In November 2009 I walked the right of way from Greenville, NH to Townsend, MA on the old Boston & Maine Railroad Company line which ran from 1851 until
1983 and I found some old antique railroad spikes. I believe I found one that is from the 1860's. That walk was about 20-25 miles roundtrip and it took me from 8am until 3pm to walk it and that is hiking fast, only taking a few breaks along the way. Some of the railroad track is still there on some parts of the trail while other parts is mainly a rough dirt trail with railroad artifacts off to the side. Does anyone out there know how to look at a railroad spike and to be able to determine when it was made or how old is it?
P.S. The best railroad film of all time is, "The Station Agent"-(2003)!
Happy railroad train track hiking!
The trail I was on was the Mason-Greenville, NH Railroad Train Tack Trail, I will return in the Spring of 2010 when it is a bit warmer and nicer time of the year to walk the right of way! Great trail and a great hike for all age levels!