I have an irrational love of rail. I often choose to live near rail lines and in fact do so currently. When I head to the state to our south a couple times per year, I usually ride a bike, but if I don't I'm much more likely to be on the train than any other conveyance.

That said, UP is the worst run railroad I have ever seen. Their tracks are a mess. They are just a massive, deadly, explosive derailment waiting to happen. While you are waiting for a train to cross, take a look at the amount the tracks drop and rise under the loaded cars. Now imagine that with a train that is going a bit faster and rounding a curve; it can get ugly quickly. 

UP simply cannot be trusted to expand their lines in the gorge (or anywhere else, to be frank). We really need the feds to raise their game on regulations for our rail lines, but no one is holding their breath waiting for that to happen. Even regs that were supposed to be implemented years ago are still not in force.