The Eastern Washington Gateway Railroad (reporting mark EWG) is an active private shortline freight railroad owned by the Washington State Department of Transportation.
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History
The Eastern Washington Gateway Railroad was established on June 1, 2007, after the purchase of the CW branch of the Palouse River and Coulee City Railroad (PCC) by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). The branch, which saw low traffic and high deferred maintenance costs, was slated to be abandoned by the railroad. The state purchased the line in February 2007 for $5.6 million, after lobbying from grain growers in the region.
Route
EWG runs roughly parallel to U.S. Route 2 in Eastern Washington, beginning in Coulee City and traveling east through Wilbur, Davenport and Medical Lake. It terminates in Cheney, where it connects to the BNSF and Union Pacific railways.