Path of Death

I sometimes walk along these tracks[CSX, former New York Central, West Shore line] to get a blip of the wild flowers growing along the tracks. I was dismayed to find a brown, dead swarth on each side of the track. I strongly suspect herbicides and will investigate further. Tnis doesn't seem like much until one realizes the US has over 100000 miles of RR mainline and if the practice is universal that totals to over 300 square miles of defoliation. this is an area about 1/5 of Rhode Island, our smallest state.

I suspect the practice is wide spread because years ago we drove US 17 that parallels the then Chesapeake and Ohio nowCSX tracks from Richmond to Newport News VA for over 50 miles. All the vegetation between the road and the tracks was dead, a grisly sight. Also the Adirondack SCENIC!! RR uses herbicides to keep its out of service lines plant free. This is a road that traveses forever wild areas in the Adirondack State Park