How can you tell if a railroad line is abandoned? - Answers

An unused rail line will be rusted but a line in use will be polished from the wheels of trains. Also, an unused line will usually be overgrown with weeds etc Well, other than the above, you really can't tell. I have known several lines with weeds and other things on the track, and are still used for light freight. Try to (legally) find the closest signal light and see if its active (lit any color). Be very careful. You could also ask your local council, or at the nearest railway station etc. The best option is to assume that any tracks are live. If railroad tracks exist, you are probably tresspassing in the first place. If the tracks are covered in rust, they may not be used that often, but rust won't protect you from a run-away car travelling at 60 mph. Out of a railroad yard possibly 30 to 60 miles away.