Young son: Trails near active train tracks?

[JustADude]

I've got a young son who is fascinated with trains. I am a father who love hiking (and his son), so I'm looking to possibly combine the two passions and hike near or to destinations with good views of trains or train crossing or other historic train tracks or stations.

Mainly looking to stay in the eastern United States, but any and all recommendations are appreciated.

Thanks.

[Alligator]

There's a train stop along the AT in NY. It would be a cool way to start or end a hike. Runs down to NYC.

[rocketsocks]

There's a train stop along the AT in NY. It would be a cool way to start or end a hike. Runs down to NYC.

Thats one stop on my list of hikes,especially cause I live in a junction,so I could walk 1 mile to the train station,shoot on up to that stop and bingo,AT.

[Tipi Walter]

You could do the BMT along the Hiwassee River and south thru Reliance and a bit beyond as it parallels a railroad. In fact, there's a train which runs on this track from Etowah TN to Blue Ridge Georgia which he may find interesting.

[rocketsocks]

I always wanted to "Hop a Frieght" like A#1

[fiddlehead]

Probably the best train ride to hiking trail in the US is in Colorado.
Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad can drop you off in the middle right on the trail (CO trail I believe although it is very close to the CDT also)
This is a gorgeous section of trail and also a gorgeous train ride though some of the most beautiful mountains in the continental US.

Check it out. It is spectacular.
The altitude is high however so you would want to acclimate to hike it although you could get dropped off, hike a loop hike for a day and get picked up by train again the next day, taking you to Silverton (cool old western style town, high up in the mountains)

[pafarmboy]

Hike (or bike) the Great Allegheny Passage. Rail trail with many signs explaining old railroad. Runs from Pittsburgh to Cumberland Maryland. Did this recently and had many trains go by (granted, they were across the river) and at least two rest stations had trains as the centerpiece of the stops. Also, the last 15 miles of so into maryland is literally feet from the train tracks. Scenic railroad rides go by. Didn't see any that day. http://www.atatrail.org/tmi/maps.cfm

[verasch]

I don't know where "down south" you are, but Patapsco state park in Maryland has an awesome trail that goes past ruins, active train tracks, and has a river you can wade in on a hot day.

http://www.everytrail.com/guide/aval...sco-state-park

This review lists it as 'strenuous', but its probably a moderate trail at best. I hiked the avalon section (about 3.8 miles) at a leisure pace in about 4 hours (mostly because we stopped to check out the ruins). It fills up pretty quickly after 10:30, and its 5$ per person. But its pretty cool.

[jburgasser]

There is a tourist-type train ride that rolls right past the Nantahala Outdoor Center in North Carolina. It is 30 miles south of the southern boundry into the smokies.

Ickybod

[chiefiepoo]

I'd agree with farmboy about the GAP, especially around Cumberland for the sencic RR. True it does run a limited schedule. Also on the GAP, there are some long tressels that you hike or bike over. East of Cumberland the C&O canal towpath runs for 185 miles to Georgetown in DC. There are hiker / biker sites at easy intervals and you will hear trains ALL NIGHT long at some of them. Not knowing your sons age or transportation considerations, you could drive to Cumberland and rent bikes to peddle up to Frostburg along the senic train route. Return to Cumberland and hike to Harpers Ferry over the next few days. Finish the trip with a train ride on the Capitol Limited back to your start in Cumberland. If you want some more info , send me a message.

[mudhead]

Probably the best train ride to hiking trail in the US is in Colorado.
Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad can drop you off in the middle right on the trail (CO trail I believe although it is very close to the CDT also)
This is a gorgeous section of trail and also a gorgeous train ride though some of the most beautiful mountains in the continental US.

Check it out. It is spectacular.
The altitude is high however so you would want to acclimate to hike it although you could get dropped off, hike a loop hike for a day and get picked up by train again the next day, taking you to Silverton (cool old western style town, high up in the mountains)

Arguably the Cumbres/Toltec is prettier. The guy has a lad that needs a brook to play in while waiting for the train to rumble past. Close to home. For repeat visits I bet.

[tiptoe]

You will see and hear lots of trains in the mid-Atlantic sections from southern Pennsylvania to Harpers Ferry. The C&O Canal parallels the tracks, and very long freight trains pass frequently. The MARC train from DC stops in Harpers Ferry, and it'll be fun for your son to watch it emerge from the tunnel and cross the river on a bridge.

[fiddlehead]

Arguably the Cumbres/Toltec is prettier. The guy has a lad that needs a brook to play in while waiting for the train to rumble past. Close to home. For repeat visits I bet.

Yes, I've riddenon that one (Cumbres/Toltec) simply as a means to get back up to the trail at Cumbres on year.
They are both spectacular.
Nothing in the east compares.
If he's looking for a train ride that his son will never forget, either of these is a great option.
The one near Donner's Pass in CA that goes full circle at one point is another spectacular train.

[Cosmo]

In Mass, the trail crosses the "main line" in Dalton. Several long freight trains a day on two tracks. In Sheffield Mass, the Housatonic RR (scumbags that they are--see below) runs once or twice a day, crossing the AT just west of Rt 7. Last year, you could have made a side trip (via car) to the Berkshire Scenic RR in Lenox and actually gone for a short train ride in period coaches. This year, their agreement with the above mentioned HRR expired and the Housatonic refused to renew it. It was an ugly battle with some nasty (and untrue--I know some of the BSRR people involved) accusations being spread by the HRR. You can still go to the BSRR and get on board operating engines and coaches, and talk with the volunteers restoring them.

Cosmo

[Kneegrinder]

Not sure exactly where in the South you are but you might consider taking an Amtrak sleeper car to Washington DC and then there is another Amtrak train that goes to Harpers Ferry. Good AT hiking from there in either direction and lots of history.

[ki0eh]

Duncannon is on a very active rail line (the ex-PRR Main Line now NS) and nearby Boiling Springs is on the active NS Crescent Corridor (ex-RDG). Rarely noticed by hikers one block from the Doyle is the restored Duncannon rail station, now a cable TV office. If you take US 15 between the two (note other roads will get you to B.S.) you would pass Rockville Bridge (world's longest stone arch bridge) and Enola Yard, once the world's largest and still an active locomotive shop and work train base. Blue Mountain (mostly paddlesport) Outfitters is in the old Marysville railroad station so you can admire old building details and shop for gear at the same time. City Island park in Harrisburg (crossed by the Market Street Bridge, Earl Shaffer's 1948 route across the Susquehanna) has a little train ride around it and various kiddie attractions around the minor league baseball stadium. Nearby driving but some way off trail would be the Strasburg Rail Road and the adjacent RR Museum of PA.

[rickb]

Not active, and not what you are looking fo-- but of possible interest if you ever hike the AT through MA:


http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/western/wghp.htm

[rickb]

http://www.thecog.com/

[Deadeye]

http://www.conwayscenic.com/

can hike in Crawford notch area - see the train from the moutains, ride the train the next day

[Snowleopard]

The Naugatuck Railroad/Railroad Museum of New England runs old trains, including an occasional steam engine, from Thomaston, CT. This is about 30 miles from the AT. http://www.rmne.org/index.php They used to let you drive the train if you paid them enough. If you lived nearby, he could become a volunteer and work on maintaining the RR.

There are scenic train rides in the fall in Vermont but I don't have a link.

The Mt. Washington Cog railroad and the Hoosac tunnel that rickb links would be great fun. Rickb, thanks for the reminder about the Hoosac tunnel, I've really got to get out there soon.