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Post by brianbutler on Jun 16, 2021 23:04:13 GMT
This morning my mission was to ride the entire 22 mile New England Trunkline Trail from Franklin, Mass. to West Thompson, Conn., out and back. Due to poor trail conditions and slow going I only completed the eastern half out and back for a total of 24 miles. I used roads to eliminate the worst parts of the trail on the return leg.
Here is my ride and a number of captioned photos on RideWithGPS:
I used the Viscount Sebring with 27x1-1/8 tires, which proved up to the task. The real problems were wet areas, fallen trees, single track, and a very lush encroachment of poison ivy in many sections. I did not see another soul on any of the wild sections. There are some discouraging fences and signage but I believe the state purchased the entire railroad right of way for use as a trail so I ignored them.
I will soon make another trip starting at the west end of the trail and see how far east I can travel.
Brian
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Post by wheelson on Jun 16, 2021 23:24:41 GMT
This morning my mission was to ride the entire 22 mile New England Trunkline Trail from Franklin, Mass. to West Thompson, Conn., out and back. Due to poor trail conditions and slow going I only completed the eastern half out and back for a total of 24 miles. I used roads to eliminate the worst parts of the trail on the return leg.
Here is my ride and a number of captioned photos on RideWithGPS:
I used the Viscount Sebring with 27x1-1/8 tires, which proved up to the task. The real problems were wet areas, fallen trees, single track, and a very lush encroachment of poison ivy in many sections. I did not see another soul on any of the wild sections. There are some discouraging fences and signage but I believe the state purchased the entire railroad right of way for use as a trail so I ignored them.
I will soon make another trip starting at the west end of the trail and see how far east I can travel.
Brian
Nice job checking out the trails in your area. I’ve been sadly negligent with ours here in Western Pennsylvania. My son and daughter in law have been riding them quite a bit though, or as well as you can with a 3 year old in a kid seat. I wonder how ours have faired in light of the recent storms. My son lives less than a mile from downtown Pittsburgh and experienced a day and a half power outage this past weekend. Huge trees broken and uprooted, likely on the trails as well. Best, John “wheelson” |
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bendo
Viscount
Posts: 538 
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Post by bendo on Jun 17, 2021 14:53:09 GMT
Very interesting 'report' Brian. Great to see photos of the trail condition. Is it an old railway line? In place it looks like it but in others it just looks like an overgrown walking track.
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Post by brianbutler on Jun 17, 2021 16:55:40 GMT
Very interesting 'report' Brian. Great to see photos of the trail condition. Is it an old railway line? In place it looks like it but in others it just looks like an overgrown walking track. It is part of an old railway line that ran from Boston to New Haven. It follows the rail line exactly except for some missing bridges. This section was abandoned in 1955, which goes to show how quickly nature and kids on dirt bikes can reclaim the environment.
Brian
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Post by franco on Jun 17, 2021 19:36:41 GMT
Good stuff Brian.
I’ve been taking the Viscount Deore down the old railway trails this last week, keep meaning to get a thread up and some pictures. If you plan it out properly there’s around 60 miles of trails here but in parts they are a bit rough for 27” tyres, loose gravel and waterlogged mud here and there.
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