FinMcBride

Trails :: Bike Trails : Walking : Running : Trail : Maps - TrailLink

Great website and a great ongoing project to save former railroad line sights for trails for people to use for any kind of recreational activity such as: walking, hiking, bike riding, horse riding, dog sled racing, as well as other activities.

-Fin McBride

12/2/2009:)

I believe the railroad spike that I have is wrought iron. I do not think it is steel. It seems to be an older railroad spike compared to the more modern one's that I've seen. Thank you for your informative post, it is a big help, and I do appreciate it!:)

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!