Now is when the necessity of the old and discarded rail systems comes to a head. At one time was a 'Y' at the north end of the KATY Boonville bridge that led off to/from Mexico MO that could be used to reroute blocked freight traffic, also where the Rock Island had access east to west both were as alternate routes when N KC yards flooded(at one time annually). Now AMTRAK is idled thru MO due to track freight loading on the UP and old MoPAC route across the State, been a great deal of stopped unit trains here at Hermann as traffic backs up. Most Western MO river crossings are shut down at the MO River due to flooding and are being rerouted to the UP mains.
Interesting post for sure. In reading various rail history books it was interesting to learn that connections were sometimes built between competing railroads to insure service continued when derailments or floods blocked one of the lines. With a small investment, both roads then had the ability to quickly reroute trains when inevitable events occurred.
You can only trim away so much supposed "excess". There will come a point where you are just cutting yourself... (aka: Short term gain, long term pain.)
When the now BNSF from Hannibal to Old Monroe MO flooded near Annada MO some years back there had been discussion as to reopening the old CB&Q from Mexico MO to Old Monroe to give a alternate route out of Des Moines, did not happen as MODOT had already buried ROW just W of Old Monroe under MO 79 expansion project. Seems our State Department of Transportation had no room for rail systems.