Any railroad company may lay out, construct, acquire, lease, contract in respect to, or purchase any branch line or lines, spur or side track of railroad, not exceeding 4 miles in length, either entirely or partially, in, through, along, across or upon any public or private road or street, and may maintain and operate the same, connecting with and extending from the main line or any branch line of the company, to extend to the premises, place, track or enclosure where any horse race meeting is held or conducted or to be held or conducted by any person, partnership, association or corporation, pursuant to a license or permit heretofore or hereafter issued by the New Jersey Racing Commission.
Such railroad company may make and enter into an agreement or contract with any such licensee or permit holder for any such construction, maintenance and operation of any such branch line or lines, spur or side track of railroad.
Such railroad company may take, hold, occupy and use the land necessary for any such purpose or purposes and shall file a map and description of the survey of the route of the branch line or lines, spur or side track of railroad, in the office of the Secretary of State and shall make the deposit required by section 48:12-25 of this Title, pending construction, with the State Treasurer.
Such railroad company shall not construct any branch line or lines, spur or side track of railroad for any such purpose or purposes within the limits of any city, town, borough, village or township until it shall have first obtained the consent of the municipal governing body, which consent may be given by resolution or by the grant of an easement and any such consent of a municipal governing body shall be subject to the approval of the Board of Public Utility Commissioners.
N.J.S. § 48:12-32.1