Sec. 7. Any railroad company incorporated under the provisions of this chapter, shall have the power and authority to acquire, by purchase or contract, the road, road bed, real and personal property, rights, and franchises, of any other railroad corporation or corporations which may cross or intersect the line of such railroad company, or any part of same, or the use and enjoyment thereof, in whole or in part, and may also purchase or contract for the use and enjoyment, in whole or in part, of any railroad or railroads, lying within adjoining states, may assume such of the debts and liabilities of such corporations as may be deemed proper; and upon purchasing any such railroad or railroads, all the real and personal property of such corporations, so purchased, and also the rights, powers, and franchises of the same, shall become vested in the railroad company so purchasing the same, together with all the rights, powers, privileges, and franchises conferred by the charter of the roads so purchased and all amendments thereto and the provisions of this chapter, and the company so purchasing or acquiring the title to, or use of such railroad or railroads shall have power to complete, maintain, and operate the same. Any railroad company incorporated under the provisions of this chapter shall also have power to consolidate with other railroad corporations in the continuous line, either within or without this state, upon such terms as may be agreed upon by the corporations owning the same; and also shall have the power and authority to construct, equip, maintain, and operate branch railroads leading from the main line or from the termini of such railroad, from and to such points, with this state or any adjoining state, as may be deemed expedient, and in constructing the same shall have the right to enter in, and upon all lands, to survey routes, receive donations of lands or moneys, purchase, and condemn lands required for the use of the road, lay single or double tracks, to cross all watercourses and public highways, not unnecessarily obstructing the same, and in condemning lands for the use of such roads shall have all of the rights and powers conferred upon such corporations by their charters, and amendments and the general laws of this state, and all railroads purchased, and branch roads constructed as aforesaid, shall be vested in and become a part of the property of the corporation so purchasing or constructing the same, as aforesaid, and shall be in all things governed by the laws, rules, and regulations governing the corporation, purchasing or constructing the same as aforesaid, and be operated as part of its line of road upon purchasing or constructing any railroad as provided in this chapter, the corporation purchasing or constructing the same, shall have power and authority to issue new stock to such extent as may be considered advisable, and the same to dispose of, as provided in this chapter, and to issue and sell bonds to such extent as may be deemed expedient, and to secure the same by mortgages and deeds of trust upon all the real and personal property, rights, powers, and franchises of any railroad so purchased, constructed, or in course of construction as provided in this chapter; provided, that the provisions of this chapter shall not be so construed as to authorize any railroad company organizing under the same to consolidate with or acquire by contract or purchase the road, road bed, real and personal property, rights, and franchises of any railroad already built, equipped, and operated within the state of Indiana and which may cross or intersect the line of the road of any company organized under this chapter, but the powers of consolidation and purchase are hereby limited and restricted to such roads within the state of Indiana as may cross and intersect the same and which have not been equipped and operated in whole or in part.

Formerly: Acts 1945, c.202, s.7. As amended by P.L.62-1984, SEC.69.