Moonville Rail Trail

[buckeyefarmer]

Thanks for posting about Moonville! I backpacked in Zaleski state forest back in the very early 80's, when the train was still running.

 

[buggyman1]

Cool thread, thanks for posting pics. I wish i'd had that crane for my bridge.

 

[DJ54]

Here is a link to a small local weekly paper with a story about our trail...

http://www.baltimoretownecrier.com/pag3.PDF

 

[EddieWalker]

Great story and pictures. I always wonder about the people who build those trails that I've hiked on, and what it took to create them. I don't think I've been on any trails that trains ran on, but who knows. It's just amazing how much work goes into creating them, and how remote they are. I've been 20 miles into a Wilderness Area on horseback and see switchbacks going up a mountain that were done in rock that was just amazing.

It's nice to hear first hand what it takes and that people are still working on creating new trails.

Eddie

 

[DJ54]

Thanks... What even amazes me more.. Is there are many remnants of the ealry canal system in my area. This was all done with manual labor, and horses and hand slip scrapers... Mostly contracted by the mile, to farmers with teams of horses. I can't even imagine what that would have been like..!!

The era the Moonville Trail rail line was built, at least they had steam shovels, and side dump cars. Still boggles the mind when you see some of the cuts, and fills...

I've got to look into that a little more though... Still trying to figure out, how they side dumped, but yet continued the fill in front of them...

 

[Ken45101]

Great story and pictures. I always wonder about the people who build those trails that I've hiked on, and what it took to create them.

It varies, of course. A LOT of trails were done by the CCC crews, often by hand. Some are old township roads. Some are old logging roads. Some new ones are done by bulldozer or volunteer crews with handtools or individual's equipment.

Part of the Zaleski backpack trail (a mile or so north of the Moonville tunnel) was one a stage coach road to Zanesville.

Ken