Kettle Falls International

Company History: The KFR launched in 2005 to run 160 miles of former BNSF line in the region northwest of Spokane, Washington. The Y-shaped line ran from Chewelah north to Kettle Falls, Washington. There it split with one line going northeast to Columbia Gardens, British Columbia and the other running northwest to Grand Forks, British Columbia then a bit southeast again to Danville in Washington. Traffic included chemicals, fertilizer, lumber, metals, minerals, plywood, wood products, and abrasives. KFR was part of the OmniTRAX family of shortlines.

Washouts in the spring of 2018 ended service on the Kettle Falls to Grand Forks and Danville segment. Ironically, this was the leg that OmniTRAX had bought from BNSF while the rest was only leased. OmniTRAX decided against renewing the lease on the rest of the system.

In 2019 the Chewelah – Kettle Falls – Columbia Gardens segments were leased (from BNSF) by the Progressive Rail shortline group, becoming the St. Paul & Pacific Northwest Railroad.

Brief History: The U.S. is a country of 50 states covering a vast swath of North America, with Alaska in the northwest and Hawaii extending the nation’s presence into the Pacific Ocean. Major Atlantic Coast cities are New York, a global finance and culture center, and capital Washington, DC. Midwestern metropolis Chicago is known for influential architecture and on the west coast, Los Angeles' Hollywood is famed for filmmaking.