If you have any questions about the
abandonment page (I'd like to know who uses the page). 'REFRESH'
this page to be sure you have the latest version. Also remember that
often there are many
follow-ups to an initial abandonment notice so if you have any interest
in the proposed abandonments, use the Docket Numbers to keep up with
the proceedings on the Surface Transportation Board's webpage. If you're interested in
finding out how to purchase abandoned track or how to buy or bid on an
abandoned line for salvage, or for other purposes, go the the Surface
Transportation Board's Public Inquiry page here: http://www.stb.dot.gov/stb/public/inquiries_public.html
I am no expert on railroad abandonment procedures nor do I
know everything about the abandonment process or how to obtain the
rights of salvage or any more details of a particular abandonment
notice, other that what is on the Surface Transportation Board's site.
This is a hobby of mine since I like trains and railroad history, so
I've kept up with the abandonment notices on either the STB site or Federal Register.
This site is for information purposes only and I can't guarantee that
I'll find every single first-time notice that's published, but
I'll try. (KZ)
You may contact me using this CONTACT FORM -
Please
be sure to type your email
address correctly in the form, otherwise I can't respond. You will also
be asked to enter a sequence of letters and numbers to help me try
to avoid spammers. If this site doesn't work properly or you want to
email me directly, you can by manually typing - - ken (@)
trainweather (.) com - - in your email address field (leaving out the ( ) and spaces). Thanks for
understanding. If you want to view more of my train pictures, click on:
PROPOSED RAILROAD ABANDONMENTS - 2008 Notices at link above - LATEST NOTICE BOTTOM OF
LIST
2009
(Page updated July 1, 2009-
last
first-time abandonment notices
served June 15, 2009)
I will try to update once a week or more. I do not guarantee
getting
every first-time abandonment notice, but I will try to. The latest
abandonment
proposal will be last on the list in most cases. The Docket numbers for
each listing are posted. Only NEW requests for abandonments will be
listed...no updates to previous filings. Also, it may be months or
years before track is actually taken up on some of these proposals -
these rulings only give the railroad the right to abandon..
The address of the Surface Transportation Board is: Office of the
Secretary, Case Control Unit, 1925 K Street, Washington DC 20423. The
STB phone number for abandonment procedures (Office of Public Services)
is: 202-565-1592. If you contact them, it would be handy to use the
Docket Numbers. Their Web address is: http://www.stb.dot.gov if
you'd like the complete listings.
These abandonment proposals have been printed in the Federal Register
OR have come directly from the Surface Transportation Board. They will
go in effect unless one of the following occurs: 1) an offer of
financial assistance is received; 2) a request for public use of the
land is received (for instance, rails-to-trails); 3) petitions to
reopen the case is filed. Railroads, before they can file these
"notices of exemption under CFR 1152 Subpart F," must certify that 1)
no local
traffic has moved over the line for at least 2 years; 2) any overhead
traffic
can be routed over other lines; 3) no formal complaint filed by a user
is pending and; 4) environmental reports, historic reports, transmittal
letter,
newspaper publication, and notice to governmental agencies have been
met.
LATEST NOTICE ON BOTTOM
OF DOCUMENT (Click 2008for 2008 notices)
VIRGINIA - Norfolk Southern Railway Company
- To abandon a 4.20-mile line of railroad between milepost DW 41.60,
and milepost DW 45.80, in Martinsville, Henry County, VA. The line
traverses United States Postal Service Zip Code 24112 and includes the
former stations of Martinsville and Jones Creek. Effective on February
5, 2009. (STB Docket No. AB-290 (Sub-No. 304X, decided December 23,
2008, served January 6, 2009)
WASHINGTON - Bellingham International Railroad, LLC
- To abandon a 2-mile line of railroad between milepost 2.98 and
milepost 4.98 in Bellingham, Whatcom County, WA. Effective on February
7, 2009. (STB Docket No. AB-1026X, decided January 2, 2009, served
January 8, 2009)
COLORADO-KANSAS - KYLE RAILROAD COMPANY
- (Part of Rock Island 1980s abandonment) Kyle Railroad Company (Kyle),
a Class III rail carrier, has filed a verified notice of exemption
under 49 CFR 1150.41 to acquire from Mid-States Port Authority (MSPA),
a noncarrier, and to operate a 351.50-mile line of railroad extending
between: (a) Milepost 531.oo at Limon, CO, and milepost 189.40 at
Belleville, KS; (b) milepost 189.40 at Belleville, KS, and milepost
182.00 at Munden, KS; and (c) milepost 226.25 at Belleville and
milepost 223.75, east of Belleville, in Lincoln and Kit Carson
Counties, CO, and Sherman, Thomas, Sheridan, Decatur, Norton, Phillips,
Smith, Jewell, and Republic Counties, KS. As part of
the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Company (Rock Island)
bankruptcy proceeding, the Rock Island was authorized by the Interstate
Commerce Commission (ICC) to abandon its entire rail system with
certain conditions. See Chicago, R. I. & R. P. Co. Abandonment, 363
I.C.C. 150. The proposed transaction is scheduled to be consummated on
June 1, 2009. (STB Finance Docket No. 35212, decided January 16served
January 28, 2009)
IDAHO
- Union Pacific Railroad Company - to abandon a portion of its Coeur
d'Alene Industrial Lead between milepost 7.5 near Gibbs, and the end of
the line at milepost 8.79 near Coeur d'Alene, a distance of 1.29 miles
in Kootenai County, ID. A final decision will be issued by May 4, 2009.
(STB Docket No. AB-33 (Sub-No. 272X, decided January 23, served
February 3, 2009_
WASHINGTON
- Puget Sound & Pacific Railroad Company - To permit PS&P to
abandon an 8,344-foot long rail line that begins just south of where
the railroad line crosses U.S. Highway 101 in Hoquiam, and proceeds in
a northerly direction for 8,344 feet to the end of the line, in Grays
Harbor County, WA. PS&P explains that the line begins 3,424 feet
north of the main track clearance off of the Elma Main and is part of
the line known as the Horn Spur.\2\ The line traverses U.S. Postal
Service Zip Code 98550, and includes the station of Hoquiam. A final
decision will be issued by May 19, 2009. (STB Docket No. AB-1023
(Sub-No. 1X, decided February 10, served February 18, 2009)
MISSISSIPPI
- Illinois Central Railroad Company-To abandon a 1.20-mile line of
railroad between milepost 311.90 and milepost 313.10, in Grenada,
Grenada County, MS. Effective on March 20, 2009. (STB Docket No. AB-43
(Sub-No. 182X, decided February 10, served February 18, 2009)
CALIFORNIA
- San Diego & Imperial Valley Railroad Company, Inc - To
discontinue service over a 1.35-mile line of railroad between milepost
19.85 and milepost 21.2 in the vicinity of Escondido, in San Diego
County, CA.\1\ The line traverses U.S. Postal Zip Codes 92025 and 92029
and includes the station of Escondido. A final decision will be issued
by May 19, 2009. (STB Docket No. AB-1029 (Sub-No. 1X, decided February
10, served February 18, 2009)
MICHIGAN -
Mid-Michigan Railroad, Inc - To discontinue service over a 6.94-mile
line of railroad between milepost 159.5 at Grand Rapids (Walker) and milepost
166.44 at Marne, in Kent and Ottawa Counties, MI.\1\ The line traverses
United States Postal Service Zip Codes 49404, 49435, and 49544,
and includes the stations of Grand Rapids and Marne. A final decision
will be issued by June 1, 2009. (STB Docket No. AB-364 (Sub-No. 15X,
decided February 20, served March 3, 2009)
IDAHO
- BNSF Railway Company - To discontinue trackage rights over
approximately 1.39 miles of rail line owned by Union Pacific
Railroad Company, between milepost 7.40 at Gibb and milepost 8.79 at
Coeur d'Alene, in Kootenai County, ID. A final decision will be
issued by June 2, 2009. (STB Docket No. AB-6 (Sub-No. 466X, decided
February 24, 2009, servec March 4, 2009)
VIRGINIA
- Norfolk Southern Railway Company - To abandon a 1.81-mile line of
railroad between milepost CV 277.30 (Big Stone Gap) and milepost
CV 279.11 (Appalachia), in Wise County, VA. Effective on April 10,
2009. (STB Docket No. AB-290 (Sub-No. 300X, decided February 27, served
March 11, 2009)
NEW JERSEY
- Consolidated Rail Corporation and Norfolk Southern Railway Company -
For Conrail to abandon, and for CSXT and NS to discontinue service
over, an approximately 1.36-mile portion of a line of railroad known as
the Harsimus Branch, between milepost 0.00, CP Waldo, and
milepost 1.36, a point east of Washington Street, in Jersey City.
Effective on April 17, 2009. (STB Docket No. AB-167 (Sub-No. 1189X and
STB Docket No. AB-290 (Sub-No. 306X, decided March 11, served March 18,
2009)
MISSOURI - Union
Pacific Railroad Company - For permission to abandon its Essex to Miner
Line, extending from milepost 196.7, near Essex, to milepost 216.27,
near Miner, a distance of 19.57 miles, in New Madrid, Scott, and
Stoddard Counties, MO (the line).\1\ The line includes the stations of
Hunterville (milepost 198.7), Morehouse (milepost 205.4), Sikeston
(milepost 211.4), and Miner (milepost 214.5). In addition to the 19.57
miles of branch line, the line includes approximately 4.4 miles of
sidings and industrial track. A final decision will be issued by June
17, 2009. (STB Docket No. AB-33 (Sub-No. 261, decided March 13, served
March 19, 2009)
INDIANA
- Central Railroad Company of Indianapolis - To abandon 5.18 miles of
rail line, consisting of 2.38 miles between milepost 181.26 and
milepost 183.64, on CERA's main line (West Kokomo line segment), and
2.8 miles between milepost 51.5 and milepost 54.3, on CERA's Tipton
Industrial Lead (South Kokomo line segment), in Howard County, IN.
Effective on April 29, 2009. (STB Docket No. AB-511 (Sub-No. 4X,
decided March 20, served March 30, 2009)
MICHIGAN
- Central Michigan Railway Company - To abandon an approximately
1.75-mile line of railroad, consisting of the following three
interconnected segments: (1) A line (segment A) extending from milepost
157.96 (at the switch connection with the east-west aligned tracks of
the Mid-Michigan Railroad, Inc. (MMR) near the intersection of Taylor
Avenue and Quimby Street) through valuation map marker 9+87.2 (the
location of the south wye, or Press Track, switch adjacent to Monroe
Avenue) and continuing to the end of the track at a point immediately
north of Michigan Street/Bridge Street; (2) a line (segment B)
extending from valuation map marker 3+00 (at a switch connection with a
line of MMR immediately at the east end of the MMR bridge spanning the
Grand River) to a connection with segment A at valuation map marker
9+87.2 (at the south wye switch); and (3) a line (segment C) extending
from valuation map marker 0+00 (at a point of connection with the
east-west aligned MMR line immediately to the east of the MMR line's
bridge spanning the Grand River) due northward to valuation map marker
11+15.0 (approximately 250 feet south of Ann Street),\1\ in Grand
Rapids, Kent County, MI. Effective on May 1, 2009. (STB Docket No.
AB-308 (Sub-No. 4X, decided March 25, served April 1, 2009)
CALIFORNIA
- Arizona & California Railroad Company - To abandon a 49.40-mile
rail line between milepost 0.0 at Rice and milepost 49.4 at Ripley, in
San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, CA. The line traverses U.S.
Postal Service Zip Codes 92225, 92226, and 92280, and includes the
stations of Rice, Styx, Midland, Cox, Inca, Mesaville, Blythe, Miller
Farms, and Ripley. A final decision will be issued by June 30, 2009.
(STB Docket No. AB-1022 (Sub-No. 1X, decided March 23, served April 1,
2009)
WISCONSIN - Union
Pacific Railroad Company - To abandon a 3.08-mile line of railroad
known as the Capitol Drive Industrial Lead, extending from milepost
92.21, the Shoreline connection, to the end of the line at milepost
89.13, south of Hampton Avenue in the northeast Milwaukee area, in
Milwaukee County, WI. Effective on May 9, 2009. (STB Docket No. AB-33
(Sub-No. 268X, decided April 3, served April 9, 2009)
CALIFORNIA
- Tulare Valley Railroad Company - To discontinue service over a
5.9-mile line of railroad between milepost 66.0 at or near Ultra and
milepost 71+2969.2 at or near Ducor, in Tulare County, CA. Effective on
May 19, 2009. (STB Docket No. AB-397 (Sub-No. 6X, decided April
7, served April 17, 2009)
KENTUCKY
- Seaside Holdings, Inc - To discontinue service over a 12.56-mile line
of railroad extending from milepost OWH 258.5 to the end of the track
at milepost OWH 271.06 in Harlan County, KY. Effective on May 19, 2009.
(STB Docket No. AB-1027X, decided April 3, served April 17, 2009)
MICHIGAN
- Mid-Michigan Railroad, Inc - To abandon a 3.35-mile line of railroad
between milepost 191.40 and milepost 194.75, at the end of the line, in
Muskegon County, MI. Effective on May 20, 2009. (STB Docket No. AB-364
(Sub-No. 16X, decided April 10, served April 20, 2009)
MISSOURI
- Union Pacific Railroad Company - To discontinue service over the Pea
Ridge Subdivision, a 20.67-mile line of railroad, extending from
milepost 63.75, near New Fountain Farm, to milepost 84.42, near Pea
Ridge, in Washington County, MO. Effective on May 22, 2009. (STB Docket
No. AB-33 (Sub-No. 204X, decided April 10, served April 22, 2009)
PENNSYLVANIA
- Norfolk Southern Railway Company - Nittany and Bald Eagle Railroad
Company (N&BE) - (NSR), pursuant to a written trackage rights
agreement entered into between NSR and ,\1\ has agreed to grant
temporary, non-exclusive, overhead trackage rights to N&BE over a
portion of NSR's line of railroad between Lock Haven, PA (milepost BR
194.2), and Driftwood, PA (milepost BR 139.2), a distance of
approximately 55 miles. (STB Finance Docket No. 35222, decided April
26, served April 23, 2009) - NOTE: While not technically an abandonment, I just couldn't resist having a record of a railroad name like Nittany and Bald Eagle Railroad Company :-)
MICHIGAN
- Huron & Eastern Railway Company, Inc - To abandon a 2.5-mile rail
line between milepost 0.0, at Owosso, and milepost 2.5, the end of the
line, in Shiawassee County, MI. The line traverses United States Postal
Service Zip Codes 48841 and 48867, and includes the station of Owosso
Jct.. A final decision will be issued by July 24, 2009. (STB Docket No.
AB-1030 (Sub-No. 1X, decided April 20, served April 27, 2009)
GEORGIA
- Norfolk Southern Railway Company - To abandon a 12.31-mile line of
railroad between milepost 3.69-N and milepost 16.00-N, in Floyd and
Polk Counties, GA. Effective on June 4, 2009. (STB Docket No. AB-290
(Sub-No. 310X, decided April 29, served Maiy 5, 2009)
VIRGINIA-NORTH CAROLINA
- Norfolk Southern Railway Company - North Carolina & Virginia
Railroad Co., Inc., Virginia Southern Railroad Division - To
discontinue service over a 15.25 mile line of railroad between milepost
D-37.9, south of Clarksville, VA, and milepost D-53.15, at O&H
Junction, near Oxford, NC, in Mecklenberg County, VA, and Granville
County, NC (the line). Effective on June 12, 2009. (STB Docket No.
AB-290 (Sub-No. 316X); STB Docket No. AB-866 (Sub-No. 2X, decided May
7, served May 13, 2009)
TENNESSEE
- CSX Transportation, Inc - To abandon a 6.4-mile rail line, known as
the Athens Branch, on its Southern Region, Huntington-West Division, KD
Subdivision between milepost OKW 327, at Englewood, and milepost OKW
333.4, at Athens, in McMinn County, TN. The line traverses United
States Postal Service Zip Codes 37329 and 37303, and includes the
Athens station (milepost OKW 334). A final decision will be issued by
August 19, 2009. (STB Docket No. AB-55 (Sub-No. 694X. decded May 15,
served May 21, 1009)
OKLAHOMA
- BNSF Railway Company - To abandon or discontinue service), 49 U.S.C.
10904 (offers of financial assistance to avoid abandonment and
discontinuance), and 49 U.S.C. 10905 (offering abandoned rail
properties for sale for public purposes) for a segment of track on the
Chickasha Line in Oklahoma City, OK, between milepost 541.69 and
milepost 540.15 (the middle segment).. STB Finance Docket No. 35164;
STB Docket No. AB-6 (Sub-No. 430X, decided May 19, werved May 26, 2009)
IOWA - MINNESOTA
- Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad Corporation -To discontinue
overhead trackage rights over approximately 48.2 miles of Union Pacific
Railroad Company (UP) rail lines extending from milepost 107.0 at
Hartland, MN, to milepost 119.4 at Albert Lea, MN, and from milepost
251.6 at Albert Lea to milepost 192.8 at Mason City, IA, (the
Hartland-Mason City Line), in Freeborn County, MN, and Worth and Cerro
Gordo Counties, IA. Effective on July 2, 2009. (STB Docket No. AB-337
(Sub-No. 6X, decided May 26, served June 2, 2009)
GEORGIA
- CSX Transportation, Inc. - To abandon a 0.31-mile rail line on its
Southern Region, Jacksonville Division, Brunswick Subdivision, between
milepost AOB 534.36 and milepost AOB 534.67 in Brunswick, Glynn County,
GA. A final decision will be issued by September 9, 2009, or sooner if
the request to expedite is granted. (STB Docket No. AB-55 (Sub-No.
697X, decided June 5, served June 11, 2009)
TEXAS
- Union Pacific Railroad Company - To abandon its Henderson Industrial
Lead, extending from milepost 0.59, near Overton, to milepost 16.28,
near Henderson, a distance of 15.69 miles, in Rusk County, TX (the
Henderson Industrial Lead or the line). Any interested person may file
with the Board written comments concerning the proposed abandonment, or
protests (including the protestant's entire case in opposition),
by July 10, 2009. (STB Docket No. AB-33 (Sub-No. 275, decided June 8,
served June 15, 2009)