Coal train concerns port, grain shipper

Proposed large shipments of coal on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad from the midwest to coastal Washington ports in Longview and Cherry Point could impact grain shipments from Whitman County. Port of Whitman County officials discussed the issue during their regular meeting yesterday.

Large facilities to load coal from Wyoming at Washington state ports for shipment to China could result in a marked increase in trains on mainlines through the state. Port officials worried the trains could impact shipments from the McCoy Train Loading facility under construction south of Rosalia.

Joe Po...