09-11-2015, 03:54 PM
I was asked a question that I wasn't sure of the answer to.
Why are abandoned tracks sometimes pulled up, but other times left in place?
For instance in New Jersey, the local railroad line was abandoned east of Mount Holly in the late 70s by Conrail, and in 1984 the tracks were all ripped up between there and points east to Toms River (the old PRR "Back Road"). Almost all of the branches associated with this line are also totally removed. Only a few bridges and abutments give any indication that a railroad was ever there.
Abandoned by Conrail around the same time was much of the original Camden & Amboy alignment, the tracks of which are very visible running along Route 130 through much of central New Jersey. They only become completely removed through Hightstown. Similarly, the tracks that were once part of the CNJ's mainline to Atlantic City through the pine barrens is still there, rails and all.
Does the railroad have to remove the tracks if completely abandons the line (sells the RoW property)?
Does the railroad leave the track in place just in case of future traffic? To prevent people from building on the RoW?
Does the Railroad have to removed abandoned track for environmental reasons?
Does abandon track get re-used on other lines? Is it worth its scrap value?
What obligations do the railroad's have to their abandoned infrastructure?
Why are abandoned tracks sometimes pulled up, but other times left in place?
For instance in New Jersey, the local railroad line was abandoned east of Mount Holly in the late 70s by Conrail, and in 1984 the tracks were all ripped up between there and points east to Toms River (the old PRR "Back Road"). Almost all of the branches associated with this line are also totally removed. Only a few bridges and abutments give any indication that a railroad was ever there.
Abandoned by Conrail around the same time was much of the original Camden & Amboy alignment, the tracks of which are very visible running along Route 130 through much of central New Jersey. They only become completely removed through Hightstown. Similarly, the tracks that were once part of the CNJ's mainline to Atlantic City through the pine barrens is still there, rails and all.
Does the railroad have to remove the tracks if completely abandons the line (sells the RoW property)?
Does the railroad leave the track in place just in case of future traffic? To prevent people from building on the RoW?
Does the Railroad have to removed abandoned track for environmental reasons?
Does abandon track get re-used on other lines? Is it worth its scrap value?
What obligations do the railroad's have to their abandoned infrastructure?
Modeling New Jersey Under the Wire 1978-1979.
![[Image: logosmall.png]](http://i543.photobucket.com/albums/gg445/CAB_IV/Model%20Trains%202013/logosmall.png)