Abandonded Railroad lines do you ahve nay near where you live?

[Chris_S68]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CShaveRR

I use two abandoned rights-of-way to bike to work--both are within two miles of where I live: the former Chicago, Aurora & Elgin and the former Chicago Great Western. Both are pretty well preserved as rail trails.

I grew up right across Salt Creek. When the CNW still served the Ovaltine plant, we'd go down and watch them switch it out. I think it was a crime to remove the old bridges over the creek, particularly the CA&E one. That and all the trees. What do city planners have against trees? I haven't been down there in quite some time. Is there any evidence of the old CGW ROW left along there?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 06archerd

Well ihave the abndonded Strong city district from neva crossing to lost springs in my county good ole chase county here in kansas, i would have pictures but the water is all over the road its flooding here, and it sucks.

I was just talking about this abandoned railroad line near my house in the other thread (about the signal detector).
I often walk on it, it's very clean because countless rains washed it. The scenery along it when I go a few miles south from my house is very nice and relaxing. You are surrounded by bushes and trees from both sides and you can walk as much as you want because trains aren't passing. I go there now and then to take pictures and relaxe on my own.

here is the place:

[mandelswamp]

Long Island's Newsday (Sunday, July 17, 2005, Section G - LI Life, Oyster Bay Edition, Pages G1, G6 - G8) had a cover story on hiking the roadbed of the Long Island Rail Road's on Bridgehampton-to-Sag Harbor branch that opened in 1870 and shutdown in 1938. The rails were taken up to provide steel for World War II usage. Toward the end of its life, the Sag Harbor Rail Way ran a 40-passenger motorized car that locals dubbed "The Toonerville Trolley." Unfortunately, the article is no longer online. The article had photos from the Ron Ziel Collection in the Queens Borough Public Library. These included:
- A photo circa 1900 of the Sag Harbor Station with a train waiting to depart
- A picture of the crew and station agent before "The Toonerville Trolley"
- A photo of the August 1908 train wreck when an engine broke through the Long Wharf and plunged into 8 feet of water

There were also some Newsday photos of remaining evidence of the railroad (a mile marker, railroad spike, pilings) along today's hiking path plus photos of the old freight building (now a Garden Center) and the modern post office where the passenger station stood. There was also a graphic showing the railroad's route.

There are some photos of the remaining evidence of the Sag Harbo Branch at http://www.lirrhistory.com/sag.html

Information on other abandoned RR right-of-ways can be found at http://www.lirrhistory.com/abandon.html

[csmith9474]

The old Santa Fe through Colorado Springs (just one of many).

[mudchicken]

Don't get too excited yet, but Neva to Lost Springs may have a temporary reprieve.

http://www.stb.dot.gov/decisions/readingroom.nsf/51d7c65c6f78e79385256541007f0580/3e7eae3d437e43ad8525708a00602a2c?OpenDocument

[Anonymous]

We have two where I used to live in TN. The Tennessee Central which was split up among three railroads in the late 1960's was finally torn up between Cookeville and Crab Orchard Tennessee in the late 1980's or early 1990's(?). The depot in Crossville (just west of Crab orchard) was remodelled. I am assuming it is still standing and has a gift shop or some type of business in it. I have not been their in three years so I am not certain. Their is an excellent Trains article on the TN Central in 1987. The article was split into two parts. The other one is the Oneida and Western which was torn up in 1954. I remember seeing the old roadbed when I was younger. The O & W was a 38 mile shortline between Oneida TN and Jamestown TN. The old depot in Jamestown was still there a couple of years ago but was not looking very well on the outside.... Also, their is an old O & W trestle in Big South Fork Recreation area that is still standing and has been refurbished. I think you can walk across it.

Regards,
Whit

[Anonymous]

Yes is the answer here in Georgia. Even more interesting (and sadder, to me) is that some of the oldest lines running through my neck of the woods are in the process of being abandoned or are getting ready to close down. FDR (the President, not the highway in NY) took the train to Warm Springs, Georgia. When he died at Warm Springs, a special train took him back to Washington. There are passenger cars still there... but the tracks are long gone.

Erik

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by RLHainey

Daniel,
How about the proposed Kansas, New Mexico, & Orient whose grade can still be seen south of Matfield Green?
The former Neva to Superior, Neb. branch west of Strong City?
The former MKT and Missouri Pacific Lines south of Council Grove and east to Herington?
How about the former Missouri Pacific Lines around and west of Marion??
And then, there is the former MKT southeast to northwest of Americus?

What happened to the Santa Fe items and literature that your grandfather and great uncle would have accumulated while working for the AT&SF?

Roland

We sold some stuff at the auction a few years ago, and i ahve some stuff, mainly my most prized possesion the scrapbook me and my grandfather used to keep together it is full of railroad stuff around kansas.
welll i guess i will ttyl
D-Man

[Anonymous]

Originally posted by mudchicken

06:

.... When you have to retrace old R/W's as part of your job, it never gets dull.

[:p] .... I'm green with envy

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