Trails on former LV ROW -

Regarding the former LV northeast of Naples, these pictures show that the trail does not have ties and is reasonably well maintained, but it does look quite soft and not good for biking. As far as the mosquitos, well, I believe humans can be prepared for that.

http://flickr.com/photos/15947776@N06/2475929278/
http://flickr.com/photos/15947776@N06/2475928386

Anchorman wrote:Cheektowaga is almost done with building their trail in Western New York. Runs on the Lehigh and Lake Erie branch at Dingens St. Park, goes through Tifft Junction and runs east until Union Rd., not quite to Niagara Junction. They're putting up a nice stockade fence now between it and the NS Bison yard then they just have to pave it. I'd guess it should be done by this summer.

Here's a shot of the trail under construction, as seen from Harlem Road:



Photo taken by me on Saturday 4/19/2008.

Anchorman wrote:Cheektowaga is almost done with building their trail in Western New York. Runs on the Lehigh and Lake Erie branch at Dingens St. Park, goes through Tifft Junction and runs east until Union Rd., not quite to Niagara Junction. They're putting up a nice stockade fence now between it and the NS Bison yard then they just have to pave it. I'd guess it should be done by this summer.

I don't know the official name of the trail, but I've used your description to add it under this name:
http://rutlandtrail.org/gmap.cgi?Cheekt ... .railtrail
Thanks!

RussNelson wrote: Not sure if the Gorge Trail is what you mean by Cazenovia-Canastota.

Link Trail.

http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=50912

RussNelson wrote: http://rutlandtrail.org/gmap.cgi?Lehigh ... .railtrail

Is the Main line the Lehigh Valley Linear Trail?

There was only one LV mainline in Monroe County.

It should be noted that the last time I went through where I-390 crosses, there is no bridge - you would have to walk out and walk along a road just to the north to pass under the interstate.

The linked map still shows the Rochester branch, and the NYC through to Fishers, which is what you have the east end of the trail shown as reaching. Is that accurate, or does it use the former NYC to reach an end? I know that it can't come all the way to Route 251 as a bit of the LV is still intact west of that crossing.

I should add this portion of the LV, southwest of Cortland:
http://rutlandtrail.org/gmap.cgi?Lehigh ... .railtrail

Also this portion of the LV between Ithaca and Trumansburg:
http://rutlandtrail.org/gmap.cgi?Black- ... .railtrail
http://blackdiamondtrail.org/

Im Sorry Russ, first information was incorrect:
From Cayward Cross(considered in town of Middlesex) to Rt. 21 out of naples is the current trail. I rode the section from Sunnyside rd. to cayward Cross:
First few hundred feet were very overgrown, as if the mowers hadn't been through in a while. Then after a second bridge, the RoW cleared out and it was a fairly smooth ride. Mosquitos weren't bad as much as i thought. It was an interesting find thought to see where the ties Bleached the ballast, and you could see where the tracks were. Old finds like a track Joining bar, a tie plate and a few spikes, and numerous chunks of coal were among many i found. the entire RoW, is owned by New York State as for the trail part. They've done a fairly good job maintaining it.
Sean

Thanks, Lehighton_Man, for the update. I've added your information to my database. Say, did you take any pictures of these remaining bridge? I've got a group on Flickr for sharing photos of New York State abandoned railroad bridges.

Im Afraid i didnt. But, i live within Biking distance of the bridges(both of which, are typical wooden trestles, one is just larger than the other)
I'll be sure to try to get a picture before the snow flies.
Sean

You may want to look at http://www.victorhikingtrails.org/ to see what has been done to LVRR, NYC & Roch & Eastern ROW trails in Victor, NY. There are also many pics of the three roads in the Victor area at www.friendsoftherailroad.org under Old RR Images.

New Jersey:

The Pittstown/Clinton branch is a nice LV rail trail extending roughly north and south from Landsdown Jct along the NS's Lehigh line.