WORKING ON THE AIR LINE
Towns Try To Link Old Railroad Bed So Hikers Can Go From Portland To Rhode Island Border
By PETER MARTEKA
Courant Staff Writer
The Hartford Courant
February 5, 2002
The 50 mile Air Line State Park that runs from East Hampton to Putnam is the gem of the state's rail-to-trails system. But even the most precious gem needs a little shining up to retain its luster. Area towns along the southern branch of the abandoned Air Line railroad bed from Portland to Lebanon are tying to link the last few missing pieces together on one of the state's most popular trails.
Many hikers and outdoor enthusiasts have a dream of walking along the trail from the Connecticut River in Portland to the Rhodes Island border. The only problem is most of the 6 miles right of way in Quarrytown is privately owned or under the control of Northeast Utilities. The state Department of Environmental Protection owns most of the right of way from East Hampton to Putnam.
Town officials have been trying for years to turn the abandoned rail bed into a hiking trail and linking it up with East Hampton.
But with much of the right of way under private control, it is highly unlikely the trail will develop - at least the portion from Route 17 west to the Connecticut River.
However, assistant town planner Nancy Muller said she is hopeful some sort of arrangement or agreement can be reached with NU creating a trail that would run along the old abandoned line from Job's Pond near route 66 east to the Cobalt section of East Hampton.
"The problem with trying to do it west of this is the fact there are to many private landowners", she said. "There use to be one or two and NU and now there are a lot more [landowners]. Another problem is one owns 400 feet and someone else owns 1,000 feet. It makes it difficult to coordinate things. All it takes is one owner to say 'no'."
East Hampton Park and Recreation Director David Putnam is preparing a grant package seeking funding to extend portions of the trail from the old cranberry bog off Smith Street west to Cobalt. While there are a few roadblocks including the town center where the trail ends and "major drainage issues" where the trail crosses under Route 66, Putnam is hopeful something can get done.
"It is still in its infant stages," Putnam said. "But it's something on the horizon. There needs to be a lot of drainage work. Hopefully, we will get the funding."
Putnam said crews will be working to repair certain sections of the existing 2.5 mile stretch from the bog to the Colchester border. Thos repairs include placing a new layer of stone dust on the trail beds.
With all the trestle bridges finally decked along Colchester's 4.1 mile stretch, parks and recreation director Wendy Rubin is busy working on ways to safely get around route 2, an imposing roadblock for hikers.
Currently, hikers take the trail to a computer parking lot just south of Route 2. The trail end abruptly and hikers have to walk along busy route 149 and east along Old Colchester Road where they pick up the trail in Hebron. Rubin is hoping to get better signage for hikers along the roads.
Town crews under the watch of Hebron Public Works director Andrew Tierney recently completed the last unimproved section of the trail from Route 85 to Route 207. A year ago, the town received a $62,866 grant to complete this section along with a 3.6 mile former spur line to Colchester.
Also included in the Hebron Plan is funding to improve the spur to Colchester. The spur runs just west of Route 85 down to Lebanon Avenue in Colchester. Parks and Recreation director Nancy McMillan said Hebron's town crews would do the wor possibly by the fall when their work schedule lightens.
The spur was built in 1877 and one took freight and passenger trains to Colchester and the Hayward Rubber complex.
The Air Line supplied the engines and cars and operated the trains. Colchester paid $25,000 for the line, about half its cost. There service continued for about 80 years.
Over the past year, volunteers in Lebanon have been spending their Saturdays clearing brush and small trees from the 7 miles right of way in preparation for heavy machinery that will eventually grade the trail. Dozens of volunteers have completed work from Route 207 to Chesbro Bridge Road.
"We've got quite a bit done," says Art Wallace, who organizes the work crews. "We are hoping to be completed by the summer. I'm excited and hope we can get it done so we can use it."
The last remaining obstacle is an old, un-decked trestle bridge over the Willimantic River. The bridge would take the trail right into the grounds of the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum. The Hope River State Part linear trail also ends near the museum.
Leslie Lewis, a senior environmental analyst at the DEP and greenway coordinator said museum members are concerned about vandalism to their grounds if the bridge is decked.
"But you are talking about a captive audience who would love to stop in and see the museum." Lewis noted. "The Air Line trail has always been about getting one section done then moving to another section."
Questions or column suggestions are welcome. Peter Marteka may be reached by phone at 860-647-5362, by mail at The Courant, 200 Adams Street, Manchester, CT 06040, by e-mail at marteka@courant.com
Copyright 2002, Hartford Courant
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