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Tex and Photography by James E. Gilley
Heavy with tank cars from a major corn processing plant, BNSF's Columbus (Nebraska) Local roDs through Staplehurst, . Nebraska, In January 1 997.

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years to extend and upgrade a seldom-used branch line in eastern Nebraska.

or many years now, Class I railroads have been aggressively selling off or abandoning branch lines to squeeze every last penny out of their operating budgets. Thus, it is u nusual that Burlington Northern & S anta Fe s pent nearly $ 8 m illion during the past two