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(The following story by Andrea Howe appeared on The Daily Clarion website on January 15.)

PRINCETON, Ind. — CSX Transportation continues land acqusition necessary to move forward on a proposed train refueling yard parallell to the company’s rail line southwest of Princeton, said spokesman Brian Glover Tuesday.

The railroad was granted imminent domain rights to buy private property in a 180-acre strip of land bordering the west side of the tracks, bounded on the north by Enon C hurch Road, and on the south near King’s Mine and CR600S.

Glover said that process has been ongoing.

The rail company proposes a $20-million to $30-million train refueling yard involving six sets of tracks on the west side of U.S. 41.

County Commissioners learned a year ago that the company wanted permission to close a grade crossing at CR550 South for the project, offering to spend about $260,000 to widen another grade crossing and improve turning radius for farm implements on another county road if the county agreed to close the CR550S crossing.

The railroad’s proposal drew stiff opposition from residents, who didn’t want the crossing closed, and complained about trains that block tracks at other crossings.

Commissioners haven’t acted on the the request and the company hasn’t made further contact with county government after proposing the closure – or in the event the closure isn’t granted – using the money earmarked for alternate road improvement to put signals at the CR550 South crossing.