An Armstrong County woman Wednesday lost her bid to regain a strip of land used by railroads for more than 150 years.

The state Supreme Court ruled that Sally Moody, 78, of Applewold and other landowners are not entitled to regain property formerly used by railroads that has been converted into trails. Moody declined comment, saying she wanted to talk with her lawyer first.

The dispute erupted after Conrail, which discontinued rail service on the line, sold the rights to the railroad thruway to the Allegheny Valley Land Trust.

Moody and other landowners sued, saying their deeds specified that the land was taken "so long as it's used for a railroad." But the state's high court ruled 4-2 that so long as the thruway is preserved for future railroad use, it can remain in the hands of the trust.

Majority Opinion

Dissenting Opinion

Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review