
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, June 3, 1993                   TAG: 9306030133
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Southwest Bureau
DATELINE: WYTHEVILLE                                LENGTH: Short

JUDGE ORDERS RAILROAD LAND RETURNED TO FARM

A circuit judge has ordered a section of New River Trail State Park returned to the farming enterprise that owned the land before Norfolk Southern Corp. began using it for a railroad route.

NS, formerly Norfolk and Western Railway, stopped using the Galax-to-Pulaski rail line in 1985. It removed its tracks and donated the right of way to the state for a linear park.

But Neuhoff Farms of Foster Falls in Wythe County claimed there was a provision in its easement to the railroad company that, once the land stopped being used for a rail line, it would revert to the original owner.

Circuit Judge Willis Woods heard arguments on the issue two months ago, and has now ruled that the right of way should be returned to Neuhoff Farms.

Only a depot and station site on the property would still belong to NS, he said.

by CNB