Today, I noticed at the Tipton County Road 600 North (just north of Sharpsville) grade crossing of the IMC, that there had been some brush-whacking completed as I looked south toward Sharpsville. I couldn't stop and look closer because of traffic, but what was different about this work compared to what we've been discussing thus far (east of US 31 inside Kokomo city limits) is that the brush had been cut along each side of the rails. It looked like a machine had cleared it. However, there were still small trees and brush between the rails. There are not as many large trees on the ROW here, as this is where the NS maintenance ended when they were still serving traffic to the Sharpsville Co-op.
In the town of Sharpsville, it was hard to tell, but maybe a little clearing work was done as well. No sign of rail travelling equipment though. No cuts in the gravel at the grade crossings. I drove on south to CR 400 N, and could not see anything there. While in Sharpsville, there was some joints of rail that have been removed from the passing track. I don't know how long they've been gone. A co-op hired crew last fall removed some of the co-op siding in the same proximity.
