This is a bit off the subject but it does have to do with the Empire Builder. Does anyone know, at least in theory, that, say, the Stevens Pass route is blocked or out of service for some reason that the Builder would be able to detour over the Stampede (ex-NP) line? Would BNSF allow that? Would it be a better option than busing people, say, between Seattle and Spokane or annuling the train altogether? Or would it be too slow and/or take up too much time?
I am not asking if the train was detoured over Stampede Pass that particular time; I am asking if it is possible under both Amtrak and BNSF rules if the train could be ever detoured onto that route?
What's more, if the derailment happened in near Essex (as the line passes through Glacier National Park and near the Isaak Walton Inn), that would have nothing to do with Stampede Pass (which is in Washington state between Auburn and Ellensburg--it was the route of the North Coast Limited and the Empire Builder from 1971 to 1981). A reroute around a deerailment on the Marias Pass line might involve going through Great Falls then southwestward to Helena, to Missoula, the former NP line to Sandpoint and then the regular route. The GN did this reroute on occasion in years past with its Builder, Western Star, and other trains during times of derailments, floods, etc. Such a reroute would probably create lateness more than 9 hours long.
