They shut down the roadbed because the track was under the ground in the mud, and the railroad could hardly get over it. We will not go over the legal right to do it now, as that is past history and it is done. It was not related to tie condition, gauge or other track measurements which they do not have jurisdiction over. Irregular ng surface is not a measurement they can legally claim as well, as that too is not specified in the FRA stature.
No one on the railroad knew the Federal law enough to find it worthwhile to challenge the command, even at the worst time it could have happen.