Now over to East Street in Southampton, still part of the Manhan Meadows Sanctuary trail, parking here along the road and hike in on the old railbed which was built adjacent to the canal. The railroad bed exists in most places. In Southampton, they wind back and forth across the bikeway west of MA-10/College Hwy. The canal leaves the railroad bed just south of Gunn Road and does not return to the railroad bed or rail-trail until near the intersection of MA-10/Easthampton Rd. and Lovefield St. in Northampton.

Railroad History: In 1856 the New Haven & Northampton RR (NH&N) was extended through Southwick and ultimately to Northampton. The railroad lines were constructed in the canal bed from East Street south to the Westfield line. In 1869 the railroad was operated by NY&NH and run by NHRR. At one point the Pioneer Valley Rail Road operated part of the right-of-way. The railroad was abandoned in 1976 to become the Southampton Greenway Rail Trail.
Read more about it in our good friend, Bob Madison’s book and on the Southampton Historical website!
https://www.amazon.com/New-Haven-Northampton-Canal-Greenway/dp/0997950803/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?crid=ER53ZM4CPS6Y&keywords=robert+madison&qid=1667824295&sprefix=robert+madison%2Caps%2C98&sr=8-5

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