Long, long ago I was a Right of Way Planner for an Alberta power company for a year. Thankfully I got out of it and back into design. I had a hard time planning routes over others' property and acting like it was good for them. I do understand that it needs to be done though.
But from what I remember, and for our province, the rights of way were only for the company holding the right of way and their agents or contractors for constructing and operating the facilities. The land owner retained other rights and the public no rights different from those of other private land. Most powerline and pipeline rights of way were only for those facilities.
But usually surface rights of way such as those for oil company access roads, oil batteries, etc., had a clause giving rights for other companies' facilities required in conjunction with the primary use (such as our powerlines to serve an oilwell). However, the public did not have rights to enter those roads.
Our company encouraged the landowner to continue to use rights of way in a safe way. For instance, I remember a sod farm being on one, and of course farming/ranching.
As far as timber harvesting goes; here in BC it is allowed on most crown land where there is public access. There are restrictions such as no cutting live trees or "apartment" trees. Also, logs removed must be under 4' (I think--it may be less) . That is, you need to cut trees into short lengths. The purpose being to prevent logging--companies pay royalties for the right to do that, and must do it with a sustainable plan.
Right of way rights are registered to the land title so they automatically pass to future owners.