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The Port of Columbia assumed ownership of the rail line between Dayton and Walla Walla in 1996. The line was donated to the Port by Union Pacific, and the WATCO Company operates the short line Palouse River &
Coulee City (PCC) Railroad on this section of line through a lease agreement with the Port. The section owned by the Port of Columbia is part of a 67 mile stretch of rail from Dayton to Wallula. The Walla Walla to Wallula portion is still owned by Union Pacific.
Here’s a description of the Palouse River &
Coulee City Railroad service territory from the Union Pacific website: Palouse River &
Coulee City Railroad operates freight service from a connection with UP at Zanger Jct. to Walla Walla, WA (27 miles). A branch runs from Dayton, WA through Walla Walla to Weston, OR. A total of 83 miles are operated. The PCC also provides freight service over a line extending from a connection with UP at Hooper Jct through Colfax, WA to Moscow, ID (78 miles). A branch runs from Winona to Thornton, WA (31 miles). A total of 109 miles are operated. The PCC has trackage rights over UP from Hooper Jct to Wallula. Traffic is primarily food products, grain, farm machinery and fertilizer.
When referring to maps of the Palouse River &
Coulee City Railroad be aware that it may be referred to as the Blue Mountain Railroad (BMR). The following map of the rail area shows the Dayton section as part of the PCC and can be viewed here.
Shippers
Seneca Foods Corporation processes several seed varieties for Green Giant and other labels in Dayton and uses the railroad to ship the seed out of the area.
NW Grain Growers uses the Grain Train and other cars to move wheat and other grains from several Walla Walla County sites to a barge facility at Wallula for shipment to the major ports and around the world.
Rehabilitation
The Port of Columbia is working with the Washington State Department of Transportation to repair trackage along the PCC Railroad which is in serious need of repair. Work is slated to be completed by the end of 2011.
The Port of Columbia is also actively pursuing funds from the state legislature for much needed rehabilitation work to the entire port owned portion of the PCC rail line.
Right-of-Way, Crossing and Encroachment Requests
Any work to be done in the railroad right-of-way (generally 50 feet from center of the tracks) must be authorized by the Port of Columbia before work can begin. This includes agricultural useage, road crossings, utility crossings and encroachments.
The documents below will guide you through the permit process.
Please note that all right-of-way requests other than those for agricultural use, must be approved by the rail operator before the Port of Columbia will consider the request. Because of this, non-agricultural use applications will generally take 6 - 8 weeks to be processed.
All requests must be accompanied by a map (survey maps are preferred) that accurately identifies the area where work is to be completed.
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