by shadyjay
Was up in Littleton last week during my vacation, and biked the entire length of the Amonoosuc Rail-Trail, the ex-B&M from Woodsville up to Littleton. My first ride on this was from Lisbon to Littleton and was surprised to see the rail-trail extend past the book stopping point of Industrial Park Rd. Once you got past that point, the trail is only open to non-motorized traffic. Its pretty primitive right now... a narrow single track trail pretty much, no bollards/gates near the xings, etc. Getting across Rt 10/302 (Cottage St) by the station is a little challenging, with not even a crosswalk. Made it as far as the "second iron" east of the station at around Beacon St before I decided to turn around and head back.
I have heard they want to extend towards Whitefield and perhaps connect with the Presidential Rail-Trail (which runs from Waumbeck Jct east to Gorham and Berlin, which I also rode). If they did that, then I could see perhaps, to maintain the Conway Scenic outside world connection, relay the line from Quebec Jct to Waumbeck Jct. Then its a straight shot, vs the present backwards move at Hazens. And then the rail-trail would be continuous on the entire ex-B&M line from Woodsville up to Berlin. In all honesty, the north country was overbuilt with railroads which may have made sense in the late 1800s but didn't past the 1920s, and even less make sense now. If nothing is to become of the Mountain Division west of Whitefield, then perhaps it should be yanked out a bit past Quebec Jct, and with the line to Waumbeck put back in to maintain the connection.
I did see the US 3 crossing at Twin Mtn is now marked "EXEMPT". This is on CSRR property. Perhaps they just don't go up that way enough to maintain it to the standards and would have to flag the crossing anyway.
And, for the record, I am pro-rail. While I enjoy biking rail-trails, I believe that rail service should come first. But, let's be honest here... there's not much prospect for keeping all the mileage in this area. Same goes for the Mountain Division from Fryeburg down to the Portland area. Its been in state control for decades now, and if noone to date has come up with an idea that would be profitable, then its probably not going to happen. When the paper mills were generating traffic, it all made sense, but much of that is gone now. We're not talking about ripping up an active rail line that could become a commuter route or something, 'cause that I'm opposed to.
I have heard they want to extend towards Whitefield and perhaps connect with the Presidential Rail-Trail (which runs from Waumbeck Jct east to Gorham and Berlin, which I also rode). If they did that, then I could see perhaps, to maintain the Conway Scenic outside world connection, relay the line from Quebec Jct to Waumbeck Jct. Then its a straight shot, vs the present backwards move at Hazens. And then the rail-trail would be continuous on the entire ex-B&M line from Woodsville up to Berlin. In all honesty, the north country was overbuilt with railroads which may have made sense in the late 1800s but didn't past the 1920s, and even less make sense now. If nothing is to become of the Mountain Division west of Whitefield, then perhaps it should be yanked out a bit past Quebec Jct, and with the line to Waumbeck put back in to maintain the connection.
I did see the US 3 crossing at Twin Mtn is now marked "EXEMPT". This is on CSRR property. Perhaps they just don't go up that way enough to maintain it to the standards and would have to flag the crossing anyway.
And, for the record, I am pro-rail. While I enjoy biking rail-trails, I believe that rail service should come first. But, let's be honest here... there's not much prospect for keeping all the mileage in this area. Same goes for the Mountain Division from Fryeburg down to the Portland area. Its been in state control for decades now, and if noone to date has come up with an idea that would be profitable, then its probably not going to happen. When the paper mills were generating traffic, it all made sense, but much of that is gone now. We're not talking about ripping up an active rail line that could become a commuter route or something, 'cause that I'm opposed to.