The trail is officially listed as being 6.7 miles long
The old Bangor and Portland Railway quarry train line (established in 1880) once used it to transport slate to nearby quarries. The last time a train ran on it was Jan. 5, 1953. Conrail bought it in 1976, then sold it to Plainfield Township in 1987 who have since converted it into a trail.
To reach Belfast Junction parking lot, take the Stockertown exit off Route 33 and make a right. At the traffic light, turn left onto Sullivan Trail Road (Routes 191/115). Travel .75 miles. The trailhead parking lot will be on your right, just after a power station.
first of all, i'm not a cyclist. although perhaps in this case a line abandoned since 53 may make an appropriate trail, generally i'm opposed to the conversions. the cost of laying a rail line today would be countless millions. if in the future, a line could be utilized for industry, transportation, or tourist usage, what a shame to have traded that expensive infrastructure for another bike path.
ReplyDeleteThe defense of these by the people who create them is, it keeps these under governments ownership. If indeed we needed to convert them back it would be a simple matter not having to declare eminent domain and go through countless expensive litigation appeals.
ReplyDeleteFor those who have not made trails, the rail lines have sold them off to private individuals who would, no doubt, fight in courts for years to prevent their rail use.
It would be a rather simple matter to convert them back, since the roadbeds are fully maintained from erosion and landslides as otherwise would not be.
As far as removing the rails, they would have rusted and the cross timbers under them rot away. Both which would have to be replaced anyway.