Adding a couple of things to Jessica's point. Some right of way land was subject to reversionary rights so that when the railroad abandoned it automatically reverted to its original owner. Other ROW was owned in "fee simple" (I think that is the term) by the railroad and the railroad continued to own it after abandonement. Most railroads had seperate land companies who held title to the non-operating properties adjacent to the railroad, in some cases the land companies ownership changed hands seperately from the railroad. For example in the ill fated SP Santa Fe merger that did not happen, the SP Land Company was not subject to the same regulatory constraints and it ended up with Santa Fe even tho the railroad went in a different direction. I may have some details wrong, but I think the above is directionally correct. My point being only that the fact the stock yard land shows as being owned by the DRGW, that does not necessarioy meet it went to UP. Maybe, maybe not.
JBWX
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/01/2023 11:19AM by John West.