This document discusses railroad and public road rights of way in North Carolina. It notes that railroad rights of way can be complicated due to varying widths, elusive records, and questions around abandonment. State law presumes that abandoned railroad easements vest in adjacent landowners. For public roads, creation and abandonment can also be unclear, and adjoining landowners presumptively own land under abandoned roads. The document provides tips for professionals such as always consulting with railroads and title attorneys when dealing with rights of way.