Idaho Northern and Pacific Railroad - Payette to Cascade

This scenic line (named within the top ten in the Nation for scenic beauty) once served as the major North – South transportation for the State of Idaho. However, with the growth of the highway system, its use became limited to freight. Eventually, economic slow downs scaled back even this use, and the line will stop being used for this purpose, too. For the past three years, the line has seen a new use once again as a passenger line for the booming tourist industry. Despite this success, the failing timber economy has prompted the out of state owners of the line have received approval for the abandonment of this line, a decision that could draw a significant blow to the tourism-based economy of the area.

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