CURRENT YEAR - 2009

CURRENT YEAR RAILROAD ABANDONMENTS - FIRST TIME NOTICES

PAST YEARS: 1999 (July 26-Dec 31) - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 - 2008 -

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:
http://www.trainweather.com/sunday.html


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 2008 for 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)