Pequonnock River Railroad Bridge

Transcription

SINGING: Used to be a train track. Now it's the Air Line Trail. . . NARRATOR Welcome to the Airline State Park Trail. The Airline Trail is a 50-mile rail-trail in eastern Connecticut, with numerous access points for non-motorized recreation, and is open daily from dawn to dusk. The Trail currently starts in East Hampton Village, once known as "Belltown," because of the presence of more than 30 Bell manufacturing companies, making it the bell capital of the country. You can start or end your trail visit in the Village with a nice cup of coffee, pizza, or ice cream, visit the farmer's market, browse antique shops and boutiques, or take in nearby cultural and historic sites. Follow the trail east across the handicapped accessible bridge towards the next major access at Cranberry Bog. The Cranberry Bog is one of the most popular access points, and this section of the trail is heavily used. Look for picturesque ponds with picnic tables, woodland benches to rest on, dramatic rock cuts, side trails like this one maintained by the Middlesex Land Trust, and the Rapallo Viaduct. An interpretive sign provides historic and factual information about the viaduct. SALLY RICHLOVSKY I use the trail three to four times a week with the rest of my friends here. We start at Cranberry Bog and we stop at the Viaduct where the benches are so than we can take a bit of a short sit and then we turn around there and walk back. BESSY MOREN It's a great environment, it's a great trail, its nice and flat, you know, and the crushed stone is perfect for strollers and its good walking or jogging. NARRATOR From East Hampton, the trail continues into Colchester. Soon after crossing into town, visitors come upon one of the most significant features on the trail--the Lyman Viaduct. Built in 1873, it was originally constructed of wrought iron and measured more than 1100 feet across and 137 feet high. In 1913, the valley was filled and the entire trestle was covered, resulting in the structure that we see today. Both the Lyman and Rapallo Viaducts are on the National Register of Historic Places. Close to where the trail crosses Bull Hill Road, there are a number of attractions within a short bike- or car-ride. Visitors can step off the trail to enjoy great views of this Stone Arch Bridge from below on River Road. The bridge is on both the National and State Registers of Historic Places. The trail passes over the Blackledge River on this bridge, using the original stone abutments and metal supports built for the railroad. Just after the trail crosses River Road, visitors can stop to enjoy the views at Norton Pond. CLAIRE MATTHEWS I live in Essex and I come out to the Air Line Trail as much as I can any season of the year. I like being here because its so beautiful and its so easy. It's really fabulous! KATY KLARNET One of the fun things about discovering a new place like this is that I now want to go back and tell other people and bring people with me. DIANERY DELANEY It is one of the most beautiful places close to my home. All the trail for me is beautiful because I am able to jog, to walk and enjoy the beauty. JOEL BERNSTEIN It a great surface for walking or biking. You get beautiful views, you can see wildlife, its all here! NARRATOR From Colchester, the trail enters into Hebron where visitors cross the Jeremy River on this bridge. Nearby, the Jeremy and Blackledge Rivers join together to form the headwaters of the Salmon River. Soon after, visitors cross Judd Brook on this bridge. Just off the trail, visitors can pause to enjoy the waterfall in Grayville Falls Town Park, dip their toes or fish in the river, or picnic in the park. Just past Old Colchester Road, the Trail passes through the extensive Raymond Brook Marsh, a State-wide Wetland of Special Concern that offers expansive views and opportunities to observe birds and other wildlife. Just after the marsh, The Airline trail in Hebron connects with the Colchester Spur that formerly brought people and freight into downtown Colchester. Follow the spur to the end where historic Twin Rail Road Depots are still in use by local businesses, and look much the same as they did when the Railroad was in operation. Drop by some of the many shops and restaurants in downtown Colchester, or grab a burger and shake at the iconic Harry's Place roadside stand on Route 16. Back in Hebron, the trail continues across Route 85 towards Lebanon. MONICA LINDSAY Today is our first day on the Air Line Trail. We come from Gales Ferry, Connecticut. Everywhere we have gone there's babbling brooks and meadows and it's just gorgeous. ED MCDOUGALL We're just really soaking up the sun and the beautiful sights and we found it on the DEEP website. With trail maps it was easy to find, the trails are gravel, they're smooth and it makes for a nice day out on the bikes. NARRATOR Shortly after the trail crosses Route 207, a pond with surrounding wetlands offers opportunities for bird and wildlife viewing. The pond serves as the town line between Hebron and Lebanon. Visitors interested in expanding on their trail experience might enjoy a visit to Lebanon's mile long Town Green with its wealth of historic sites. The green is 7 miles from the Route 207 Trail Crossing and about 3 miles from the Route 87 Trail Crossing. East of Route 87, the trail crosses over a small stream offering a scenic view and additional wildlife viewing opportunities. This farm where the Trail crosses Cook Hill Road is one of the more scenic spots on the trail. Past the farm, the wetland just off the trail to the right is a magnet for birds and serves as a Heron Rookery, with the nests resembling Trufalla Trees from Dr. Suess's classic tale of The Lorax. The Trail continues across Kingsley Road, but ends at the Willimantic River, where the former railroad bridge is currently un-passable and awaiting restoration. Visitors can rejoin the trail using an on-road route through downtown Willimantic. JOACHIM SCHUSCHKE My wife and I come to the Air Line Trail, lately daily since I retired. I like that its relatively flat and we can do something like, I don't want to call it a power walk, but its not like you have to step over ten thousand things. LYNDA WOOD I am newly retired so I'm finally getting out to enjoy this trail every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. It's great! And we just love it because we don't have to worry about vehicles and at the same time we get to have great fellowship and catch up with each other. It's just so peaceful and serene so we go home and we feel great we did our thing of the day. NARRATOR From Lebanon, the Trail continues over the on-road detour into Windham. Just before crossing the Railroad Tracks approaching Route 66, visitors may wish to stop at the Railroad Museum and hitch a ride on the last continually operating section of the Air Line Railroad. ROLF JOHNSON This is a restoration of the Columbia Junction facility was built in 1898 and was rebuilt in 2000. If you're using the Air Line Trail, come in and visit us! We're open from 10 to 4, Saturdays and Sundays and we'd love to have you come in and visit a while. NARRATOR Take advantage of the wide range of restaurants, coffee shops, historic, and cultural opportunities that Willimantic has to offer. MARK PAQUETTE We're exactly opposite the famous Frog Bridge. The frogs were a symbol of Willimantic based on in the early to mid 1700s there was a commotion in Windham and the residents thought they were under attack but it turned out it was a pond that had dried up with hundreds and hundreds of bull frogs making a lot of noise. These spools on the bridge represent the American Thread Company that began here making thread for industries all over the world. NARRATOR Across from the Frog Bridge, reconnect with the Airline Trail by hopping on the Veterans Greenway. Then cross Route 66 where the Airline Trail begins again along Tuckie Road. Near the entrance to this section of the Airline Trail the marsh offers wildlife viewing opportunities, including nesting Great Blue Herons. Also look for evidence of beaver activity here. Atlantic White Cedar Swamps, like this one protected by the Joshua's Trust, are a critical habitat type in Connecticut. Near where the trail crosses Beaver Hill road close to the junction with Route 6, visitors can take a walk or bike ride over Mansfield Hollow Dam for great views of the lake. After Windham, the trail passes through the quiet little town of Chaplin. Shortly after crossing into Chaplin, this loop allows visitors to explore Land Trust property next to the Trail. These rock cuts are evidence of some of the extensive blasting needed to create a level grade for the Air Line Railroad. PETER GLASHEEN I like being out in the country, the woods, lookin' at the old bridges, the old tunnels along the different trails, it's just nice being out here. NARRATOR From Chaplin, the trail continues into Hampton. Just after the junction of Parker and South Brook roads, this abandoned bridge still stands as a relic of the Railroad era. At Potter Road, visitors can spend time at the Goodwin State Forest, a 2,000-acre property with 3 ponds, 14 miles of trails, native wildlife gardens, educational signs, and nature programs. The Natchaug Trail part of the state's Blue Trail system, crosses the Airline Trail near the James L. Goodwin Conservation Center, offering visitors opportunities to explore smaller, more rugged footpaths. This section of the trail features a variety of beautiful wetlands. After the Estabrook Road crossing, stonewalls below the trail seem mysteriously to disappear in to this wetland. The rising waters reflect the presence of some busy beavers. Soon after, the trail passes through the middle of an extensive pond and wetland where even novices will have good luck with bird watching and may even spot a beaver. It is interesting to note the diversity in wetland types present along the trail, like this one just past Griffin Road. Less than a tenth of a mile along Kenyon Road is the entrance to Hampton Reservoir, offering opportunities for fishing, non-motorized boating and wildlife viewing. Audubon's Trail Wood Sanctuary, the former home of writer-naturalist Edwin Way Teale, is nearby. From the town of Hampton, the trail crosses into Pomfret. Soon after Brooklyn Road is this stunning wet meadow. White Pines almost form a tunnel over the trail. East of Covell Road, a climb down a steep hill rewards visitors with unique views of this stone culvert built to carry the railroad over Mashmoquet Brook. Near the intersection of Routes 44 and 169, Pomfret Station serves as a start or end point for your trail experience or simply as a rest stop. East of the Needles Eye Road Junction is Audubon's 700-acre Bafflin Sanctuary and Grassland Bird Conservation Center. It is an Important Bird Area because of the rare grass and shrub habitats. The Center regularly offers nature education programs, and has over ten miles of trails with educational signs. More than 200 different bird species have been spotted here. The improved section of the Airline Trail currently ends at Wrights Crossing Road. To continue into Putnam, follow one of the on-road detours. The Wyndham Land Trust property just off Holmes Road offers panoramic views of classic New England Farmland. While in Pomfret, end your trip with ice cream, check out Sharpe Hill Vineyard, or visit the nearby Mashamoquet Brook State Park for camping, hiking, and swimming opportunities. From Pomfret, follow the on-road detour into Putnam using either the scenic or downtown routes. The 1955 floods washed out the railroad tracks and bridges near the Quinebaug River ultimately leading to the demise of the Airline Railroad. From Putnam's River Walk, visitors can check out the pedestrian bridge over the river on the remains of the Railroad Bridge where interpretive signs show the extent of the damage from the floods. While in Putnam, take in the view of the Quinebaug Falls from the bridge at the Junction of Route 44 and Kennedy Drive and take a stroll along the River Walk. Children and the young at heart may enjoy a visit to the Box Car Children Museum near the Train Station. The museum, housed in an old boxcar, sits just across from the former home of Putnam resident, first grade teacher and children's author Gertrude Chandler Warner who created the Box Car Children series of books. The original story in the series is considered one of the top 100 books for children. Part of the old Train station downtown now houses a restaurant and brew pub. And there are many other restaurants and shops downtown. BILL REID This is a place to really come if you're looking at a way to explore north-eastern Connecticut, explore the Air Line Trail, Putnam can really be your base of operations NARRATOR From Putnam, follow the on-road detour into Thompson where visitors can pick up the trail again at this parking area on Route 12. Once back on the trail, take in the expansive views of this wetland east of the Lovell/Davis Road crossing and marvel at how it changes through the seasons. East of the East Thompson Road crossing, the remains of this bridge still stand. By far the most interesting feature on the Airline Trail in Thompson is this side trail to the tri-state marker where the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island come together. A 15-minute hike over rugged, rocky terrain rewards visitors with the opportunity to literally be in three states at once. Before or after your trail visit there are lots of other things to do nearby. BERNIE MILLETTE We're from Massachusetts and we like the section we're on that borders Massachusetts and Thompson. PATRICIA MILLETTE I like it because it's nice and wide and its flat and there's no cars around so... FRAN MORANO My big concern is that all this work has gone into this and it would really be great if we could harness some of the local citizens to help maintain it and keep it up to snuff. I would love to help toward any effort to maintain it. NARRATOR All year round there is always something new to see and do, so let the Airline Trail take you places. -- --