One thing happening here I'm at a loss about. Currently, the Saluda Grade and Ecusta Trail are underway here in WNC, both old Southern Railway properties which became Norfolk Southern. Both tracks now out of service for some years now by NS. The landowners adjoining the rail are seeking compensation for the land the trail will occupy, citing "loss of land use". Before they owned their land ADJOINING the EXISTING RR right of way, and before their parents owned the land, and before their grandparents owned the land, the RR acquired the land. Either they bought it from the landowners at the time, leased it, were granted an easement, given it by the government, regardless the property was acquired by the RR and the RR has owned the right of way along the track roadbed and I assume, a few feet on either side ever since.
So how it is the current landowners are demanding, and RECEIVING compensation for something that was never theirs, is a mystery to me. Except that some law firm in, uh... Alabama? Arkansas?...don't remember where exactly but this law firm contacts all the landowners who's land adjoins the RR and "represents" the group as a whole to get them compensated for their "lost" land. I've yet to hear any type of logical explanation.