trainsinmaine wrote:I thought it might be interesting to revisit this thread after several years, given that I have a question.
Last year I traveled down as much as I could of the old highway on the west side of the river from Woodstock to Fredericton. Much of my reason for doing so was to try to find remnants of the old Valley Line. That turned out to be a daunting task. It's easy to locate just south of Woodstock --- indeed, some of the telegraph poles are still standing --- but once I started weaving on and off the new Trans Canada Highway, it turned out to be rather difficult. I did find one or two short segments. Can anyone who is familiar with the area tell me where to look? Just what percentage (roughly speaking) of the old line is now under water?
On Google Maps, I started tracing the very visible former CNR right-of-way from Lower Woodstock ( at Valley, which was the Junction with C.P.R's Shogomoc Subdivision ) to a point between the new 4 lane Trans Canada and the former 2 lane T.C.H., now known as Route Highway # 165., in the Dugan Road area.
Following Route 165 to where the Maliseet Hiking Trail juts off to the West, the R.O.W. comes into view at an angle from the upper left. There was a crossing here over the highway, which was then identified as Highway # 2. Continuing south to where the lower end of the Fort Meductic road meets Highway 165 again, there appears to be a gravel pit toward the Mactaquac Headpond side. The r.o.w. is visible between the Headpond and Highway 165, to a point just above the village of Meductic ( where the world famous Sabian drum cymbals are made ) and where the r.o.w. would presently be under water.
Following an area south along the old Highway # 2, I can notice the r.o.w. along the Headpond, then disappearing. At a location known as Ritchie, the rail line swung inland away from the river valley and crossed the Shogomoc River, at the location of the present day T.C.H. bridges. The abutments of the railroad bridge had been very visible from the highway, however the highway twinning project that took place about 6 years ago, may have removed such......it appears the newer bridge span to complete the highway project here, is located exactly upon where the old abutments were. Also, at this location, if one faces North from the Highway Westbound lanes, the rail line jutted off to the right and presently it appears from the Google maps, a logging road is located on the former r.o.w.
To reach the town of Nackawic from the T.C.H., one crosses the Hackshaw Road Bridge, over the Mactaquac Headpond. Near the west side shore of the bridge the abutments to the rail bridge that crossed the Pokiok River are visible. The rail line crossed over a point where the Pokiok Falls were located, Falls which were destroyed as such, with the flooding of the Headpond. From this area to the Mactaquac Dam, the r.o.w. is under water.
I mentioned in my earlier post on this thread, that part of the roadway into the Mactaquac Fish Hatchery is built upon the former r.o.w. also. Heading south toward the city of Fredericton from the Mactaquac Dam, once reaching the Silverwood area, a walking / hiking / bike trail extends upon the r.o.w. right into the city.
Finally, I would say about 30-40 % of the former C.N.R. Valley line between Fredericton and Woodstock is presently under water.