The original Alton section of the RR was not just a right of way. The state took the fee interest in the land and either transferred that to the RR or leased it to the RR. My understanding is that the fee interest was transferred to the RR and when the RR was discontinued quite a bit was sold to the Town of Alton. The Town kept some and sold some. Some of the land became Rt 11. Whatever the details, the overall situation was unique to Alton.
About 10 years ago the Town wanted to make a short rail trail over the section from the Police station to Rt 28. A long court battle ensued. In the end the Town prevailed as the Town owns the fee interest from that long ago purchase from the RR. It was not a case of just an old ROW.
I have no idea how the land which is the subject of this thread fits into the overall history.
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