Trails to Rails

[Anonymous]

Absolutely nothing wrong with using these right-of-ways for hiking & bike trails. Is there some convoluted idea that railroads are being abandoned to create foot trails? I haven't heard of a single case of this occuring.

I mountain bike on the abandoned NY Central Adirondack Division and the D&H Chateaugay branch roadbeds all the time. While I wi***here were trains running on them, economic factors dictated long ago that these tracks should be abandoned and no amount of wishful thinking will change that. Somehow implying the subsequent use to be the cause is a bit silly.

If nothing else, the Rails toTrails program protects an existing roadbed from development and preserves the admittedly slim possibility of future rail service on the line.

Wayne

[Modelcar]

....If people are using them and the railroads were going to be abandoned...and now the RoW are still in place, why does there seem to be too many....

[wcfan4ever]

We have plenty of these "Rails To Trails" here in Wisconsin. I think we have too many! They just seem to pop up everywhere. There isn't a place in WI that you cant go by trail. Every year it seems hundreds of miles of track are bought and turned into trails. Some are nice like the Elroy-Sparta, it might be longer...but you can walk through tunnels of old CNW ROW!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have never personally done it cause I would have to drive a few hours to get there, then walk or bike. There is a few lines in my area that the state bought not too long ago where you would be able to bike/walk/ATV from Manitowoc, WI to Green Bay, WI and from Green Bay, you can go west out to Shawano, WI. Many, Many, Many trails to choose from.

[MP57313]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CHPENNSYLVANIA
i think its about abandoned rail lines transformed into walking trails?????

Pennsylvania has put together a detailed county-by-county listing of these. Even though they don't have all the service dates for all the lines, you should find this interesting.

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/railtrails/default.asp

[MP57313]

QUOTE: Originally posted by pat390
Yeah from hobart to portage or something like that in NW indiana but i dont know what line the rails were

If you mean Hobart to Porter, the SPV atlas shows that as a former Elgin Joliet & Eastern route. Abandoned in the early 80s?

[Modelcar]

....If you are ready to walk or bike on a really nice one, come to Muncie, In. and try ours located on ex. CSX for almost 30 miles of smooth paved surface and more in building stage until we reach 60.....Beautiful depot as Trail head in Muncie...$800,000 plus worth in the depot alone.

[pat390]

Yeah from hobart to portage or something like that in NW indiana but i dont know what line the rails were

[mudchicken]

CHPennsy:

There are already multiple threads on here dealling with the good and bad sides of this issue.

To start with the basics, look here: http://www.stb.dot.gov/stb/public/resources_railstrails.html

Why not just abandon all the interstate highways and turn them into hiking trails?
[:D]

[Junctionfan]

When CN abandoned the Fonthill spur, the trail was supposed to be a trail but nothing has been done after the rail was ripped up and Fonthill Lumber really could have used the service from Trillium Railways after the shortline took over.

[Anonymous]

I never think rails should be torn up but does anyone know of the rails to trails program i think its about abandoned rail lines transformed into walking trails?????