Air Line State Park Trail

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Air Line State Park Trail
Air Line Trail northeast of Black Spruce Pond in Hampton, CT (junction of Pine Acres Lake View Trail, near Goodwin Conservation Center)

Air Line Trail northeast of Black Spruce Pond in Hampton, CT (junction of Pine Acres Lake View Trail, near Goodwin Conservation Center)

location Middlefield , Middletown USA
surface 0.16 km²
Geographical location 41 ° 32 '  N , 72 ° 41'  W Coordinates: 41 ° 32 '8 "  N , 72 ° 40' 34"  W
Air Line State Park Trail (Connecticut)
Air Line State Park Trail
Setup date 1969
administration Dept. of Energy & Environmental Protection, State of Connecticut
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The Air Line State Park Trail is a green route and elongated state park in the US state of Connecticut . The trail is divided into three sections: South ( East Hampton to Windham ), North (Windham to Putnam ), and the Thompson section (Thompson to the Massachusetts state line ). Another additional section of approximately 6 km to Colchester is sometimes referred to as part of the Air Line trail . The northern section forms part of the East Coast Greenway , a system of trails that is said to extend from Florida to Maine .

history

Air Line

The "Air Line" was originally a railway line. It was planned as a high-speed line for passenger traffic from New York to Boston. The New Haven, Middletown and Willimantic Railroad (NHM & W) opened in 1873 as part of the Boston, Hartford and Erie Railroad (BH&E) system. It started in New Haven and ran through Middletown to its connection to BH&E in Willimantic . The BH&E went bankrupt that same year and became the New York and New England Railroad (NY&NE). However, the NHM & W remained separate and dissolved in 1875. It was re-established as the Boston and New York Air-Line Railroad and administered from New Haven in 1879 and leased from October 1, 1882. Part of this route (the NY&NE Blackstone division to Franklin via Norwood and Walpole) still exists as the Franklin Branch of the MBTA / MBCR .

In Connecticut, part of the route still exists as part of the Providence and Worcester Railroad between Middletown and Portland. In Willimantic, the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum has rebuilt the original roundhouse and turntable pit (with a new turntable). In addition, some NY & NE and NH buildings were built there. Between East Hampton and the Massachusetts state line , most of the abandoned route was converted to the state park. Elements of the route worth seeing are the Rapallo Viaduct and the Lyman Viaduct in East Hampton and Colchester , two of the longest railway viaducts in the US

development

The abandoned route between East Hampton and the Massachusetts state line was acquired by the Connecticut State Park System on the route between Route 66 in Windham and Route 44 in Pomfret and opened to the public as a riding trail in 1969. In 1976 the route was extended northwards to Town Farm Road in Putnam. The southern section between East Hampton to Willimantic was opened as a route in 1986. The Thompson section opened in 1992.

extension

In 2002 DEEP acquired an additional stretch of 2.5 km in East Hampton. This extended the route to Dept Hill Road . A derelict bridge on the route has been replaced with a new bridge built by cadets from the United States Coast Guard Academy under the supervision of William A. O'Neill , the former governor. Due to ambiguities about responsibilities and ownership, the bridge was built without the necessary permission. At the last minute before the demolition, a lease agreement was reached with the city of East Hampton.

description

The Air Line State Park Trail is divided into three sections:

  • South Section ( Main Street in East Hampton to the Willimantic River, Windham; 22 miles)
  • Northern section ( Tuckie Road in Windham to Town Farm Road in Putnam; 21 miles)
  • Thompson Section (Route 12 in Thompson to the Massachusetts state line; 6.6 miles)

The northern section is part of the East Coast Greenway , which is said to extend from Florida to Maine.

Southern section

This section of the route is well developed. The path is covered with gravel , has benches at viewpoints and bike racks. New bridges lead the way over the Blackledge River , the Jeremy River and the Judd Brook . The Rapallo Viaduct and Lyman Viaduct are also located in this section . There are spectacular views, especially in autumn. It provide spectacular views, especially in the fall. A short detour is necessary where the Route 2 expressway cuts the route. In 2007 there was repair work on a section in Lebanon between Cook Hill Road and Village Hill Road . Until 2007, a wooden makeshift bridge at the Blackledge River Railroad Bridge led over the Blackledge River in the Salmon River State Forest .

The path crosses a number of roads from which access is possible. The bigger ones are listed below:

Northern section

The individual pieces of the northern section are in different condition. Some sections are well-kept, others are almost overgrown. In contrast to the southern section, there are only two notable bridges: Boulevard Road in Windham and on the Quinebaug River in Putnam.

The trail continues west of Route 66 as The Veterans Greenway , an urban bike path that leads into Willimantic city center.

North of Town Farm Road , the path becomes a private lane. However, the city of Putnam would like to at least acquire the right of way and maintain, extend and connect the path with the Putnam's River Trail .

Access options:

Thompson section

This section of the route is still under construction. Rails and obstacles are already removed. Except for a missing bridge, the path is already passable, parking is provided and information boards are posted at East Thompson Road , Sand Dam Road , Lowell Davis Road and the end of Route 12 .

Access options:

  • Route 193 / Thompson Road ⊙
  • East Thompson Road: connects to the southern section of the New England Trunkline Trail ⊙

The trail continues north and east to Massachusetts. In Douglas it continues as the Southern New England Trunkline Trail , part of the Massachusetts State Park System . Massachusetts has improved accessibility, but bridges are missing and the path is not continuous. Individual sections lead to Franklin (Massachusetts) .

Colchester junction

The 3.4 km junction to Colchester is identical to the rest of the southern section. The end is in the center of Colchester by the former Depot and Freight House.

Access options:

status

The United States Department of the Interior designated the southern section of the Air Line State Park Trail as a National Recreation Trail in 2002 .

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey.
  2. ^ State Parks and Forests : Funding, Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee, Staff Findings and Recommendations.
  3. ↑ Air Line State Park Trail . In: State Parks and Forests . Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  4. ^ Ronald Dale Karr: Lost Railroads of New England . Branch Line Press , 1989, ISBN 0-942147-04-9 .
  5. ↑ Ken Byron, (May 13, 1999). Plan Expected to Save Trail Bridge. The Hartford Courant, pg. B1.
  6. ^ Bernard, Chris: New England Biking: More Than 100 of the Best Rides for Road, Mountain, and Cyclocross Biking . Avalon Travel, 2010, p. 412.
  7. ↑ Marteka, Peter: Rolling out Connecticut's Air Line . In: Rails to Trails . No case, 2006.
  8. ^ Colchester Spur Trail . Bike It or Hike It. April 2008. Archived from the original on January 28, 2015. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
  9. ^ Associated Press: New Recreation Trails Designated in 16 States . The Cincinnati Post (Cincinnati, OH). June 11, 2002. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved on July 29, 2014.