DG Rider
Member: Triple Clutch Club
Lifetime Member
No...not all of then get removed. Esp if it's a smaller railroad or one that went bankrupt.There are clubs across the country that tour the various track systems. Not all rails have been removed. There's one here in Asheville
craggy rail line - YouTube
In your neck of the woods, Saluda grade is a great example of a line that is out of service, but is not abandoned ( still RR property ). Don't know how they'd feel about people just showing up with homemade rail bikes/carts.