(The following story by Larry Meyer appeared on the Argus Observer website on July 31.)
NYSSA, Ore. — A contractor last week removed rails, spikes and ties on the old Union Pacific branch line from Nyssa to Adrian.
The line, which formerly cut through Homedale and ended at Marsing, was declared abandoned in November by the Surface Transportation Board after a Union Pacific request. According to a Surface Transportation Board decision issued Nov. 14, the imposition of a public use was granted, beginning Nov. 16, to continue 180 days until May 14, to allow any state or local government agency or other interested person to negotiate the acquisition of the line for public use.
As requested, the abandonment began at mile post 2.0 near Nyssa and goes to milepost 11.4 near Adrian. There was no opposition to the abandonment, but there were concerns about the disposition of the right of way.
The Malheur County Court requested the issuance of a public use condition to protect the usage of a portion of county road which was found to be on railroad right of way. This would allow time for the county to try and obtain the right of way for the road, which it has been leasing from the railroad. The county did not object to removal of tracks, ties and signals. The railroad was to consult with the county engineer before removal of shared structures such as culverts and the portion of the road in the right of way. As of last week, though, a communication gap appeared to exist between county officials and UP representatives.
“We have tried,” Jim Kimberling, county engineer said when asked about negotiations with the railroad. “I have left messages which have not been returned.”
There was one initial contact regarding the slice of right of way on the county road with a UP representative. According to county leaders, UP indicated it was willing to negotiate regarding the road.
“They have not responded,” Kimberling said.
County officials had also discussed the possibility of keeping the portion of the rail line and right of way north of the Owyhee River for economic development purposes, looking for sites that could be used by rail-dependent companies. However, a survey of the route by a committee found little interest in that concept. There was no interest in maintaining the line south of the Owyhee River, given the need to maintain the trestle over the Owyhee River. During high water the trestle traps branches and other debris.
“There was really no business on the line to warrant keeping the track,” Zoe Richmond, Union Pacific spokesperson for the western region, said. “It is expensive to maintain.”