Section 34. Substituted lines in certain cases

Where a portion of a steam
  surface railroad or branch thereof, shall be specifically authorized  by
  statute  to  be  taken  for  any other public use, and such portion lies
  wholly outside of any city, any corporation  owning  or  operating  such
  portion  may locate, as provided in section sixteen of this article, and
  may construct and operate, in substitution for such  portion,  and  with
  proper  connections  with  the  former line, a new line of steam surface
  railroad, wholly or partly in the same  or  any  adjoining  county,  and
  wholly  outside  of  any  city,  and  not exceeding twenty-five miles in
  length, in the manner, with the powers and subject  to  the  limitations
  and  requirements provided in this chapter with respect to steam surface
  railroads.