The whole situation wth the WURR/WURA is very difficult to deal with. Exaserbated by Mr. Hammand's financial situation and the dry woods this last summer/fall.
Nearly none of the two counties residents want to loose the line. It is an infrastructure asset.

The ROW and the actual rail line can be separate issues. Adjacent property owners for the most part do not want a trail and are loath to have recreationalists over a fence and crawling around on their property.
Eventually some well intending but misguided "conservationists" will show up and begin telling the landowners how to manage their land.
Is a rail banking situation the best outcome for now? If the day ever comes that real rail traffic based on wood products out of Wallowa County comes back the rail line would be a better transportation option than placing more burdon on Hwy 82. When would that be? Otherwise, a day will come that hard decisons will have to be made and eventully the line will probably have to be pulled up. The ROW issues will then be on the table for all to argue over.