Hi...

What a railroad can and can't sell is dependent on how the rights of way are acquired in the first place in agreements usually dating to the 1800's.

Property that was actually purchased or deeded to the railroad company can be sub divided and sold piecemeal by the railroad to interested parties (usually adjacent land owners, government entities or utilities).

Property that was granted to the railroad as an easement reverts to original land owner(s) or their heirs when a railroad abandons the right of way or ceases railroad service depending on the terms of the original easement. The new owners can then dispose of the property as they want (or are able) to.

Regretfully, once the railroad property is sold or otherwise disposed of (especially in a piecemeal fashion) it is nearly impossible, or at least very, very expensive, to recover in a form that can once again be used as a transportation corridor.

Linear corridors through already developed areas are extremely valuable, even if trains are no longer run. Pipe lines, fiber optic cables and similar projects are orders of magnitude cheaper to construct when corridors of this type are available, not to mention bicycle paths and walking trails and future transportation needs.

Sam Farr is correct....

Gary...