The dismantling of the remnants of Eastern Shore’s last rail line continues, as rails and ties are being cut and upended. This work is taking place in southern Northampton County. The essay below was taken just south of the Webster Canning Plant in Cheriton. Back in the day, the plant was one of the best equipped in the country for Tomato Products and Sweet Potatoes. The warehouse capacity was close to two million cases, and the railroad was a major partner in moving this product.
The removal of the rail line is to make way for a purported bike trail.
Fishingman 727 says
This is wrong on so many levels. The future will prove this to be a serious pet project blunder. Elon Musk is working on a project to bring rail back in a manner which will benefit our transportation infrastructure across the entire country. Using it only walking and bikes means 99.99% of the time 99.99% of it will be empty. At least 90% of people will NEVER use it.
Bob says
Agree
However I wonder what happened to this and other agricultural businesses that once thrived here ?
Paul says
According to Google China was #1 producer of tomatoes in 2017, USA was #5
Fishingman727 says
Farmers always seem to get the short end of the stick for one reason or another. They are so important to us and generally under appreciated. I don’t think $6 diesel will improve things for them going forward.
Scott wivell says
The tracks were trash… it’s as simple as that… the ties are rotten and crumbling… if rail is the future they would need to be completely removed anyway and completely rebuilt… the state needs to buy the railroad land where it runs adjacent to the highways and make route 13 3 lanes in places
Fishingman727 says
Rails do things highways can’t when push comes to shove for any nation. It’s part of being prepared. Unfortunately many rail systems need repairs but that is still a better start than no rail at all. I’m supportive of improving our road system but not at the expense of eliminating rail.
Pasquale says
I’d say Fish and Scott are both correct; the rail was left to decay and rails provide a number of opportunities that moving freight by road does not.
Without the industry to justify upkeep, it is understandable to me to be rid of the rail. But, that is a very permanent option.
Northampton Local says
I think many people are just parroting what they hear from local government officials. Most of which is fake news. The biggest lie is the rail needed repairs. There was NOTHING I repeat NOTHING wrong with the rail itself. The ties deteriorate over time and needed repair due to neglect but the rail itself was 130 rail which is rail suitable for Class 1 operators. In fact class 1 operators all over the country are still using this same type rail. If it is indeed being sold for scrap that’s only because those in charge at the moment have no idea what they are doing. Plenty of rail operators would ay top dollar for that rail. What really happened to the railroad? Follow the money trail. There was an effort to drive that railroad under for years. Anyone who has been here anytime should know that.
Patterson Tweed says
Elon is going to dig a tunnel under the rail line. I heard that on FB. He is also bringing the ferry back.
Brand says
“MUSK LINE” will work for all of us well into the future.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bQnxlHZsjY
Brian Collins says
The bike trail will offer a safe alternative to ride bikes the length of the shore and hopefully it will be popular with tourists who will bring $ to spend on the shore to support businesses and jobs. The old railroad did nothing to help the shore economy.
Fishingman727 says
Your comment is positive and encouraging to justify the dismantling of the rails. Unfortunately my observations of this area see things much differently which far out weigh what a bike trail can be expected to do.
Business friendly I have not seen. Royal Farms had an application in for 11 years as I recall. A neighbor gave up on a small retail site for excessive costs and a mountain of never ending red tape. I thought the business was very complimentary for us. We have a policing for profit enterprise in our area which has become the most common road risk I face to change lanes to avoid them and the unfortunate. Officers dressed like ninjas driving stealth vehicles do not project a welcome to our community image for visitors.
Couldn’t we have saved the rails for some reason like the changing future or national security, added some hard surface for people, bikes, golf carts, horses, motorized wheel chairs, who cares what. Put it to as much good use as possible for as many as possible. Golf carts from the Cape Charles beach to Kiptopeke Campground and all going past the brewery and our town vendors. I think that would get the attention of a few more tourists and make our area a unique destination.
Brian Collins says
What is the bike trail surface and width ? I’d expect it can accommodate more than just bikes although I doubt golf carts will fit.
Tom Haskins says
Common Sense is scarce as hen’s teeth.
Piglet says
The revenue from bike tourists is somewhere between extremely little to none at all. That has repeatedly been the experience of businesses that mistakenly counted on revenue from bike riders. Local government leaders who push for converting rail lines to bike trails invariably push the falsehood of economic prosperity from bike trails and it NEVER happens. People just need to learn the hard way that it’s still true.
The railroad could have been more successful, but it would have required a complete change of ownership and management that weren’t determined to drive it out of business.
brian collins says
Visitors to the Shore as tourists want attractions that encourages them to vacation here and to stay longer – and biking is a favorite pastime. Biking now is risky without areas separated from cars (locals can probably find nice quiet back roads)
Jay Sherin says
For those who are too close to the past, the rail ROW has been re-purposed because the rail activity, now and in the near future, is non-existent. They did not give up the rights to the ROW, just the purpose of it for the foreseeable future. If someone came in and demanded the rail to return, it most likely would.
Someone has to pay to maintain the infrastructure. Rails-to trails should help keep the costs to a minimum.
Stuart Bell says
Let’s Go Brandon!