A 104 mile rail line was shattered by hurricane in 1938. Now, more than 60 years later, dedicated volunteers in 33 communities are working to reconnect it. Instead of trains there will be cross-country skiers, bicyclists, hikers, and joggers.
It won't be easy. While much of the old railway is passable to a dedicated hiker, the ownership is less clear. The railway has faded so far from memory that many maps don't even show the former route. A number of the bridges were torn down for scrap. Some of the land was sold, and neighboring landowners in other areas took advantage of the situation to build swimming pools, backyards, parking lots and other structures.
Despite the obstacles, though, the Mass Central Rail Trail continues to be developed and several sections, totaling 29 miles, are now complete.
There is plenty of free parking at the Junction of Route 140 and Thomas Street, one mile south of Exit 5 on Interstate 190 in West Boylston. Other sections in Holden, Sterling, and Rutland are open to the public but not officially completed. Horse restriction applies only on rail-trail sections that pass through watershed lands owned by the Metropolitian District Commission.
On October 27, 2012 I rode the Wachusett Greenways section of the MCRT west of Coldbrook Road to the Ware River, a newly constructed section. The new section goes off the ROW and uses a bendy switchback to drop down to another abandoned ROW along the ...
I rode part of the Wachusett Greenways section of the MCRT from Glenwood Rd. in Rutland, MA to Coldbrook Rd. in Barre, MA, roughly 7 miles each way. The trail is mostly on the old right of way, although it skips off from time to time where bridges are ...
Right now, the trail goes from the Belchertown line to Leeds, MA. The "old" section, Belchertown line to the CT River is pretty rough, well more than rough, a good portion is very uncomfortable to ride. The section from the CT River west past Look Park ...