THIS IS HORRIBLE!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Today at school, i noticed an actual train go on the abandoned line though my town (andover kansas) and then they were stopping every 50 feet or so to take out rail![:(] Why are they doing this? they were only abandoned 2 months ago and they have been there since 1885!

[Anonymous]

Recycling. That's what happens to abandoned rail lines...

LC

[Anonymous]

Since it is abandoned they probably figured they would get every last penny out of the line that they could by pulling up the rail and depending on it's condition selling it for scrap or storing it for reuse elsewhere.

John

[Anonymous]

That's the way it goes.

[Anonymous]

Welcome to the real world buddy. I had to see this for my own eyes when I was your age,Being as young as you are now just remember I saw the same thing happen to ex-CNW line in north Omaha at one time,Yes it is a very sad thing to see a Railroad line being torn up for scrap because the RR has no service anymore on it. It is a sad thing to see for your own eyes but you will come to soon to understand the real world we live in!
But don't worry The'll always be a major hot Main line to watch all of your favorate Trains even while the others are being put to rest.

[oskar]

that's what they might do in Augusta,GA they are going to move the street running line for NS and move it a little outside town I don't want that to happen that means I would have to change my spot and who knows what there going to do to the old Southern bridge that still stands today.





kevin

[AntonioFP45]

QUOTE: Originally posted by oskar

that's what they might do in Augusta,GA they are going to move the street running line for NS and move it a little outside town I don't want that to happen that means I would have to change my spot and who knows what there going to do to the old Southern bridge that still stands today. kevin

Hello Oskar,

At least the line is being relocated and not abandoned. Street running is a pain for the railroads nowadays:

Trains must crawl, the potential for an accident with a car or pedestrian is quite high and the ambulance chasing litigators would see a lot of potential in a mishap. A while back in either TRAINS or MRR, there was a picture of a locomotive and a couple of freight cars doing some street running. What was so unusual? The train had to obey the traffic signals. Since a locomotive can't take off like a Trans Am, that must have been an incredibly slow run! I'm only assuming that either the city council forced it, or the railroad didn't want to pay for grade crossing flashing lights.

Years ago, street running was very common. It's too bad that the post 1960 babies that are adults today (my generation) helped to make frivolous lawsuits an American way of life! It's only getting worse.

[gabe]

You have my utmost empathy. One of my earliest memories is the IC pulling out its Springfield - St. Louis main. I still remember with sorrow that happening. When I which I could start my own short line railroad, that is always the line I wish I could have saved.

So what is the line that is being pulled out? Who abandon it; what was its history; was there any freight on it two months ago?

Gabe

[Anonymous]

for all the love and affection people have for railroads, it must be remembered that they are businesses. if they do not behave in the most logical and efficient manner regarding their assets then they will fail and disappear from the landscape altogether.
it is heart wrenching to see these changes, but maybe it helps a bit to realize that is just this type of dollars and cents decision making which will allow the industry to survive.
look around at the local junk auto yards in your community, you will see a whole lot less wrecked car inventory this year than last. scrap metal prices are strong and "crushers" are actively cleaning up abandon metal everywhere.

[Anonymous]

Here in my city, the ex-Santa Fe line was removed and the city put in a 'park walk'. Down the entire former line where the track was, grass, gardens, and sidewalks were added with amazing lighting. I was sad to see it go but now the community gets something they can use more than an old track.

[Anonymous]

Trainman, even when the rails are gone, you can still get a lot of pleasure from the things that are left. I used to live in Wichita/Augusta. The old Broadview hotel in downtown Wichita, at Douglas and Waco, has the words "freight depot" set high into the walls. That's a reminder of the old Arkansas Valley Interurban, which went under in 1940. And to the east of you, in a little town called Beaumont, there was a really cool old water tank, though the rails had been gone for decades (I haven't been to Beaumont in years. The tank might be gone).

[DPD1]

QUOTE: Originally posted by modelrailroader71

Here in my city, the ex-Santa Fe line was removed and the city put in a 'park walk'. Down the entire former line where the track was, grass, gardens, and sidewalks were added with amazing lighting. I was sad to see it go but now the community gets something they can use more than an old track.

Wish we got that on the old Valley Branch in L.A... Burbank got a nice bike/walking path... The L.A. section is going to be a stupid express bus line. It took them years to take out all the rail though.

Dave
Los Angeles, CA
-Rail Radio Online-Home of the "TrainTenna" RR Monitoring Antenna-
http://eje.railfan.net/railradioonline

[oskar]

QUOTE: Originally posted by lfish

Trainman, even when the rails are gone, you can still get a lot of pleasure from the things that are left. I used to live in Wichita/Augusta. The old Broadview hotel in downtown Wichita, at Douglas and Waco, has the words "freight depot" set high into the walls. That's a reminder of the old Arkansas Valley Interurban, which went under in 1940. And to the east of you, in a little town called Beaumont, there was a really cool old water tank, though the rails had been gone for decades (I haven't been to Beaumont in years. The tank might be gone).

Do you mean Augusta,GA or another town also Beaumont's hockey team stinks

also Antonio there was never a accident on the steetrunning line that I can remember only car vs. car that had to hold up a train but there's been a lot of stuff on that track like the 1992 olypic train a steamer getting pushed into a museam by two ns U-Boats




kevin

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cbt141

for all the love and affection people have for railroads, it must be remembered that they are businesses. if they do not behave in the most logical and efficient manner regarding their assets then they will fail and disappear from the landscape altogether.
it is heart wrenching to see these changes, but maybe it helps a bit to realize that is just this type of dollars and cents decision making which will allow the industry to survive.
look around at the local junk auto yards in your community, you will see a whole lot less wrecked car inventory this year than last. scrap metal prices are strong and "crushers" are actively cleaning up abandon metal everywhere.

Your statement is true but you also must relize the RR's of today are not only in for the money, but what about the history stake is in our future is at stake now more than ever. As rail lines get torn up one by one what does that mean and do to out past history?
Rail line after Rail line is being ripped up more and more in this country and that "will" have serious consequences in later future!

[csxengineer98]

its all for the scrap value... the rails will be sold to the chines and sold back to us as coffee makers and washing machines and such for use to all buy up this coming christmas season... the ties might go to some local landscapers for wall and yard timmbers....and the right of way might end up a bike trail... this is the circle of life for a railroad right of way...
csx engineer

[UPTRAIN]

What railroad is this? Is it Atchinson Topeka and Santa Fe? AT&SF state bike train they can call it, like Missouri's Katy State Trail, made on the old MKT ROW.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by lfish

Trainman, even when the rails are gone, you can still get a lot of pleasure from the things that are left. I used to live in Wichita/Augusta. The old Broadview hotel in downtown Wichita, at Douglas and Waco, has the words "freight depot" set high into the walls. That's a reminder of the old Arkansas Valley Interurban, which went under in 1940. And to the east of you, in a little town called Beaumont, there was a really cool old water tank, though the rails had been gone for decades (I haven't been to Beaumont in years. The tank might be gone).

I went there about 3 months ago and they have restored the water tower. actually, the last train through theer was in 1995

[Bergie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainman2244

Today at school, i noticed an actual train go on the abandoned line though my town (andover kansas) and then they were stopping every 50 feet or so to take out rail![:(] Why are they doing this? they were only abandoned 2 months ago and they have been there since 1885!

You think it's bad now? Just wait until they turn it into a bike trail. [V]

Bergie (who felt the pain of the BN adandonment of a branchline through his hometown when he was a teenager)

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainman2244

Today at school, i noticed an actual train go on the abandoned line though my town (andover kansas) and then they were stopping every 50 feet or so to take out rail![:(] Why are they doing this? they were only abandoned 2 months ago and they have been there since 1885!

sorry, i made an error i meant 2 years[xx(]

[jockellis]

I don't know whether you might be a Boy Scout but if you are (or know one who is looking for an Eagle project) or just want to do something for your town, turning this land into a Rails to Trails hiking trail might be a good project. Hopefully the railroad will put the land into the Railbank program so that it would be possible. You should check! Once lost, railroad right of way is always lost. But this could be a good chance for you to become a hero in your town. Tell us what happens.
Jock Ellis