Re: (rshsdepot) FW: Depots in trouble......

["JIMBEAR" <ribear_@_cox.net>]

- ----- Original Message ----- 
From: <luckyshow_@_mindspring.com>
To: <rshsdepot_@_lists.railfan.net>
Sent: Friday, September 29, 2006 8:45 AM
Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) FW: Depots in trouble......


> wasn't all this railroad property given to the railroads? Couldn't there be 
> anything to use eminent domain for these structures on such land when the 
> railroad no longer wants such landmarks?

Theoretically, the city or town could, if it really wanted to, condemn the
property under eminent domain; HOWEVER, there must be an over-riding
public interest in the property, AND the government entity involved MUST
pay the prevailing market value for the property. Very few local governments
are inclined to take property off the tax rolls, put up tax dollars to pay for it,
and spend even more tax dollars to develop it, simply to satisfy the desire of
a small minority. This would be particularly true when they would then have 
to inform the majority, who could care less about something they perceive to 
be "just another old building", that their taxes would go up in order to pay for 
it. Not to mention that, even if the railroads were "given" the land, if it's still 
being used for railroad purposes, there is no legal justification to take it away.

In the Wilmington, Illinois example cited, a preservation group was GIVEN
a building and has had MORE THAN EIGHT YEARS to raise the funds to 
move it off railroad property. Their efforts have been less than successful. 
So far, they haven't even got a place to put the building, let alone the funds
to move it. Preservation is a fine idea, but it takes MONEY ! It is unrealistic
to expect taxpayers and/or corporations to foot the bill to support a project 
for a small group. To quote a famous movie phrase : "Show me the money !"

Even the US National Park Service has run out of patience with at least one 
preservation group. I would cite the example of the S.S. Nobska, the last 
survivor of the New Haven Railroad's once large fleet of steamships, and 
which was listed on the National Register Of Historic Places. For almost 10
years, she sat in a dry-dock at the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston. Work 
was begun to repair her hull, but the money ran out. Large areas of hull plating 
were removed, and she was left in a condition in which she could no longer 
float. A minimum of  $800,000 would have been necessary simply to do the 
welding necessary to float her out of the dock, and approx. $20 Million would 
have been needed to complete the restoration. All attempts to raise further funds 
failed. The National Park Service, which runs the yard, could wait no longer. 
The dry-dock was urgently needed for essential repairs to the USS Constitution, 
and the USS Cassin Young which are berthed at the yard. After many court 
hearings and appeals, the NPS finally demolished the hulk last June in order to 
clear the dry-dock for "Old Ironsides".

http://www.nobska.org/
http://www.mvgazette.com/news/2006/06/02/farewell_nobska.php

The unpleasant reality today is that, unless preservation groups have one or more 
backers with VERY deep pockets, most preservation attempts are doomed to 
failure. Public funding is generally NOT an option either, unless there is wide-
spread public support for the project. Taxpayers are generally unwilling to foot 
the bill for projects that don't interest them personally.

Jim.
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The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org

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