Trails To Rails

 

I have been making Google Earth projects for me or others to use for a while now. I feel like there are enough to crate a small trekker's map. Most are short spur trails off of parking lots or official trails and parks. If I make more map projects I will link them below for you or others to use to watch trains.

Project 1 :

 

Places You Can Visit:

  • Horse Shoe Curve - Access trails on both sides, connecting to Allegrippus Curve, Bennington Curve, and Tunnel Hill.
  • Staple Bend Bridges - C&BL and NS routes.
  • Johnstown Bridge - Visit the site of the Rolling Mill mine disaster.
  • Van Meter - Explore the Darr Mine disaster site and Banning Mine, plus the W&LE Banning overlook.
  • Lick Run & Peters Creek trails - AVR & W&LE
  • W&LE Ravensburg (Clairton) Tunnel.

 

https://earth.google.com/web/@40.32717405,-79.24668572,-0a,192589.69024524d,35y,0h,0t,0r/data=CgRCAggCMikKJwolCiExbHlhTnRDTU4yUkxPb0Z2TmlCaU5LWHJxWlNjOThncFMgAToDCgEwQgIIAEoICOeyuaQFEAE

 

Project 2 :

 

Locations Included:

  • Bethel Park Greens
  • Jacob's Creek Viaduct and Tunnel
  • Munhall Hot Metal Bridge
  • Whitehall Tunnel
  • Conemaugh Viaduct

https://earth.google.com/earth/d/13hQWbsHP0V4HAn_RWM-kJudMdobtReGr?usp=sharing

 

Project 3 :

Locations Include;

 

    • AVR Thomas Tunnel
    • B&LE Harmarville
    • B&LE North Bessemer
    • URR Dravosburg Tunnel
    • Oil City NYC Tunnel
    • URR Irvin Cemetery
    • Mongah Mine Entrance
    • W&LE Matt Branch
    • W&LE Bridges at Mingo, Sudan, and Connellsville
    • Rt 376 Drone Takeoff Spot

 

https://earth.google.com/earth/d/1Bw3xV1E8SkCJbKgEfZugiCdF0W2GmRrs?usp=sharing

 

Explore the destinations accessible through the trails mapped in the Google Earth documents linked above. 

Rails To Trails + Other

Rails to Trails websites that I use to look for ways around driving from place to place in the city or in the suburbs. I have found it easier in the city to ride a bike, walk, or jog from place to place insead of missing every train while waiting in traffic.

All Trails: 

https://www.alltrails.com/explore?b_br_lat=39.9941042612181&b_br_lng=-79.64929758092941&b_tl_lat=41.24792535185651&b_tl_lng=-81.19654538638187

 

Great Allegheny Passage:

https://gaptrail.org/map/

 

Bike PGH:

https://bikepgh.org/resources/maps-guides-more/map-routes/

 

 

Railroad Spots I Highly Reccomend

 

Here are my absolute favorite spots to go to and explore, and I have personally been to each and every one of these places myself. I assure you, I would never recommend them unless I was completely confident that they are both safe to visit and relatively easy to navigate while being enjoyable.  

 

  • Alto Tower 17th street Bridge Altoona Pa.

 

  • Age of Steam Roundhouses in Scranton Pa and Sugar Creek Ohio. 

 

  • Bennington's Curve + east side of Gallitzen Tunnels outside Gallitzen Pa on Bird Eye Road.

 

  • Black Hills Central Station, Hill City Sd. 

 

 

  • Conway Yard Piney Street Entrance in Baden Pa.

 

  • Edgar Thompson Works Valley Railyard, Braddock Pa.

 

  • Framingham Station, Ma.

 

  • Homestead Amity Street railroad crossing. Homestead Pa. 

 

  • Horse Shoe Curve west side spot. Located on a small trail off of Veteran's Memorial Highway to the left side of the road if on is driving up hill.

 

  • Jim Thorpe Station, Jim Thorpe Pa.

 

  • Juniata Locomotive Works Turntable in Altoona Pa.

 

  • Mckeesport Bridge parking lot along the GAP trail at the police station. 

 

  • Penn Station New York City.

 

  • Port Clinton Depot & Station, Port Clinton Pa.

 

  •  Port Perry bridges and rail lines Duquesne / Braddock area. Best seen from the GAP trail or by drone. 

 

  • South Station Boston Ma.

 

  • Thurmond Station Wv.

 

  • Union Station Worcester Ma. 

 

  • Western Maryland Scenic Railroad station in Cumberland Md.