In furtherance of and in addition to the powers which railroad companies organized under this chapter are entitled to exercise, but not in limitation of any of the powers granted by this chapter, every railroad company may:
1. Cause such examination and surveys for the proposed railroad to be made as may be necessary to the selection of the most advantageous route for the railroad, and for such purposes, by their officers, agents and employees, to enter upon the lands or waters of any persons, but subject to responsibility for all damages which they do thereto.
2. Receive, hold, take and convey, by deed or otherwise, as a natural person might or could do, such voluntary grants and donations of real estate, and other property of every description, as may be made to it to aid and encourage the construction, maintenance and accommodation of the railroad.
3. Purchase, and by voluntary grants and donations receive and take, and by its officers, engineers, surveyors and agents, enter upon and take possession of, and hold and use, in any manner they may deem proper, all such lands and real estate, and other property as the directors may deem necessary and proper for the construction and maintenance of the railroad, and for the stations, depots and other accommodations and purposes, deemed necessary to accomplish the object for which the corporation is formed.
4. Lay out its road or roads, not exceeding 200 feet wide, and construct and maintain the road with such tracks and with such appendages as may be deemed necessary for the convenient use of it. The company may make embankments, excavations, ditches, drains, culverts or otherwise, and procure timber, stone and gravel, or other materials, and may take as much more land, whenever they may think proper, as may be necessary for the purposes aforesaid, in the manner hereinafter provided, for the proper construction and security of the road.
5. Construct their road across, along or upon any stream of water, watercourse, roadstead, bay, navigable stream, street, avenue or highway, or across any railway, canal, ditch or flume which the route of its road intersects, crosses or runs along, in such manner as to afford security for life and property. The corporation shall restore the stream or watercourse, road, street, avenue, highway, railroad, canal, ditch or flume thus intersected to its former state, as near as may be, or in a sufficient manner not to have impaired unnecessarily its usefulness or injured its franchises.
6. Cross, intersect, join and unite its railroad with any other railroad, either before or after constructed, at any point upon its route, and upon the grounds of such other railroad company, with the necessary turnouts, sidings and switches, and other conveniences, in furtherance of the objects of its connections; and every company whose railroad is, or will be hereafter, intersected by any new railroad in forming such intersections and connection, and grant the facilities aforesaid. If the two corporations cannot agree upon the amount of compensation to be made therefor, or the points or the manner of such crossings, intersections and connections, the same must be ascertained and determined by commissioners, to be appointed as is provided hereinafter in respect to the taking of lands, but this section is not to affect the rights and franchises heretofore granted.
7. Purchase lands, timber, stone, gravel or other materials to be used in the construction and maintenance of its road, or take them in the manner provided by this chapter. The railroad company may change the line of its road, in whole or in part, whenever a majority of the directors determine, as is provided hereinafter, but no such change may vary the general route of a road, as contemplated in the articles of incorporation of the company.
8. Receive by purchase, donation or otherwise, any lands, or other property, of any description, and hold and convey it in any manner the directors may think proper, the same as natural persons might or could do, that may be necessary for the construction and maintenance of its road, or for the erection of depots, turnouts, workshops, warehouses or for any other purposes necessary for the convenience of railroad companies, in order to transact the business usual for railroad companies.
9. Take, transport, carry and convey persons and property on their railroad, by the force and power of steam, of animals, or any mechanical power, or by any combinations of them, and receive tolls or compensation therefor.
10. Erect and maintain all necessary and convenient buildings, stations, depots and fixtures and machinery for the accommodation and use of their passengers, freight and business, obtain and hold the lands and other property necessary therefor, and acquire additional lands and rights-of-way and build and operate extensions or branches of its line of railroad.
11. Regulate the time and manner in which passengers and property are transported, and the tolls and compensation to be paid therefor, within the limits prescribed by law.
12. Regulate the force and speed of their locomotives, cars, trains or other machinery used and employed on their road, and establish, execute and enforce all needful and proper rules and regulations fully and completely for the management of its business transactions usual and proper for railroad companies.
13. Purchase, hold, sell and transfer shares of its own stock, bonds, debentures, or other securities issued by it, except that:
(a) No corporation may use its funds or property for the purchase of its own shares of stock when such use would cause any impairment of the capital of the corporation; and
(b) Shares of its own stock belonging to the corporation must not be voted upon, directly or indirectly, nor counted as outstanding for the purpose of any stockholders’ quorum or vote.
14. Acquire, own, and operate motor vehicles, and air transportation facilities, and transport persons and property along and over the streets and highways of this State, for the transportation, for hire, of passengers, property and freight, either directly or through a subsidiary company or companies, subject to all relevant provisions of law concerning permits, licenses, franchises and the regulation of such form of transportation by motor vehicles or other agencies.
Ê Whenever the track of a railroad crosses a railroad or highway, such railroad or highway may be carried under, over or on a level with the track, as may be most expedient, and in cases where an embankment or cutting makes a change in the line of such railroad or highway desirable, with a view to a more easy ascent or descent, the company may take such additional lands and materials, if needed for the construction of such road or highway, on such new line, as may be deemed requisite by the railroad. Unless the lands and materials so taken are purchased, or voluntarily given for the purpose aforesaid, compensation therefor must be ascertained in the manner provided by law.