rrabandonments

2006

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

The railroad abandonment proposals are also published each month in the printed ARKANSAS RAILROADER, which I edit. It is the monthly publication of the Arkansas Railroad Club, Little Rock Chapter NRHS, and contains other rail news plus stories from railroading's past. Our address is: PO Box 9151, North Little Rock AR 72119. Chapter dues are $20 a year and includes the monthly newsletters. Email me if you have any questions about the abandonment page (I'd like to know who uses the page): ken@trainweather.com. I separated these reports into individual years since having them all together made the text file nearly 1 mb in size.

PROPOSED RAILROAD ABANDONMENTS - LATEST NOTICE BOTTOM OF LIST

2006

(Page updated December 28, 2006- last first-time abandonment notices served December 26, 2006)

I will try to update once a week or more. I do not quarantee 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 2006 for 2006 notices)

MARYLAND – NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILWAY CO. – To abandon its freight operating rights and rail freight service over 12.8 miles of a line of railroad between milepost UU-1.0 at Baltimore, MD, and milepost UU-12.8 at Cockeysville, MD. Footnote The line traverses U.S. Postal Service Zip Codes 21030, 21065, and 21201 and includes the stations of Lutherville, Timonium, Texas, and Cockeysville. NSR states that it will continue to provide rail service to the station of Baltimore. A final decision will be issued by April 3, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-290 (Sub-No. 237X), decided December 22, served January 3, 2006)

IOWA - IOWA NORTHWESTERN RAILROAD – To abandon a line of railroad known as the Iowa Northwestern Railroad, extending from milepost 235.25 near Lake Park, IA, to the end of the line at milepost 252.3 near Allendorf, IA, a distance of 17.05 miles in Osceola and Dickinson Counties, IA (the line). The stations of Harris (MP 240.5), Ocheyedan (MP 246.0) and Allendorf (MP 251.8) are located on the line. A final decision will be issued by April 14, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-1067 (Sub-No. 1X), decided January 5, served January 13, 2006)

WASHINGTON - YAKIMA INTERURBAN LINES ASSOCIATION – To abandon a line of railroad known as the Naches Branch, from milepost 2.97 (near Yakima) to milepost 14.26 (near Naches), a distance of approximately 11.29 miles in Yakima County, WA. Effective on February 18, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-600 (Sub-No. 1X), decided January 12, served January 19, 2005)

NORTH DAKOTA – BNSF – To abandon a 7.12-mile line of railroad between milepost 144.21 at Grafton, and milepost 137.09, near Voss, in Walsh County, ND. Effective on February 25, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-6 (Sub-No. 432X), decided January 20, served January 26, 2006)

ALABAMA – NORFOLK SOUTHERN - To abandon a 5.8-mile line of railroad between milepost 55.3-N at Fort McClellan, and milepost 61.1-N, at Anniston, in Calhoun County, AL. Effective on March 4, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-290 (Sub-No. 265X, decided January 27, served February 2, 2006)

WYOMING - BNSF - To abandon a 0.11-mile line of railroad between milepost 42.59 and milepost 42.70, near Cody, in Park County, WY. Effective on March 4, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-6 (Sub-No. 436X, decided January 27, served February 2, 2006)

MICHIGAN – GRAND TRUNK WESTERN RR INCORPORATED – To abandon its line of railroad, the Flint Old Main, between milepost 265.3 and milepost 267.5, in Flint, Genesee County, MI, a distance of 2.2 miles. Effective on March 11, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-31 (Sub-No. 40X, decided February 1, served February 9, 2006)

WISCONSIN CENTRAL LTD - To abandon its line of railroad in Ashland, Ashland County, WI, referred to herein as the “Ore Dock Line”, starting from a point of switch off WCL’s mainline through Ashland at milepost 434.49 and continuing 5,160 feet to the end of WCL’s Ashland Ore Dock. Effective on March 25, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB- 303 (Sub-No. 28X), decided February 14, served February 23, 2006)

WYOMING - WYOMING AND COLORADO RAILROAD COMPANY, INC. – To abandon a 23.71-mile line of railroad between milepost 0.57, near Walcott and milepost 24.28, at Saratoga, in Carbon County, WY. A final decision will be issued by May 31, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-307 (Sub-No. 6X), decided February 23, served March 2, 2006)

UTAH - UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY AND SALT LAKE CITY CORPORATION – To abandon its freight operating rights and rail freight service over 2.22 miles of a line of railroad between milepost 780.1 and milepost 782.32 in Salt Lake City, UT. A final decision will be issued by June 2, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-33 (Sub-No. 237X), decided February 27, served March 3, 2006)

MINNESOTA – BNSF –To abandon a 5.40-mile line of railroad between BNSF’s milepost 15.60, near Georgetown in Clay County, MN, and milepost 21.00, near Perley in Norman County, MN. Effective on April 7, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-6 (Sub-No. 433X), decided March 1, served March 8, 2006)

OKLAHOMA – UNION PACIFIC – To discontinue service over a 0.42-mile line of railroad between Stiles Avenue to the point of connection with the BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) line near Second Street (the Old Rock Island Main) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, OK. Effective on April 15, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-33 (Sub-No. 239X), decided March 10, served March 16, 2006)

KANSAS – ATLANTIC & PACIFIC RAILROAD AND TRANSPORTATION CO. - To discontinue service over an approximately 4-mile line of railroad owned by the Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad (KO) and located in Rice County, KS.[1] The line extends from the point of interchange with KO’s line at approximately milepost 87.0 (at or near Chase, KS), to the point of interchange with KO’s line at approximately milepost 91.0 (at or near Silica, KS). A final decision will be issued by June 20, 2006. ([STB Docket No. AB-992X, decided March 16, served March 22, 2006)

KANSAS – UNION PACIFIC –To abandon its Durand Industrial Lead, a 1.55-mile line of railroad, between milepost 385.45 and milepost 387.00, near Yates Center in Woodson County, KS. Effective on April 28, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-33 (Sub-No. 233X), decided March 17, served March 29, 2006)

IOWA – UNION PACIFIC -To abandon its Ellsworth Industrial Lead, a 3.2-mile line of railroad, between milepost 0.0, near Jewell, and milepost 3.2, at Ellsworth in Hamilton County, IA. Effective on April 28, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-33 (Sub-No. 175X), decided March 17, served March 29, 2006)

IOWA – BNSF – To abandon a 0.89-mile line of railroad that extends between Station 0+00 and Station 47+00 near Glake, in Polk County, IA. Effective on May 5, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-6 (Sub-No. 437X), decided March 28, served April 5, 2006)

MISSISSIPPI – ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD COMPANY - To abandon its line of railroad that comes off IC’s Grenada Sub at milepost 705.2 and traverses eastward approximately 12,300 feet to the end of the track in Canton, Madison County, MS. Effective on May 11, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-43 (Sub-No. 178X), decided April 4, served April 11, 2006)

MISSISSIPPI – ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD COMPANY - To abandon a 4.1-mile line of railroad between milepost 53.0 near Silver Creek and milepost 57.1 near Ferguson, in Lawrence County, MS. Effective on May 11, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-43 (Sub-No. 177X), decided April 3, served April 11, 2006)

IOWA – NORTH CENTRAL RAILWAY ASSOCIATION, INC - To abandon and discontinue service over a 10.54-mile line of railroad between milepost 201.46, near Ackley, IA, and milepost 212.00, near Steamboat Rock, IA. Effective on May 13, 2006. (Interesting line history: According to the railroad, the Iowa Central Railway company initially purchased the line between 1866 and 1869 as part of the north-south railroad mainline located between Marshalltown, IA, about 30 miles due south of Steamboat Rock, and Mason City, IA, approximately 45 miles north of Ackley. The line was later expanded to a north-south route between Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN and Kansas City, MO. In 1912, the Iowa Central Railway Company deeded the line to the Minneapolis and St. Paul Railroad Company. In 1960, the line was deeded to the Chicago and North railway Company (CNW). In 1983, Rock Island and Pacific Company purchased the line and reduced its traffic to local service only.   The railroad states that in 1988, CNW filed an application to abandon the line with the Interstate Commerce Commission. The abandonment was approved in 1989. However, following its approval, CNW and NCRA negotiated the purchase of the line. In 1989, NCRA was authorized to acquire the line and the abandonment was dismissed. In November 1989, the Chicago Central and Pacific Railroad Company (CCP) was granted permission to lease and operate the line, but according to the railroad, there has been no rail service on the line for over sixteen years…Based on information in the railroad’s possession, the line does not contain any Federally granted rights-of-way. If the notice becomes effective, the railroad will be able to salvage track, ties, and other railroad appurtenances and to dispose of the right-of-way. (STB Docket No. AB-586 (Sub-No. 2X), decided April 7, served April 13, 2006)

TEXAS – DALLAS AREA RAPID TRANSIT - Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), a political subdivision of the State of Texas, and Dallas, Garland and Northeastern Railroad (DGNO), a Class III rail carrier, have jointly filed a notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1152 Subpart F—Exempt Abandonments and Discontinuances of Service for DART to abandon, and for DGNO to discontinue service, over approximately 8.85 miles of railroad, between milepost 281.65, near Plano, and milepost 290.5, near Allen, in Collin County, TX. Effective on May 16, 2006. ([STB Docket No. AB-439 (Sub-No. 6X), decided April 10, served April 14, 2006)

WASHINGTON – BNSF - To abandon a 0.23-mile line of railroad between BNSF Engineering Station 521 + 42 and BNSF Engineering Station 533 + 65, in Olympia, in Thurston County, WA. Effective on May 16, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-6 (Sub-No. 440X, decided April 10, served April 14, 2006)

MINNESOTA – BNSF - To abandon a 0.58-mile line of railroad that extends between BNSF’s milepost 113.44 and milepost 114.02, near Camp Ripley in Morrison County, MN. Effective on May 16, 2006. ([STB Docket No. AB-6 (Sub-No. 438X, decided April 7, served April 14, 2006)

VIRGINIA – NORFOLK SOUTHERN - To discontinue service over an approximately 1.63-mile line of railroad between milepost VB-0.12 near Park Avenue and milepost VB-1.75 near Tidewater Junction in Norfolk, VA. The line serves the station of Tidewater Junction in Norfolk. A final decision will be issued by July 14, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-290 (Sub-No. 269X), decided April 7, served April 17, 2006)

KENTUCKY – CSX – To abandon a 12.99-mile line of railroad on its Southern Region, Huntington Division West, Cumberland Valley Subdivision, in Harlan and Letcher Counties, KY. The line to be abandoned consists of: (1) a portion of the Poor Fork branch between milepost 0WC 261.1, near Cumberland, and milepost 0WC 262.3, at Cumberland Junction; and (2) the entire Scotia Branch between milepost 0WD 262.21, at Cumberland Junction, and milepost 0WD 274.0, near Scotia at the end of the line. Effective on May 26, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-55 (Sub-No. 665X), decided April 18, served April 26, 2006)

KANSAS – KANSAS & OKLAHOMA RAILROAD, INC - To abandon its 6-mile line of railroad between milepost 85.0, at Chase, and milepost 91.0 at Silica, in Rice County, KS. Effective on June 9, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-853 (Sub-No. 3X), decided May 3, served May 10, 2006)

KENTUCKY – CSX - To abandon a 12.56-mile rail line on its Southern Region, Huntington Division-West, Cumberland Valley Subdivision, from milepost OWH 258.5 to the end of the track at milepost OWH-271.06, in Harlan County, KY. Effective on June 10, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-55 (Sub-No. 667X), decided May 4, served May 11, 2006)

TEXAS – UNION PACIFIC - To abandon a 7.25-mile line of railroad, the Tyler Industrial Lead, extending from milepost 0.25 near Troup to milepost 7.50 near Whitehouse, in Smith County, TX. Effective on June 10, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-33 (Sub-No. 223X), decided May 4, served May 11, 2006)

NORTH CAROLINA – NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILWAY CO/ YADKIN RAILROAD COMPANY (YRC), A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF NSR, AND WINSTON-SALEM SOUTHBOUND RAILWAY COMPANY (WSSB), A CLASS III SWITCHING CARRIER OWNED EQUALLY BY NSR AND CSX TRANSPORTATION, INC - (1) for NSR to discontinue service over 11.11 miles of rail line (the Line) between milepost WF-0.00 at Halls Ferry Junction and milepost WF-11.11 at Badin in Stanly County, NC, which it operates under lease from YRC; (2) for YRC to discontinue service over the Line, which it leases from Alcoa, Inc. (Alcoa), the owner of the Line’s right-of-way, track, and improvements;[1] and (3) for WSSB to discontinue service over the 5.21-mile portion of the Line between milepost WF-5.90 at Whitney, NC, and milepost WF-11.11 at Badin, which it and YRC jointly lease from Alcoa. The Line serves the station of Badin. NSR will continue to serve the Halls Ferry Junction station, and WSSB will continue to serve the Whitney station. A final decision will be issued by August 11, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-290 (Sub-No. 254X), decided May 5, served May 15, 2006)

SOUTH CAROLINA – CSX TRANSPORTATION, INC. – To abandon a 12.74-mile rail line between milepost AKL 26.26 near Belton, the end of the line, and milepost AKL 39.00, near Pelzer, on the Southern Region, Florence Division, Belton Subdivision, in Anderson County, SC. The line includes one station, the Belton Station, at milepost AKL 31.0. A final decision will be issued by August 16, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-55 (Sub-No. 664X), decided May 10, served May 18, 2006)

ARKANSAS – UNION PACIFIC – To abandon a 3.6-mile line of railroad on the El Dorado Subdivision, extending from milepost 457.0 near Gilcrest to milepost 460.6 near El Dorado Junction, in Quachita County, AR. Effective on June 30, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-33 (Sub-No. 222X, decided May 23, served May 31, 2006)

LOUISIANA – KANSAS CITY SOUTHERN RAILWAY CO. - To abandon 0.71 miles of rail line,[1] extending from milepost 862.14 (near Turnbull Drive) to milepost 862.85 (near Causeway Blvd.), in Jefferson Parish, LA. Effective on July 5, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-103 (Sub-No. 20X), decided May 25, served June 5, 2006)

NORTH CAROLINA – NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILWAY CO. – To abandon approximately 3.5 miles of railroad between milepost SB 205.0 and milepost SB 208.5, near Marion, in McDowell County, NC. Effective on July 8, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-290 (Sub-No. 266X), decided June 1, served June 8, 2006)

MICHIGAN – CONSOLIDATED RAIL CORP - To abandon approximately 4.3 miles of two contiguous lines of railroad as follows: (1) the Detroit Terminal West Industrial Track, between approximately milepost 7.70± near Joseph Campau Street and approximately milepost 10.30± near Woodrow Wilson Street; and (2) the Highland Park Industrial Track, between approximately milepost 7.40± near Woodrow Wilson Street and approximately milepost 5.70± near Cloverdale Street, in Detroit and Highland Park, Wayne County, MI. Effective on July 20, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-167 (Sub-No. 1188X, decided June 9, served June 20, 2006)

KANSAS – UNION PACIFIC - For UP to abandon, and for SKO to discontinue service over, approximately 0.8 miles of railroad located: (1) between milepost 166.0, at the west bank of the Verdigris River, and milepost 166.6, at the west edge of Sunflower Road; and (2) at the portion of UP’s railroad easement between milepost 166.6, at the west edge of Sunflower Road, and milepost 166.8, at the west edge of Linden Street, near Coffeyville, in Montgomery County, KS. Effective on July 29, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-33 (Sub-No. 242X), decided June 26, served June 29, 2006)

NEW MEXICO - NEW MEXICO GATEWAY RAILROAD LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY - To discontinue service over approximately 3.5 miles of rail line at Santa Teresa, in Dona Ana County, NM, as follows: (1) a 4,412-foot spur identified as Track A; (2) a 3,375-foot spur identified as Track B; (3) a 3,884-foot spur identified as Track C; (4) a 4,338-foot spur identified as Track D; and (5) a 2,728-foot runaround track. Effective on August 3, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-995X), decided June 23, served July 3, 2006)

NEW JERSEY – CONSOLIDATED RAIL CORP - To abandon a portion of a line of railroad known as the Robbinsville Industrial Track, between milepost 32.20+ and milepost 37.90+ in the cities of Hamilton Township and Washington Township, Mercer County, NJ, a distance of 5.7 miles+. Effective on August 2, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-167 (Sub-No. 1185X), decided June 23, served July 3, 2006)

IDAHO – BNSF – To abandon approximately 2.12 miles of rail line, extending from milepost 12.33 to milepost 14.45, in Coeur d’Alene in Kootenai County, ID. Effective on August 4, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-6 (Sub-No. 441X), decided June 27, served July 5, 2006)

WASHINGTON - KETTLE FALLS INTERNATIONAL RAILWAY, LLC- To abandon an approximately 28.361-mile line of railroad, extending from milepost 48.779, near Danville, to milepost 77.14, at San Poil, in Perry County, WA. A final decision will be issued by October 11, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-994X, decided July 6, served July 13, 2006)

NORTH DAKOTA – BNSF - To abandon approximately 11.90 miles of rail line, extending from milepost 40.10, near Bottineau, to milepost 52.00, near Souris, in Bottineau County, ND. Effective on August 15, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-6 (Sub-No. 439X), decided July 7, served July 14, 2006)

LOUISIANA - THE ALABAMA GREAT SOUTHERN RAILROAD COMPANY – The Alabama Great Southern Railroad Company (AGS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Norfolk Southern Railway Company (NSR), has filed a notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1152 Subpart F–Exempt Abandonments and Discontinuances of Service to discontinue service over a 4.50-mile line of railroad, between milepost 0.00 PT, at Poydras Junction, and milepost 4.50 PT, at Toca, in Saint Bernard Parish, LA. Effective on August 17, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-290 (Sub-No. 273X), decided July11, served July 18, 2006)

WEST VIRGINIA – CSX - To abandon a 1.4-mile line of railroad on its Southern Region, Huntington Division – East, Logan and Southern Subdivision, extending from milepost CME 10.0 at Stirrat to milepost CME 11.4 at the end of the line at Sarah Ann, in Logan County, WV. Effective on August 18, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-55 (Sub-No. 671X), decided July 12, served July 19, 2006)

MASSACHUSETTS – CSX TRANSPORTATION, INC. – To abandon a 2.39-mile line between milepost QBX 0.15 and the end of the line at milepost QBX 2.54, in the Northern Region, Albany Division, Boston Subdivision, in Middlesex County, MA. A final decision will be issued by October 25, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-55 (Sub-No. 670X), decided July 18, late release date July 28, 2006 but actually served July 20, 2006)

ILLINOIS – BNSF - To: (1) abandon a 1-mile line of railroad between milepost 51.58 and milepost 52.58 near Farmington, in Fulton County, IL; and (2) discontinue service over a 4.69-mile line of railroad between milepost 46.89 near Yates City, and milepost 51.58 near Farmington, in Knox County, IL, a total distance of 5.69 miles. Effective on September 5, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-6 (Sub-No. 431X), decided August 1, served August 4, 2006)

NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILWAY CO. – To abandon a 12.22-mile line of railroad between milepost TP 14.69 at Blue Creek, and milepost TP 26.91 at Acup (Sanderson), in Kanawha County, WV. Effective on September 14, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-290 (Sub-No. 267X), decided August 7, served August 15, 2006)

PENNSYLVANIA - READING BLUE MOUNTAIN AND NORTHERN RAILROAD COMPANY – To abandon a 1.2-mile portion of its Minersville Running Track, extending from milepost 7.6 to milepost 8.8, in Norwegian and Cass Townships, in Schuylkill County, PA. Effective on September 20, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-996X, decided August 14, served August 21, 2006)

PENNSYLVANIA - CSX – To abandon a 0.26-mile line of railroad on its Northern Region, Baltimore Division (South Jersey CSAO), Delaware Extension, from milepost 6.27 to the end of track at milepost 6.53, known as Pier 124 Track in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA. Effective on September 26, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-55 (Sub-No. 657X, decided August 18, served August 25, 2006)

COLORADO – BNSF – To abandon a 1.13-mile line of railroad extending between milepost 36.72 and milepost 35.59, near Longmont, in Boulder County, CO. Effective on September 30, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-6 (Sub-No. 442X), decided August 23, served August 31, 2006)

MINNESOTA - MINNESOTA NORTHERN RAILROAD, INC – To abandon a 17.0-mile portion of its Ada Subdivision between milepost 64.0, south of Beltrami, and the end of the line at milepost 47.0, south of Ada, in Polk and Norman Counties, MN. A final decision will be issued by December 4, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-497 (Sub-No. 3X), decided August 28, served September 5, 2006)

INDIANA – CSX - To abandon a 7.4-mile line of railroad on its Southern Region, Nashville Division, CE&D Subdivision, Riley Spur, from milepost OZD 5.0 (near Terre Haute) to the end of track at milepost OZF 12.4 (near Riley) in Vigo County, IN. The line traverses United States Postal Service Zip Code 47802 and includes the station of Chinook. Effective on October 14, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-55 (Sub-No. 674X), decided September 7, served September 14, 2006)

OHIO – NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILWAY CO. - To abandon 2.31 miles of track between mileposts LV-22.32 and LV-23.55 and between mileposts LV-24.17 and LV-25.25, in the Village of Sheffield, in Lorain County, OH.   The line traverses United States Postal Service Zip Code 44055 and includes the former station of South Lorain. Effective on October 18, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-290 (Sub-No. 268X), decided September 8, served September 18, 2006)

INDIANA - THE CENTRAL RAILROAD COMPANY OF INDIANA – To discontinue service over a 2.6-mile line of railroad between milepost 64.67 and milepost 67.27, near Greenburg, in Decatur County, IN. Effective on October 20, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-459 (Sub-No. 3X), decided September 12, served September 20, 2006)

NEW HAMPSHIRE - STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION – To abandon a portion of rail line known as the Lakeport Spur, in Belknap County, NH, extending from engineering station 1 + 70 to engineering station 11 + 28.11 (on Valuation Section V.21, Map 65-A). Effective on October 25, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-871X, decided September 15, served September 25, 2006)

NORTH CAROLINA - NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY - To abandon a 2.0-mile line of railroad between milepost HG 45.0 and milepost 47.0 in Gastonia, in Gaston County, NC. The line includes the former station of North Gastonia. Effective on October 27, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-290 (Sub-No. 275X, decided September 18, served September 27, 2006)

TENNESSEE AND MISSISSIPPI - MISSISSIPPI TENNESSEE HOLDINGS, LLC AND MISSISSIPPI TENNESSEE RAILROAD, LLC - For MTH to abandon, and for MTRR to discontinue service over: (1) an approximately 19.4-mile line of railroad between milepost 367.5, which is located approximately 25 feet north of the centerline of Thryson Krump plant entry road in Middleton, Hardeman County, TN, and milepost 348.1, which is located approximately 1,663 feet north of the centerline of Industrial Park Road at the northern end of Ripley, Tippah County, MS; and (2) an approximately 1.36-mile line of railroad between milepost 325.56, which is located approximately 25 feet north of the BNSF Railway Company diamond in New Albany, Union County, MS, and milepost 324.2, which is located approximately one-quarter of a mile south of Interstate Highway 78 in Union County, MS, a total distance of 20.76 miles. Effective on October 28, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-868 (Sub-No. 1X, decided September 22, served September 28, 2006)

MONTANA - BNSF RAILWAY COMPANY - To abandon a .42-mile rail line that extends between Engineering Station 189 + 36 and Engineering Station 167 + 00, near Kalispell in Flathead County, MT. Effective on October 28, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-6 (Sub-No. 444X, decided September 21, served September 28, 2006)

MONTANA – BNSF RAILWAY COMPANY - To abandon 1.67 miles of railroad between milepost 194.61 and milepost 196.28, near Great Falls, in Cascade County, MT. Effective on November 8, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-6 (Sub-No. 445X, decided October 2, served 6, 2006)

CALIFORNIA, NEVADA - UNION PACIFIC – To permit abandonment and discontinuance of service over both the Flanigan Industrial Lead from milepost 338.33 near Flanigan, NV, to milepost 360.10 near Wendel, CA, a distance of 21.77 miles in Washoe County, NV, and Lassen County, CA; and over the Susanville Industrial Lead from milepost 358.68 to milepost 359.25 near Wendel, CA, a distance of .57 miles in Lassen County, CA (collectively, the line). A final decision will be issued by January 26, 2007. (STB Docket No. AB-33 (Sub-No. 230X), decided October 23, served October 30, 2006)

TEXAS - TIMBER ROCK RAILROAD, INC - To discontinue service over a 116-mile portion of rail line that it operates under lease from BNSF Railway Company (BNSF), the owner of the line. The line extends between (1) milepost 149.5 near Silsbee, TX, and milepost 52.5 near Dobbin, TX, (2) milepost 20.70 near Silsbee, TX, and milepost 4.5 near Beaumont, TX, and (3) milepost 149.5 and milepost 152.30 and track No. 498 in the Silsbee Yard near Silsbee, TX. TIBR also seeks to discontinue its 54.72 miles of overhead trackage rights operations over BNSF lines extending between (1) milepost 52.5 near Dobbin, TX, and milepost 144.0 on the BNSF Galveston Subdivision at Somerville, TX, and (2) milepost 4.5 near Beaumont, TX, and milepost 2.28 at Beaumont, TX. A final decision will be issued by January 31, 2007. (As I understand it, the BNSF took over operations of this line again after leasing it to Timber Rock in 2004). (STB Docket No. AB-998X, decided October 25, served November 2, 2006)

MASSACHUSETTS - BOSTON AND MAINE CORPORATION – For B&M to abandon, and ST to discontinue service over, a line of railroad, known as the Fitchburg Freight Cut-Off, extending from milepost 0.00 to milepost 0.86 in Somerville, in Middlesex County, MA. Effective on December 7, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-32 (Sub-No. 99X), decided October 31, served November 7, 2006)

WASHINGTON – BNSF - To abandon approximately 0.65 miles of rail line, extending between milepost 10.60 and milepost 11.25, near Wilburton, in King County, WA. Effective on December 8, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-6 (Sub-No. 453X), decided October 30, served November 8, 2006)

MICHIGAN – NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILWAY CO. - To abandon a 1.4-mile line of railroad between milepost CQ 41.3, and milepost CQ 42.7, located in Parchment, Kalamazoo County, MI. The line traverses United States Postal Service Zip Code 49004 and includes the former station of Parchment. Effective on December 12, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-290 (Sub-No. 284X), decided November 3, served November 9, 2006)

NORTH CAROLINA - YADKIN RAILROAD COMPANY AND NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILWAY - For Yadkin to abandon, and for NSR to discontinue service over, a 4.14-mile line of railroad between milepost N 27.50 in North Albemarle and milepost N 31.64 in Albemarle, Stanly County, NC. The line traverses United States Postal Service Zip Code 28001. The line includes the former stations of North Albemarle and Albemarle. Effective on December 14, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-290 (Sub-No. 281X and STB Docket No. AB-290 (Sub-No. 270X), decided November 3, served November 14, 2006)

ILLINOIS – BNSF – To abandon a 0.04-mile line of railroad that extends between milepost 3.53 and milepost 3.57, at Nifa, in Kane County, IL. Effective on December 21, 2006. (STB Docket No. AB-6 (Sub-No. 447X), decided November 8, served November 21, 2006) (My comment: 0.04 mile? I think that’s the shortest abandonment request I’ve seen. Must be some sort of connection? – KZ) (Update...according to an email I received on December 28, 2006 from Ed Docekal of Illinois, the BNSF NIFA abandonment notice of 0.04 miles is probably the Illinois Tollway bridge.   The tollway below the ROW bridge is scheduled to be widened, and the line ends at the north end of the bridge at the moment. They'll likely cut it at the south end.)

TENNESSEE - THE CINCINNATI, NEW ORLEANS AND TEXAS PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPANY - To abandon an approximately 1.10-mile line of railroad extending from milepost 156.9-H to milepost 158.0-H in Rockwood, Roane County, TN.[1] The line traverses United States Postal Service Zip Code 37854 and serves the station at Rockwood, where CNOTP will continue to provide rail service. A final decision will be issued by February 23, 2007. (STB Docket No. AB-290 (Sub-No. 280X), decided November 15, served November 24, 2006)

MINNESOTA – UNION PACIFIC – To abandon a 0.81-mile line of railroad known as the Stillwater Industrial Lead, extending from milepost 4.69 to milepost 5.50 near Stillwater in Washington County, MN. Effective on January 3, 2007. (STB Docket No. AB-33 (Sub-No. 234X), decided November 21, served December 4, 2006)

CALIFORNIA – UNION PACIFIC - To discontinue service over an approximately 4.77-mile line of railroad known as the Pearson Industrial Lead, extending from milepost 133.29, near Alicia, to milepost 129.91, near Pearson, and milepost 0.00 to milepost 1.39, near Pearson, in Yuba County, CA. The line traverses U.S. Postal Service Zip Code 95901, and serves stations at Pearson and Reed. A final decision will be issued by March 9, 2007. (STB Docket No. AB-33 (Sub-No. 238X, decided December 1, served December 8, 2006)

INDIANA – NORFOLK SOUTHERN - The City of South Bend, IN (the City), the Brothers of Holy Cross, Inc. (the Brothers), and the Sisters of the Holy Cross, Inc. (the Sisters) (collectively, applicants), filed an application under 49 U.S.C. 10903, requesting that the Surface Transportation Board authorize the third-party or adverse abandonment of approximately 3.7 miles of railroad lines (the Lines) owned by Norfolk Southern Railway Company (NSR).\1\ The Lines are located between milepost UV 0.0 and milepost UV 2.8 and between milepost Z0 9.6 and milepost Z0 10.5, and include an industrial spur that extends from milepost Z0 9.6 to the University of Notre Dame (the University), all in St. Joseph County, IN.
   According to applicants, the Lines traverse properties owned by the Brothers and the Sisters. The Brothers' property is the site of Holy Cross College, Holy Cross Village (a retirement community), and other improvements and uses furthering the Brothers' charitable mission. The Sisters' property is the site of a motherhouse, the international
headquarters of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross, and the Inn at St. Mary's, and it is adjacent to St. Mary's College, which the Sisters sponsor.
    Applicants state that there has been no rail service or requests for service on the Lines for at least 10 years and claim that there is no foreseeable need for rail service. Additionally, applicants claim that sections of the Lines have been paved over and removed at numerous locations and that the Lines are physically severed from the national rail system as a result of previous abandonments. Applicants state that the line between milepost UV 0.0 and milepost UV 2.8 crosses 17 streets in the City, two of which carry significant vehicular traffic, creating a public nuisance and significant safety
and environmental concerns. They add that the City plans to acquire or condemn the portion of the right-of-way within its jurisdiction for public use in the form of a sewer system and a trail. Additionally, applicants claim that a portion of that line and of the line between milepost Z0 9.6 and milepost Z0 10.5 are adversely affecting the Brothers' ability to plan for the future because they run through the heart of its property. The Brothers and the Sisters also assert a claim under Indiana law to a reversionary interest in this section of the right-of-way.( [STB Docket No. AB-290 (Sub-No. 286, decided December 5, served December 11, 2006)

NORTH CAROLINA - HIGH POINT, RANDLEMAN, ASHEBORO AND SOUTHERN RAILROAD COMPANY (NORFOLK SOUTHERN) – To abandon, 1.5 miles of railroad between milepost M 0.0 and milepost M 1.5 in High Point, Guilford County, NC. The line traverses United States Postal Service Zip Code 27260, and includes the former station of High Point. Effective on January 20, 2007. (STB Docket No. AB-290 (Sub-No. 276X), decided December 11, served December 21, 2006)

ALABAMA - BIRMINGHAM SOUTHERN RAILROAD COMPANY - To abandon a 0.18-mile line of railroad known as the Old Port Branch, extending from Survey Station 936+04.07 of Turnout P-63 A, over Trestle 17.9, to a connection with Ergon Terminaling, Inc.’s (Ergon) rail line at Survey Station 945+52.55 in Jefferson County, AL. Effective on January 23, 2007. (STB Docket No. AB-192 (Sub-No. 2X), decided December 14, 2006, served December 22, 2006)

WEST VIRGINIA - NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY – To abandon a 2.5-mile line of railroad between milepost CB 0.0 and milepost CB 2.5, in Caretta, in McDowell County, WV. The line traverses United States Postal Service Zip Code 24892 and includes the former station of Juno. Effective on January 25, 2007. (STB Docket No. AB-290 (Sub-No. 272X), decided December 18, served December 26, 2006)