abandoned line???

[Anonymous]

Hey everyone,
There is a line near where i live and it used to be freqeuntly used back in the olden days but then the local train authorities stopped trains going down there except the occansional grain train or special steam passenger train. i also believe although i am not sure that after they stopped regular trains going down there they closed the line for a few years when nothing went down it although like i said i am not sure. I just dont get that they stopped running freqeunt trains down there. Another thing is that when i go across a railways crossing with that particular line i also notice that there is either weeds coming a metre high from in between the rails or, there is are children playing near or on the line. That brings me to another point of railroad safety. As i said only sometimes did trains go down there so they can easily be off guard and be caught on a bridge over a channel (canel for all you americans) or even just on the line. I also know of some bike jumps relatively close to the line and i have been there a few times to ride my bike and i find rubbish and rocks all over and in between the rails. My main qeustions are why did they stop with the freuqent trains, danger for train operators and children safety. Where are your children now???

[Anonymous]

???????????

[dknelson]

I am not sure I grasp your point ... but railroads run trains to make money, not just to run trains (arguably Amtrak is an exception!). Sometimes a track is taken out of service but not pulled up and sure enough years later they find they can make money again running trains on it. Sometimes in the meantime bushes and even whole trees have grown up on the line and a massive cleanup is needed. And also, sometimes in the interim drivers and children and pedestrains have become quite accustomed to there being no trains and the reintroduction of train service causes problems, at least for a while. At least in some cases a railroad is obliged to run SOMETHING on a line to maintain a franchise or to qualify under terms of a real estate deed. There is some semi abandoned track near me where the railroad runs a hi-rail truck now and then either to check the bridges and crossings or to preserve some legal right to the line. Either way it is a good reminder that if rails are in place, even if rusty and weedgrown, treat it like an active line and be alert.
Dave Nelson

[Anonymous]

you keep reffering to "down there". WHERE is "down there"????
Tim from behind the chedder curtain!!

[Anonymous]

down there is that particular line cause it comes off a used railroad and it goes till a town i can send anyone a bmp file of it

[Anonymous]

Whew! I'm glad as I'm sure everybody else is to know where exactily "down there" is!! Thanks for the info as I may go there one day to shoot some very exciting rail photos!
Tim from behind the chedder curtain.