There is growing opposition to the proposed abandonment of the Grenada Railway line between Grenada and Canton. The line in August filed notice of its intention to abandon and to expedite the process.

Not so fast, a group who met yesterday in Grenada told them.

The group formed the North Mississippi Regional Railroad Authority and has formally protested the planned abandonment. Public comments accuse the Grenada Railway of raising shipping fees “exorbitantly” in an effort to discourage rail traffic and strengthen its case for abandonment.

Present at yesterday’s meeting in Grenada were representatives of impacted industries, railroad officials and economic development and civic officials from Tate and Grenada counties.

Several sources said that there were “fireworks” during the October 6 meeting which included accusations that the railroad’s abandonment plans would soon include its northern leg — from Grenada north to Southaven, including Panola County.

That said, the railroad — from the Mississippi and Tennessee Railroad that built the line in the late 1850s to Illinois Central to Canadian National and now Grenada Railway — the railroad’s always done pretty much what it wanted to do and the devil take the hindmost.

Maybe this time, us hindmosts can at least slow them down and make the state take a good hard look before another rail line gets abandoned.