Cotton Valley Rail Trail. 10:30 am B/2/24

Tuesday, November 9, 2021

It looks like great weather for a ride! Looks like the warmest day of the week, the high might hit mid fifties or more! Sunshine! Time for a field trip!!

Let's go south to the lakes and do the Cotton Valley Rail Trail. It should be pleasant along the lake in the sunshine.

Let's meet at the Wolfeboro Railroad Depot trailhead parking lot, next to the restored station, ready to ride at 10:30 am. The address is 15 Railroad Avenue, Wolfeboro. From Glen, it will be a 1 hour 10 minute drive. From Conway Village it is a 48 minute drive.

This trail is 12 miles long, stretching from Wolfeboro Village to Wakefield (near the Miss Wakefield Diner and across Route 16 into Sanbornville. It is a scenic route that goes along a lake shore, a narrow causeway, wetlands and through plenty of forest. 

This rail trail is unique. Most rail trails are established on the rail bed after the rails and ties have been removed: "Rails to Trails" (Presidential RT, Northern RT, Lamoille RT). Others, like the Mountain Division Trail in Fryeburg, are "Rails with Trails", with the trail running alongside the tracks. 

The Cotton Valley Rail Trail is a "Trails Within Rails". For much of the route, the trail is established between the rails of an "active" railway, stone dust thickly laid on top of the ties to make a smooth riding/walking surface.  

Because of the on-again-off-again style of the trail, there are plenty of places where riders must cross the rails. The junctions have wooden boardwalks or rubber mats to smooth the transition ....BUT narrow bike tires and inattention can cause a fall by getting caught in the gap. For this reason, I suggest not riding a road bike with narrow tires. A hybrid or mountain bike would be the best choice. "Mind the Gap"

The freight and passenger service was ended back in 1975, but the railway is still used and maintained by a Railway Motorcar Club that runs their restored little motor cars on the railway. They also restore and maintain a railroad station, roundhouse and other memorabilia along the way. The club makes an annual trip up to North Conway to run their little cars on part of the scenic railroad, perhaps you have seen them? They (Putt-Putts) are ridiculously cute (see more info on the Railcar Club, below).


Just too cute, I wanna ride in one:

By establishing the trail within the rails, no bridges, no causeways or routes through wetlands need permitting and construction, therefore cost is significantly reduced. Where possible the trail exits the rails and runs alongside or through the woods.

Meet at the trailhead in Wolfeboro at 10:30 am, ready to ride.  From Glen, it will be a 1 hour 10 minute drive. From Conway Village it is a 48 minute drive.

Directions:
Go south on Route 16 to the intersection of Route 28 at the traffic lights in Ossipee (near Hannaford, Ocean State Job Lot, Tractor Supply). Take a right on Route 28 to head west towards Wolfeboro. Go 10 miles and enter the village of Wolfeboro, take a right onto South Main St, then within a block or 2, take another right onto Railroad Avenue, pass the little shops and park near the restored railroad depot building. Restrooms in the depot, thankfully.

Ready to ride at 10:30 am

Bring:  Snacks and beverage (a thermos with a hot beverage is so nice!) to enjoy lakeside.  There a coffee shop near the depot for end of ride treats.

Bike: Hybrid, or mountain bike preferred. Skinny racing tires NOT appropriate or fun, could be dangerous on the transitions over the rails.

Surfaces: Hard packed stone dust, quite smooth, some hardpacked dirt. Some pavement  Transitions across rails/boardwalks are easier and safer with wider tires.

If you want to Carpool from Glen: Meet in the Grant's parking lot at 9:10 am

If you want to Carpool from Conway: Meet at 9:30 at the south end of the Shurfine/NH Liquor Store Plaza parking lot on Route 16.

Ride With GPS route:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27643794

More info and map on trailink.com:  
https://www.traillink.com/trail-maps/cotton-valley-rail-trail/ 
From the Cotton Valley Rail Trail Club:

Railcars

Railway motor cars are small four wheeled motorized vehicles designated to ride on railroad tracks. They were used by railroad employees to perform various maintenance tasks on the railroad property, such as track work, bridge inspection, and signal repair. They evolved from human powered pump cars in the early 1900s and were eventually replaced in the 1960s by hy-rail vehicles (pickup trucks with small railroad wheels). Railcars were manufactured by several corporations during their heydey. Cars manufactured by the Fairmont Railway Motor company are the most common today.

The Hobby

Hobbyists sometimes search for old railcars to refurbish. Once a motorcar is located, they either repair them to running condition or restore the cars to their original production floor condition. CVRTC members enjoy all facets of this hobby, from helping each other find railcars to lending a hand in restoring the cars and then running them.

National Organization

The North American Rail Car Operators Association (NARCOA) is a national organization which encourages safe and responsible operations in Canada, Mexico and the USA, by providing safety rules, operator certification, etc. NARCOA members become certified operators by studying the NARCOA operator's safety manual and by passing a written test administered by NARCOA. The Cotton Valley Rail Trail Club is a NARCOA affiliate, and some members do belong to both organizations.

Location/Operations

CVRTC members regularly operate their motor cars on the Wolfeboro to Sanbornville, NH rail line. CVRTC operates from Fernald Station. The station is located approximately 3 miles East of downtown Wolfeboro, NH on Route 109.