Ashwillticook Rail Trail, always beautiful year round! We started at Crane Ave and headed North to Cheshire for a six mile in and back leisurely hike.

In 1845, the Pittsfield & North Adams Railroad developed this corridor with the goal of extending the Housatonic Railroad north to Rutland, Vermont. While the track was under construction, the company was acquired by the Western Railroad, which used the corridor as a secondary line.

In 1867, the Western Railroad became known as the Boston & Albany Railroad. During this time, mineral traffic developed on the line and a number of limestone operations went into business. The New York Central took over the B&A Railroad in 1900, and up-graded the line.

New York Central became part of Penn-Central (later Conrail) in 1970 and sold the line to Boston & Maine Railroad in 1981.

Boston & Maine Railroad ran the line as a connection to an existing track in North Adams, with declining success until the company abandoned rail service in 1990.

Seeing the potential for recreational use of the corridor, citizens organized to preserve the right-of-way. The Ashuwillticook River Trail Committee soon formed and worked to gain the local and political support needed to make this rail trail a reality.

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