Regarding Right of Way ownership in streets, I recall that in many cases the railroad was granted an easement by the municipality that actually owns the street. Many of these easements date back to the early days of railroad construction as an incentive to have the railroad build through the town or city. Other times the street running dates back to streetcar or interurban days and franchise agreements made between the two parties. When Union Pacific finally abandoned the ex - WP / exx - SN street trackage in Chico, CA., the terms of the franchise agreement required U.P. to remove the tracks and return the street to its' original condition ( which would have been dirt !!! )