Historians and transportation advocates see the creation of a rail-trail as the ultimate demise for a rail line. However detrimental it is for redevelopment of the rail line, there was a good reason why the railroad removed the tracks in the first place. As evident in the history of the area railroads, many turned out to be unprofitable or just redundant. Where the rights-of-way have been preserved, we have seen them develop into rail-trails, some as dirt paths through the woods and others urban bike paths.
The following list is Nashua City Station's list of rail-trails that have been officially named trails in southern New Hampshire. If you decide to explore other abandoned rail corridors, there is a chance that you could be trespassing. Don't go where you shouldn't be, it just makes it harder for others to enjoy the hobby. Also, DO NOT walk along active rail lines. This is dangerous and trespassing.
This list is here as a reference. If you are curious of what are permitted uses of trails, please check with trail owners. Website links provided where possible for more trail information.
~ Town of Dunstable
Nashua, Acton & Boston Railroad
NH-MA state line to Main Street, Dunstable - 1.5 miles
~ State of New Hampshire
Ashuelot Railroad
Keene to Winchester - 21 miles
~ Town of Amherst
Boston & Maine Railroad: Manchester & Milford Branch
Baboosic Lake Road to Walnut Hill Road, Amherst - 2 miles
~ State of New Hampshire
Cheshire Railroad
North Walpole to Fitzwilliam - 42 miles
~ Town of Derry
Manchester & Lawrence Railroad
Broadway, Derry to Derry-Windham town line - 3 miles
~ Town of Goffstown
New Hampshire Central Railroad
Goffstown Village to Goffstown-Manchester town line - 5.5 miles
~ Town of Milford
Fitchburg Railroad: Brookline & Pepperell Branch
DPW Garage, Milford to Milford-Brookline town line - 2.86 miles
~ State of New Hampshire
Fitchburg Railroad: Peterboro & Shirley Railroad
Mason Rail Trail (Mason-Wilton town line) to Route 31, Greenville - 2.2 miles
~ State of New Hampshire
Peterborough & Hillsborough Railroad
Hillsborough to Bennington -
7.7 miles
~ State of New Hampshire
Manchester & Lawrence Railroad
North Lowell Road, Windham to Route 111, Salem - 4.1 miles, paved
~ Town of Mason
Fitchburg Railroad: Peterboro & Shirley Railroad
NH-MA state line to Greenville Recreational Trail (Mason-Wilton town line) - 6.6 miles
~ State of New Hampshire
Monadnock Railroad
NH-MA state line to Jaffrey - 7.2 miles
~ City of Nashua
Worcester & Nashua Railroad
Main Street to Simon Street, Nashua - 1.3 miles, paved
~ (MA) Commonwealth of Massachusetts
~ (NH) City of Nashua, Amerigas Propane, and Homes by Paradise
Worcester & Nashua Railroad
Main Street, Ayer to Gilson Road, Nashua - 12 miles, paved
~ Town of Pepperell
Fitchburg Railroad: Brookline & Pepperell Branch
South Street to Kemp's Horse Track, Pepperell - 0.9 miles
~ City of Manchester
New Hampshire Central Railroad
Manchester-Goffstown town line to downtown Manchester - 2.1 miles, paved
~ Beaver Brook Association
Fitchburg Railroad: Brookline & Pepperell Branch
Hollis - Details unknown
~ Town of New Boston
New Boston Railroad
4-H Fairgrounds, New Boston to New Boston-Goffstown town line - 4 miles
~ State of New Hampshire
Portsmouth & Concord Railroad (photo gallery)
Manchester to Newfields - 25.3 miles
~ State of New Hampshire
Nashua & Rochester Railroad
Windham to Epping - 16.4 miles
|
