52 miles (83.7 km) between Spalding and Cottonwood were operated, with the 14.5 miles (23.3 km) of tracks between Cottonwood and Grangeville
having been removed in about 2003.
In 2005, Watco Companies
, owner of the BGCM's Spalding connection Great Northwest Railroad (GRNW), leased to BGCM the entire 75 miles (120.7 km) long GRNW route east of Lewiston of mainline track, including the railroad from Orofino to Konkolville).
The BGCM route had been acquired from Camas Prairie RailNet in December 2002, which itself had acquired the entire Camas Prairie line from the line's previous owners, Union Pacific Railroad
and Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway. Camas Prairie RailNet had officially abandoned the Grangeville Branch in September 2000.
The Camas Prairie Railroad was formed in 1909, and was jointly owned and operated by the former Northern Pacific Railway
(later Burlington Northern Santa Fe), and the former Oregon-Washington Railroad and Navigation Company (later Union Pacific). The two railroads were competitors throughout the Pacific Northwest
, competing to capture railroad traffic, such as timber, minerals and agricultural products. Camas Prairie Railroad was sold by UP and BNSF to Camas Prairie RailNet in April 1998. Camas Prairie Railnet (owned by North American RailNet
of Bedford, Texas
) was sold to Watco's Great Northwest Railroad in March 2004. There were about 177 miles (284.9 km) of track in the transaction: 72 miles (115.9 km) from Riparia, Washington, east to Lewiston, Idaho; 74 miles (119.1 km) from Lewiston east to Kooskia; and 31 miles (49.9 km) from Orofino northeast to near Jaype, both in Idaho. The Orofino to Jaype segment was out of service.
BGCM is owned by Railroad Materials Salvage of Richmond, Missouri
.
In 2009, BGCM's owner attempts to purchase a portion of the Arizona and California Railroad, running 49.4 miles (79.5 km) between Rice, California
and Ripley, California
through Blythe, California
from RailAmerica
, but failed to get an offer of financial assistance. The line is subjected to be an interim rail trail
GP30
, numbered as BGCM 2404. (EMD 27191, 7622-5, April 1962; ex-BNSF 2404; ex-ATSF 2704:2; ex-ATSF 3204; nee-ATSF 1204)
Class III railroad
A Class III railroad, as defined by the Surface Transportation Board, is a railroad with an annual operating revenue of less than $20 million . The term only applies to United States railroads, but is sometimes applied to other countries...
shortline railroad operating between Spalding
Spalding, Idaho
Spalding is an unincorporated village in Nez Percé County, Idaho, United States, ten miles east of Lewiston, on the Clearwater River close to the intersection of U.S. Routes 95 and 12...
and Cottonwood
Cottonwood, Idaho
Cottonwood is a city in Idaho County, Idaho, United States. The population was 900 at the 2010 census. Cottonwood is just west of U.S. Route 95, between Grangeville and Lewiston.-Cottonwood Butte:...
, Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, along the former route of the Camas Prairie Railroad
Camas Prairie Railroad
Camas Prairie Railroad Company was a short line railroad in northern Idaho jointly owned and operated by Northern Pacific Railway and Union Pacific Railroad. The Camas Prairie Railroad was known as the "railroad on stilts" due to the many wooden trestles. In one five mile stretch, there were...
. Spalding is located about 10 miles (16.1 km) east of Lewiston
Lewiston, Idaho
Lewiston is a city in and also the county seat of Nez Perce County in the Pacific Northwest state of Idaho. It is the second-largest city in the northern Idaho region, behind Coeur d'Alene and ninth-largest in the state. Lewiston is the principal city of the Lewiston, ID - Clarkston, WA...
along Idaho's western border with Washington. BGCM connects with Great Northwest Railroad at Spalding. At this writing, BGCM also operates the portion of the former Camas Prairie Railroad which runs from Spalding to Orofino
Orofino, Idaho
Orofino is a city in Clearwater County, Idaho, along Orofino Creek and the north bank of the Clearwater River. The population was 3,247 at the 2000 census, and the city is the county seat of Clearwater County...
, then to Kooskia
Kooskia, Idaho
Kooskia is a city in Idaho County, Idaho, United States. The population was 675 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Kooskia is located at ....
along the river grade of the Clearwater River
Clearwater River (Idaho)
The Clearwater River is a river in north central Idaho, which flows westward from the Bitterroot Mountains along the Idaho-Montana border, and joins the Snake River at Lewiston. In October 1805, the Lewis and Clark Expedition descended the Clearwater River in dugout canoes, putting in at "Canoe...
.
BGCM's route consists of the former Camas Prairie Railroad's Grangeville Branch, which is 66.5 miles (107 km) long. As of 2005, only the 52 miles (83.7 km) between Spalding and Cottonwood were operated, with the 14.5 miles (23.3 km) of tracks between Cottonwood and Grangeville
Grangeville, Idaho
Grangeville is the largest city in and the county seat of Idaho County, Idaho, United States, in the west central part of the state. It had a population of 3,141 at the 2010 census.- Culture :...
having been removed in about 2003.
In 2005, Watco Companies
Watco Companies
Watco Companies, Inc. is a Pittsburg, Kansas-based transportation company that was formed in 1983 by Charles R. Webb. Watco is composed of three divisions: transportation, mechanical and transloading. WCI is the owner of Watco Transportation Services, Inc...
, owner of the BGCM's Spalding connection Great Northwest Railroad (GRNW), leased to BGCM the entire 75 miles (120.7 km) long GRNW route east of Lewiston of mainline track, including the railroad from Orofino to Konkolville).
The BGCM route had been acquired from Camas Prairie RailNet in December 2002, which itself had acquired the entire Camas Prairie line from the line's previous owners, Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
and Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway. Camas Prairie RailNet had officially abandoned the Grangeville Branch in September 2000.
The Camas Prairie Railroad was formed in 1909, and was jointly owned and operated by the former Northern Pacific Railway
Northern Pacific Railway
The Northern Pacific Railway was a railway that operated in the west along the Canadian border of the United States. Construction began in 1870 and the main line opened all the way from the Great Lakes to the Pacific when former president Ulysses S. Grant drove in the final "golden spike" in...
(later Burlington Northern Santa Fe), and the former Oregon-Washington Railroad and Navigation Company (later Union Pacific). The two railroads were competitors throughout the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
, competing to capture railroad traffic, such as timber, minerals and agricultural products. Camas Prairie Railroad was sold by UP and BNSF to Camas Prairie RailNet in April 1998. Camas Prairie Railnet (owned by North American RailNet
North American RailNet
North American RailNet, Inc., based in Bedford, Texas, was a holding company of short line railroads. It formerly owned the following:...
of Bedford, Texas
Bedford, Texas
Bedford is a suburban city located in northeast Tarrant County, Texas, in the "Mid-Cities" area between Dallas and Fort Worth. It is a suburb of Fort Worth. The population was 46,979 at the 2010 census...
) was sold to Watco's Great Northwest Railroad in March 2004. There were about 177 miles (284.9 km) of track in the transaction: 72 miles (115.9 km) from Riparia, Washington, east to Lewiston, Idaho; 74 miles (119.1 km) from Lewiston east to Kooskia; and 31 miles (49.9 km) from Orofino northeast to near Jaype, both in Idaho. The Orofino to Jaype segment was out of service.
BGCM is owned by Railroad Materials Salvage of Richmond, Missouri
Richmond, Missouri
Richmond is a city in Ray County, Missouri, United States. The population was 5,797 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Ray County.-Geography:Richmond is located at...
.
In 2009, BGCM's owner attempts to purchase a portion of the Arizona and California Railroad, running 49.4 miles (79.5 km) between Rice, California
Rice, California
Rice, California is a vacant town site in the southern tip of the Mojave Desert in unincorporated San Bernardino County, California, United States.-History:...
and Ripley, California
Ripley, California
Ripley is a census-designated place community in east Riverside County. It is located along State Route 78 between Palo Verde and Blythe. The area is mostly agricultural lands irrigated by Colorado River water. The elevation is...
through Blythe, California
Blythe, California
Blythe is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, in the "Palo Verde Valley" of the Lower Colorado River Valley region, an agricultural area and part of the Colorado Desert along the Colorado River. Blythe was named after Thomas Blythe, a gold prospector who established primary...
from RailAmerica
RailAmerica
RailAmerica, Inc., based in Jacksonville, Florida, is a holding company of a number of short-line railroads and regional railroads in the United States and Canada....
, but failed to get an offer of financial assistance. The line is subjected to be an interim rail trail
Rail trail
A rail trail is the conversion of a disused railway easement into a multi-use path, typically for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding. The characteristics of former tracks—flat, long, frequently running through historical areas—are appealing for various development. The term sometimes also...
Connection
Great Northwest Railroad (GRNW) at Spalding, Idaho. GRNW is a WATCO company, which owns 17 shortline railroads nationwide.Motive Power
BGCM operates an ex-ATSFAtchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The company was first chartered in February 1859...
GP30
EMD GP30
The EMD GP30 was a 2,250 hp four-axle B-B diesel locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division of La Grange, Illinois between July, 1961 and November, 1963...
, numbered as BGCM 2404. (EMD 27191, 7622-5, April 1962; ex-BNSF 2404; ex-ATSF 2704:2; ex-ATSF 3204; nee-ATSF 1204)