| The Gregarious Railfan |
Sandpoint, ID 83864 (population, 7365 (2010))
GPS: N 48.27641, W 116.54561 Google map
Scanner: BNSF Boyer West, 161.250; BNSF Boyer East, 160.920; UP Spokane Subdivision, 160.740; MRL 4th
Subdivision, 160.950; Pend Oreille Valley, 161.415, 160.305.
Railroads: UP Pacific Northwest Division, Spokane Sub; BNSF Kootenai River Sub;
Description: Sandpoint, Idaho, is near Lake Pend Oreille (pronounced “pond oray”) in Idaho’s Panhandle. Sandpoint
features the main line of BNSF’s Kootenai River Subdivision, the busy northern transcontinental route, as well as Union
Pacific’s Spokane Subdivision from Eastport, Idaho. The former Northern Pacific Station, 450 Railroad Ave houses M-
O-W operations and serves as an Amtrak station. Amtrak’s Empire Builder stops nightly in both directions and Montana
Rail Link also has trackage right on the single main line track.
Approximate # trains per 24 hours: 50+
Nearby RR Stuff: Boyer Yard, BNSF’s main switching yard, is located near Sandpoint’s airport on the city’s
northwest side. The Pend Oreille Valley interchanges with the BNSF at Boyer.
Breakfast: Spuds Waterfront Grill 102 N First Av, N 48.27332, W 116.54753 (avacados and California vibe)
Fast Food: Dub's Drive-In 703 US-2, N 48.27234, W 116.55746;
Ice Cream: Dub's Drive-In
Lodging: Quality Inn 807 N Fifth Ave, N 48.28168, W 116.55350
Visitor's Center: Visit Sandpoint
GPS: N 48.27641, W 116.54561 Google map
Scanner: BNSF Boyer West, 161.250; BNSF Boyer East, 160.920; UP Spokane Subdivision, 160.740; MRL 4th
Subdivision, 160.950; Pend Oreille Valley, 161.415, 160.305.
Railroads: UP Pacific Northwest Division, Spokane Sub; BNSF Kootenai River Sub;
- Montana Rail Link 4th Sub; Amtrak via BNSF; Pend Oreille Valley RR
Description: Sandpoint, Idaho, is near Lake Pend Oreille (pronounced “pond oray”) in Idaho’s Panhandle. Sandpoint
features the main line of BNSF’s Kootenai River Subdivision, the busy northern transcontinental route, as well as Union
Pacific’s Spokane Subdivision from Eastport, Idaho. The former Northern Pacific Station, 450 Railroad Ave houses M-
O-W operations and serves as an Amtrak station. Amtrak’s Empire Builder stops nightly in both directions and Montana
Rail Link also has trackage right on the single main line track.
Approximate # trains per 24 hours: 50+
Nearby RR Stuff: Boyer Yard, BNSF’s main switching yard, is located near Sandpoint’s airport on the city’s
northwest side. The Pend Oreille Valley interchanges with the BNSF at Boyer.
Breakfast: Spuds Waterfront Grill 102 N First Av, N 48.27332, W 116.54753 (avacados and California vibe)
Fast Food: Dub's Drive-In 703 US-2, N 48.27234, W 116.55746;
- McDonalds 205 Bonner Mall Way, N 48.30113, W 116.54570, (2 mi north)
Ice Cream: Dub's Drive-In
Lodging: Quality Inn 807 N Fifth Ave, N 48.28168, W 116.55350
Visitor's Center: Visit Sandpoint
