Observation and documentation of railroad heritage is my game, and the northern end of the Brooke Pioneer Trail gives one a double treat! This once Pennsylvania Railroad's 26.5-mile "Wheeling Secondary Track" between Weirton Junction Tower (Weirton) and Benwood, WV was opened in 1878. The line saw its last passenger train in April 1951 (PRR), its last freight train in 1981 (Conrail), and its track was removed in 1987. Construction of today's trail was begun in 1997. The entire north-south length of this trail follows the Ohio River, but offers a wide variety of visual experiences. It's a wonderful trail. It is new, smooth, asphalt, and flat. The north end of this trail begins as the "Yankee Trail" southward out of Wellsburg, WV, a nice little town. Stock up on snacks and supplies at the Dollar General at the north end of the trail along WV-2. Parking at the trail head at the north end of the gas station on 2 at the south end of Wellsburg, I called this Mile 1.0 (from Central Wellsburg). Starting south, the first thing you will note is a short section of carefully preserved track in the grade crossing behind the gas station, and that wonderful "Panhandle Railroad Company" plaque depicting all of the information which I began this review with. The old railbed drops down below paralleling Route 2, and almost immediately you see three levels of ground travel... Your trail, Highway 2 above, and between them, two miles of the roadbed of the old Panhandle Traction Company, the 1901-1936 interurban trolley line which connected Wellsburg and Wheeling. Moving south a short distance, another plaque points out one of two (supposedly - I saw only one) stone with concrete deck cap trolley bridges, this one spanning a stream river inlet. The embankment is high, and note several locations of cut stone retaining wall between the trail and the trolley bed. This is quite impressive. The power line atop it has saved the trolley grade here. At MP 1.7, a 381-year-old American Elm tree, supposedly the largest one east of the Mississippi River! Around Mile 3, you break out along the open highway, but the trail very quickly ducks back under tree cover along the Ohio River, and divorces itself from soon distant WV-2. The silence is a welcome treat, and you are on your own for a peaceful run along the mighty Ohio for several miles. 4.2 miles south of Wellsburg, watch carefully on your east side for the sole survivor of once 26 classic cast iron trademarks of the Pennsylvania Railroad's century of presence on this line... The railroad's Milepost 12, which measured distance from this secondary branch's connection with the former Pittsburgh-Saint Louis "Panhandle Main Line" at "Weirton Junction" Tower, 12 miles north. That line east from the pre-1985 tower site is today's Panhandle Trail (another trail beauty!). Then, 2.6 miles south of Milepost 12, you will see a rusty phone box on the river side of the trail. This was the site of the former "KR" Block-Limit, an unmanned "station" where train crews would need to call "Rockville" Tower, on the east side of Mingo Junction, for permission to travel into either railroad "block" or section from this point either north or south. The trail breaks out of its solitary running shortly afterward to closely parallel widening WV-2, and my southward sojourn ended at the Tunnel Ridge River Loadout facility, 8.2 miles south of Wellsburg. I'd like to document my finds from this point south, to and through Wheeling, at some future point. I did ride this southern half of the trail from this point south a year ago, before the trail was completed into Wellsburg. I can tell you that, as the trail drops away from Route 2 closing in on Wheeling, the classic suburban backyards and industrial remnants you ride through down there are just fascinating! At the site of the old Pennsy station, just south of your passing under Interstate-70, there is a wonderful display plaque with images and information about the Wheeling depot and its once-mighty Pennsylvania Railroad System! The concrete "shell" you see near the sign is the basement floor baggage room of the old PRR station, which was, sadly, demolished years ago. Compare this structure remnant to the plaque photo! The Brooke Pioneer Trail is one fine example of how a great trail can be built, while retaining the sense that this was indeed once part of a classic railroad system! - Rich Ballash, Latrobe PA

May 7, 2011, GREAT NEWS!! Started a ride North from Wheeling Heritage Port and discovered that I could ride all the was to Wellsburg.. The Brooke Pioneer Trail is now complete. The trail is completely paved and very flat.

Was there today (Sunday 11/21/2010) and walked a little of the new section that completes this trail. What a good looking smooth flat surface. Seen alot of people enjoying the day here on the trail. Were glad to see this come together and plan to really enjoy it. The trail is about say 6 3/4 miles long now, but links to other trails at each end. I'll save the details for you to discover when you come check it out in person.
ENJOY !

P.S. Check out the pictures of the new pavement.....

Smooth, flat, paved asphalt rail trail right next to the Ohio River. The northern section has a small parking lot by a gas station south of the city of Wellsburg, WV just off State Rt. 2. From this parking lot you can go north into the city of Wellsburg via the "Yankee Trail" which starts just over the "Buffalo Creek" bridge. Or you can go south on the Pioneer Trail for around 3 miles. At this point is where you can expect a planned extension to connect the trail to its other end point about another 3 miles ahead. Right now there is a "Gap" there in the trail. Right now you must take State Rt. 2 south the 3 miles thru the town of Beech Bottom to the other end of the "Gap". There the paved trails starts up again. At this point the Pioneer Trails continues another say, short distance to the "Short Creek" bridge where its connects to another paved trail, (Wheeling Heritage Trail) that takes you clear down to the city of "Wheeling" WV. a nice ride.
You can find parking at the "Pike Island Dam" off of State Rt. 2 also.

Historical signage along the trail.
Plenty to see along the river.
Nice place to relax, Picnic Area along the trail.
Park Benches placed every so often to take a rest.
Check it out for youself - write a reveiw - give your opinion