01-09-2011, 01:52 PM
nachoman Wrote:If the right of way is still owned by the railroad, I don't think they have to do anything unless some regulation requires they be removed because they are a public hazard. If they can't roll, they will be cut up and scrapped on site. The D&RGW left a few narrow gauge cars behind on sidings as they abandoned their routes. I know the Durango and Silverton scenic railroad has mostly rotten cars left on sidings in Silverton and elsewhere that they inherited from D&RGW days.
That makes sense, and I believe UP does retain the trackage, but it seems to be more expensive to break stuff up on site as opposed to a properly organized salvage yard. From what I recall from the Boneyard series on re-cycling railroad cars, the equipment needed is very expensive and highly specialized. Additionally, that stretch is single tacked, making it logistically more awkward to salvage the cars that way.