I will try to update once a week or more. 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.

I'll try to leave past notices on this list until my space is exhausted.

OREGON - BNSF - To abandon 0.38 mile between m.p. 27.84 and m.p. 28.22 near Banks, Oregon. Effective August 25, 1999. (STB Docket No. AB-6, Sub No. 383X, decided July 19, served July 26, 1999)

KANSAS/NEBRASKA - UNION PACIFIC - To apply for abandonment of a 59-mile long line on August 31, 1999 from m.p. 66 near Jamaica, Nebraska to m.p. 125 near Marietta, Kansas. It is known as the Beatrice Branch. UP obtained a waiver of the normal abandonment requirements, since this line was used only as a detour while UP was upgrading other track in the area and all shippers will still get service. UP will officially file for abandonment August 31. (STB Docket No. AB-33, Sub No. 140, decided July 27, served July 29, 1999)

TEXAS - RIO VALLEY SWITCHING COMPANY AND RIO VALLEY RAILROAD, INC. - To abandon an 8.08 mile line known as the Rio Hondo Line from m.p. 0.316 near San Benito to m.p. 9.19 at Rio Hondo, Texas. This was formerly a branch line of the Missouri Pacific that ran from San Benito to a point on the MoPac between Houston and Brownsville, Texas. No effective date given. (STB Docket No. AB-561 and AB-562, decided August 2, served August 6, 1999)

SOUTH DAKOTA - BNSF - To abandon a 2.98 mile line between m.p. 147.15 and m.p. 150.13 near Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Effective September 10, 1999. (STB Docket No. AB-6, Sub No. 384X, decided August 4, served August 11, 1999)

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IDAHO - UNION PACIFIC - On August 22, 1991 UP applied to abandon theWallace Branch from m.p. 16.5 near Plummer to m.p. 80.4 Wallace, Idaho, a total of 71.5 miles. They now have the enviornment authority to abandon it. (STB Docket No. AB-33, Sub No. 70, decided August 5, served August 12, 1999)

ILLINOIS - NORFOLK SOUTHERN - To abandon a 7.5 mile line between m.p. A-13.0 at Bluffs Junction to m.p. A-20.5 at Troy Junction, in Edwardsville, Illinois. Effective September 15, 1999. (STB Docket No. AB-290, Sub No. 206X, decided August 6, served August 16, 1999)

SOUTH DAKOTA - SOO LINE - To abandon a line from m.p. 208.8 near Rosholt to the end of the line at m.p. 236.3 near Veblen, South Dakota, a distance of 27.5 miles. Included are the stations of Veblen, Claire City, Hammer, New Effington, and Victor, South Dakota. Final Decision by November 17, 1999. (STB Docket No. AB-57, Sub No. 48x, decided August 11, served August 19, 1999)

OHIO - CSX - To abandon a 7.79 mile line along its Louisville Service Lane, Central Ohio Subdivision, between m.p. BP-49.49 near Cambridge and m.p. BP-41.70 at the end of the track at Gibson, Ohio. Stations include Gibson. Final decision by November 12, 1999. (STB Docket No. AB-55, Sub No. 576X, decided August 18, served August 24, 1999)

KANSAS - KANSAS EASTERN RAILROAD, INC. & SOUTH KANSAS and OKLAHOMA RAILROAD, INC. - To abandon and discontinue trackage rights over a line between m.p. 438.5 at Severy and m.p. 483.0 near Augusta, Kansas, a total of 44.5 miles. Effective September 24, 1999. (STB Docket No. AB-563, Sub No. 1X and AB-471, Sub No. 2X, decided August 19, served August 25, 1999)

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KANSAS - UNION PACIFIC - To abandon a 57.72 mile line known as the Beatrice Branch from m.p. 66 near Jamaica to m.p. 125 near Marietta, Kansas. This includes two segments: the 29-mile northern segment between m.p. 66 and m.p. 95 north of Beatrice and the 28.72 mile segment between m.p. 95 and 125. It includes the stations of Aldo Jct, Princeton, Cortland, Pickrell, Beatrice, Holmesville, Bluf Springs, and Barneston. Opposition/comments must be filed by October 15, 1999. (This is more detail of the abandonment request filed July 29. STB Docket No. AB-33, Sub No 140, decided September 9, filed September 20, 1999)

ILLINOIS - BNSF - On September 21, 1999, the STB denied a request of the BNSF to abandon 2.38 miles of line within the city limits of Chicago. Two businesses along the line challenged BNSF's assertion that it was losing money. (STB Docket No. AB-6, Sub No. 382X, served September 21, 1999)

OHIO - NORFOLK SOUTHERN - To abandon a 0.3 mile line between m.p. LM-120.8 and m.p. LM-121.1 at Cincinnati, Ohio. Effective October 27, 1999. (STB Docket No. AB-290, Sub No. 207X, decided September 20, served September 27, 1999)

UTAH - SALT LAKE CITY RAILROAD COMPANY, INC. - To adversely abandon a line from m.p. 798.74 at Ninth South Street in Salt Lake City to m.p. 775.19 at the Salt Lake County/Utah County boundary near Mount, including the 1.4 mile Lovendahl Spur connecting with the main line at m.p. 790.52, a total distance of 24.95 miles. Includes the stations of Salt Lake City, Murray, Sandy, Draper and Mount, Utah. The line may be used as a light rail line. (STB Docket No. AB-520, decided September 16, served September 28, 1999)

NORTH DAKOTA - BNSF - To abandon its line between BNSF m.p. 69.05 and BNSF m.p. 61.19 near Valley City, North Dakota, a distance of 7.86 miles. Effective November 14, 1999. (STB Docket No. AB-6, Sub No. 386X, decided October 6, served October 15, 1999)

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WISCONSIN - WINCONSIN CENTRAL LTD. - To abandon a 1.63 mile line between m.p. 198.37 and m.p. 200 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Effective November 18, 1999. (STB Docket No. AB-303, Sub No. 20X, decided October 12, served October 19, 1999)

UTAH - SALT LAKE CITY RAILRAOD CO. - Cancelled its application to abandon a line from m.p. 798.74 at Ninth Street in Salt Lake City to m.p. 775.19 at the Salt Lake City/Utah county line. The original notice to abandon was served September 28, 1999. (STB Docket No. AB-520, decided October 19, served October 22, 1999.

VIRGINIA - CSX - To abandon its line between m.p. OCV-242.0 and m.p. OCV-243.6, near Hagans, Virginia, a distance of 1.6 miles. Effective November 25, 1999. (STB Docket No. AB-55, Sub No. 575X, decided October 14, served October 25, 1999)

SOUTH CAROLINA - NORFOLK SOUTHERN - To abandon 1.26 miles of line between m.p. Z-42.6 at West Union and m.p. Z-43.86 at Walhalla, South Carolina. Effective November 26, 1999. (STB Docket No. AB-290, Sub No. 155X, decided October 18, served October 27, 1999)

NORTH DAKOTA - SOO LINE - To abandon 19.0 miles of line known as the Pollack Line between m.p. 342.0 near Wishek and m.p. 361.0 at the end of the line near Ashley, North Dakota. Effective November 26, 1999. (STB Docket No. AB-57, Sub No. 49X, decided October 19, served October 27, 1999)

MICHIGAN - GRAND TRUNK WESTERN RR - To abandon a 1.31 mile segment of the Dequindre Line between m.p. 1.77 and m.p. 0.46 in Detroit, Michigan. Final Decision by January 28, 2000. (STB Docket No. AB-31, Sub No. 36X, decided October 21, served November 1, 1999)

WICONSIN - FOX VALLEY & WESTERN LTD - To abandon a 26.64 mile line known as the West Bend-Eden Line, from m.p. 114.42 south of West Bend to m.p. 139.06 in Eden, Wisconsin. Included are the stations of West Bend, BR Siding, Kewaskum and Campbellsport. (STB Docket No. Final decision by January 28, 2000, decided October 21, served November 1, 1999)

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ARIZONA - UNION PACIFIC - To abandon the South Drill Track extending from m.p. 982.78 to the end of the line at m.p. 984.70 near Tuscon, Arizona, a distance of 1.92 miles. Final decision by February 16, 2000. (STB Docket No. AB-33, Sub No. 141X, decided November 10, served November 18, 1999.

NORTH DAKOTA - RED RIVER VALLEY & WESTERN RAILROAD CO. - To abandon about 56.34 miles of line from m.p. 29.16 west of Bowdon to m.p. 85.5 at the end of the line west of Turtle Lake, North Dakota. Effective January 1, 2000. (STB Docket No. AB-391, Sub No. 7X, decided November 22, served December 2, 1999)

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KENTUCKY - NORFOLK SOUTHERN - To abandon it's line between m.p. 0.7-LL at lawrenceburg and m.p. 3.5-LL at Tyrone, Kentucky, a distance of 2.8 miles. Effective January 27, 2000. (STB Docket No. AB-290, Sub No. 192X, decided December 16, served December 27, 1999)