Ya know, I never thought of the "right of way and who owns tracks" thing. That explains why the rails in the southeast are so crappy. We were going half the speed and rocking back and forth for hours in SC and GA. And the northeast ones are pretty good.

never gone west on the rails yet.

Are the rails next to the church in great barrington active? whose are they?

I believe those tracks belong to the Berkshire Scenic Railway, which operates sightseeing trains round-trip from Lenox on weekends only.[/quote]

The tracks also carry the occasional freight train, which sometimes (beautifully, I must say) will interrupt shows at the Church.

My four-year-old granddaughter still talks about 'squishing moneys' on those tracks, two years ago!

Oops, I must correct myself! The tracks belong to the Housatonic Railroad, a freight-only short-line company (not one of the mega-giants, and therefore not one of the bad guys!). The Berkshire Scenic Railway uses their tracks, but only between Lenox and Stockbridge and return.