The Funnel is one of the busiest single track mainlines in the U.S. today. Stretching seventy-one miles from Spokane, Washington to Sandpoint, Idaho, it incorporates the best elements of Pacific Northwest railroading: mountain grades, deep cuts, long bridges, and high-density, high-tonnage traffic. Ninety percent of Burlington Northern's container traffic, all of its lumber trains, and the majority of its intermodal trains are routed through the Pend Oreille Subdivision, known as The Funnel. BN runs up to one hundred trains a day through this gateway to the Pacific.

Experience the Funnel as you've never seen it before. Starting at Latah Junction, follow the traffic over Latah Bridge to Spokane and the Parkwater Yardley facilities. Then watch intermodal, grain, and mixed freights grind past Ramsey, Apple Orchard, The Big Cut, Granite, Cocolalla, and across the 4,000 foot long bridge over Lake Pend Oreille to Sandpoint Junction. This video was filmed just prior to Burlington Northern's merger with the Santa Fe. The motive power to be seen includes B30-7s, B39-8s, SD45-2s, and multiple SD40-2s on heavy grain trains. Blue skies and gorgeous scenery add to the excitement of railroading through the Funnel!