Giving up rail beds in 2022 times to abutters are unlikely to ever happen, but the Lakeshore Rail Bed was abandoned sometime in the early 1930's so what's done is done.
Not sure when the rails themselves were removed, but my guess is sometime in the 1940's. This steel was a valuable need for the USA during WWII and unused rail lines were ripped up and put to good use for military use. Anyone remember the ''El" that ran in Boston between North Station and South Station via Atlantic Avenue? This was taken apart, melted down and put to good use for the WWII war effort.
Today, many (maybe most) rail lines that are abandoned are commonly turned into recreational trails for bicycles, walkers, etc..
I'm confident if that line had been abandoned today then all of us would have a truly beautiful walking trail along the shoreline...... Which is now very valuable land!
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