Chester and Becket Railroad Tour
September 7, 2025 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Parking: On Hampden Street at the Chester and Becket Trailhead Chester 01011 Directions: From junction of Rts 20 & 102 in Lee, take Rt. 20 east and drive 18 miles to the Chester/Becket town line, turn right on Hampden Street to the trailhead. GPS 42.279567, -72.988070
Hike Rating: Easy 2.5 miles in and back, mostly flat terrain on dirt
Join us for a special Housatonic Heritage event to hike on a section of the Chester and Becket Railroad. Built in 1896 as a 5.25-mile spur off the Boston & Albany Railroad to deliver granite from the Becket Quarries to the Chester finishing works. Both Chester and Becket issued bond stock in the quarry company to help in building this line because there was money to be made from the “Chester Blue Granite” for monuments and gravestones. This railroad was blasted out of the steep and winding side of the Walker Brook Valley. The first locomotive to run on this line was a wood burner, eventually upgraded to a coal burning locomotive. We will see the remains of a wooden trestle still standing on the trail and also learn how this route was used in Chester’s Emery industry. Donations for the newly conserved Chester Granite Company Finishing Works property are greatly appreciated.
This is a special Housatonic Heritage Event!
Housatonic Heritage Events 2025 Housatonic Heritage Walks – Housatonic Heritage
Please Register per car load on https://westernmasshilltownhikers.ticketleap.com Maps and bottled water provided. Well behaved dogs allowed. Event is volunteer lead. Suggested donation is $15. More details are on www.hilltownhikers.com . Please email westernmasshilltownhikers@aol.com or call/text 413-302-0312 if you have any questions. As always be prepared for rocks, mud and roots, bring trekking poles!
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Mission Statement: Western Mass Hilltown Hikers, Inc. is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes to engage in all legal activities relating to the development, maintenance and operation of recreational hiking and outdoor adventure in Western Massachusetts. We are a non-profit 501C(3) organization incorporated in the State of Massachusetts. Tax ID #86-2532249
