Received this reply on the NARCOA list about ideas to save the Bennington Branch in Vermont from becoming another trail. Some good ideas here:


Bob...It's Larry Bowler out in California. By virtue of our distance
I am not the audience your message seeks. I do want to tell you,
however, two things that might be encouraging to you.
1. Three of us sought and found a 10 mile unused branch of rail owned
by a short line railroad. We formed a Mutual Benefit Corporation
called Recreational Railroad Coalition and negotiated a lease for 2
years. The railroad company saw the value of putting life back on
their otherwise dead rails. We offered to provide security in
discouraging vandals, trespassers and unlawful dumpers. Our very
speeder presence a couple of times monthly does that very well.
Additionally we offer a public relations coup by running our "cute
little cartoonish" cars up and down the line. Our offer was so well
received by the railroad that they leased it to us for $1.00 per year.
Also, the R2T organization is beginning to see the value of a Rails
and Trails approach. By seperate message I will forward to you their
website with a number of articles by their own people which support
this concept.