Ever fall in love with a trail?

[N8YX]

One with ghosts of steam locomotives past running its length?

We just discovered the Olde Muskingum Trail this past spring, courtesy of a coworker:

http://www.starkparks.com/park.asp?park=16&view=9

16Olde-Muskingum-Trail.jpg

The trail is constructed on the old Pennsy RR/Penn Central/Conrail right-of-way which ran from Massillon into Clinton. This stretch is about 6 miles long and parallels the Tuscarawas River (to the left) and the ex-B&O mainline/RJ Corman shortline trackage (to the right, behind the trees). Along its length you might find an abandoned milepost sign...whistlepost...remnants of a collier layover...traces of the tie bed...even a long-discarded, rusty air brake cylinder.

Turn 180 degrees to the north from where this photo was taken and there is another 6 miles of right-of-way, now cleared and ready for conversion into a hiking/cycling trail. One can only hope this comes to pass: Riding the Olde Muskingum is a serene experience, much more pleasant than traversing the Ohio-Erie Towpath Trail which parallels it roughly 200yds to the east.

It's not too difficult to let the mind wander back in time and imagine a K3 or T1 with a full consist of heavyweight Pullmans trailing behind blasting through the countryside, accompanying you on your journey through the forest.

[NA4BH]

We have a "Rails to Trails" road that starts in the town South of me and continues into the Heart of Atlanta.

http://www.silvercometga.com/chief-l...x-ladiga.shtml

[N2CHX]

Linky: http://www.traillink.com/trail/lanca...age-trail.aspx

[N8YX]

Neat.

Ohio has converted a lot of abandoned trackage lanes into multi-use trails but nothing is readily accessible save the Towpath Trail - we live around 200yds from one of the trailheads. Downtown is the southern end of the old Akron-Barberton Belt RR; when in operation, it interchanged with the former Norfolk & Western in Copley Twp and serviced the B&W plant in Barberton, allowing its various products to make their way to customers. The line was abandoned many years ago - I would love to see it converted for bicyclists and hikers to enjoy.

[N2CHX]

Very cool!

Here in Lancaster rail history is extensive and rich. The Erie railroad line is still active and runs literally a block and a half from my house. The old New York Central is the main line and is about 1/4 mile further south. In between those two is the old DL&W line, which is still in use for local factories but ends right here in the village. The tracks past Walter Winter were torn up about 8 years ago and it was a great mountain bike trail. Then two years ago they paved it into a really nice bike/walking path. It's exactly four miles long and then the bed turns back into a nice mountain bike trail again.

I LOVE steam and yes, when traveling these trails I often think about the trains and passengers that used to ride the rails on them. Last year the kids and I found a piece of an old signal arm along the DL&W bed. It's on a shelf here in my parlor.

[NA4BH]

If mountain biking or hiking fancies you.

http://purebound.com/trails/pinhoti/

[N8YX]

It would be a stretch to cart some of this stuff 16mi back home, but next time we ride the trail I'll take pictures of the interesting sights then post them. A farm sits between the trail, the river and a township road at one point; even though it's somewhat low in terms of elevation, if it ever comes up for sale I'm going to buy the place. Party will then be at Fred's, as the joint looks like it could sleep several hundred.

[W3WN]

The old Montour RR shut down for good about 15 years ago or so, and the bulk of the mainline has been turned into the Montour Trail. They just opened two new bridges a week or so ago. I really need to get down there and do some biking.

And I'm sure many of you know what happened to the old Erie Lackawanna mainline in northern NJ. Today, you call that right of way I-80.

Sure would love to see a steam engine on the W&LE one day. It's kind of fun to see a Rio Grande engine running on it from time to time!

[HUGH]

Turning these into trails rather than building on them ensures that the trackbed is still available for future transport use.

Take care when out after dusk in case one of these ghost trains takes you by surprise.

[N2CHX]

Turning these into trails rather than building on them ensures that the trackbed is still available for future transport use.

Take care when out after dusk in case one of these ghost trains takes you by surprise.

I've always been sad about these railbeds being torn up and tried to look on the bright side that they're being put to good use, but I have to admit I never thought of that angle before. Good point, but I wonder how much of a fight people would put up if using them as tracks again were ever actually tried?

As an aside, if you like Spielberg, check this out: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0511096/

Kinda cheesy by today's standards, but I enjoyed it.