Drewby27 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 07, 2023 10:16 am
I mean I wouldn't be opposed to the idea of the rail trail expansions if they don't plan on doing anything with the tracks anyway. As much as I love trains and the history of the area, money talks and if the rail trails can bring in money to businesses in the area then that'll be why it happens.
If you look at how many rail lines covered the "greater Whitefield" area, its amazing they last as long as they did. A few years back, VRS was semi-interested but the mill at Gilman I don't think reopened (or if it did, it just uses trucks), so that was the end of the western end of the Mtn Division. Honestly, if VRS couldn't make a go of it, who could? And at this point, the last train on the St J-Whitefield section was, geez... late 90s? Yeah, its been long enough... time for a rail-trail. And hopefully it gets a descent surface for bikes and not ATVs like the Androscoggin R/T (Berlin Branch out by Rt 16... that was rugged on my bike this summer).
For Conway Scenic's sake, I hope the NHCR doesn't give up on their line from Groveton to Hazens. It would be neat to see another "Ball Signal special" (I rode the last one and would ride another), but I know there's "issues at foot" there.