Delaware and Hudson Rail Trail
Encyclopedia
The Delaware and Hudson Rail Trail is a 19.8 miles (31.9 km) rail trail
running from West Rupert to Castleton
in southwestern Vermont
. The trail runs in two disjoint segments, separated by a short section that actually leaves the state for neighboring New York
State before returning to Vermont. From south to north, the trail traverses the Towns of Rupert
, Pawlet
, Poultney
, and Castleton
. However, between Pawlet and Poultney, the trail enters Granville (town), New York (and thus skipping over the intervening Vermont Town of Wells
), before returning into Poultney.
Bicycle
s, horse
s and hikers share this trail. It was converted from an abandoned Delaware and Hudson Railway
corridor known as The Washington Branch, whose trains were known locally as the “Slate Picker”. The Washington Branch ran from Eaglebridge, New York, to Castleton, Vermont. In 1980 Delaware and Hudson Railway fell on hard times and due to track conditions, embargoed the line. The line from Eaglebridge, New York, to Salem, New York, was purchased by Ron Coward with a grant from The Urban Development Corporation and was rebuilt. The Line from Salem, New York, to West Rupert, Vermont, and from West Pawlet, Vermont, to Granville, New York, was purchased by The New York State Department of Transportation. The state had planned a rail trail for both segments that it had purchased, but the Governor Pataki Administration dragged its feet and lost out to a land grab by local property owners, who leveled the right-of-way.
The line from Poultney, Vermont, to Castleton, Vermont, was purchased by Vermont Department of Transportation, as was Rupert, Vermont, to Granville, NY. This line fared much better and became the Delaware And Hudson Trail.
Rail trail
A rail trail is the conversion of a disused railway easement into a multi-use path, typically for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding. The characteristics of former tracks—flat, long, frequently running through historical areas—are appealing for various development. The term sometimes also...
running from West Rupert to Castleton
Castleton, Vermont
Castleton is a town in Rutland County, Vermont, United States. Castleton is about to the west of Rutland, and about east of the New York/Vermont state border. The town had a population of 4,717 at the 2010 census. Castleton State College is located there, with roots dating to 1787...
in southwestern Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
. The trail runs in two disjoint segments, separated by a short section that actually leaves the state for neighboring New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
State before returning to Vermont. From south to north, the trail traverses the Towns of Rupert
Rupert, Vermont
Rupert is a town in Bennington County, Vermont, United States. The population was 704 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 44.6 square miles , of which 44.6 square miles is land and 0.02% is water.-History:Many...
, Pawlet
Pawlet, Vermont
Pawlet is a town in Rutland County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,477 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which 0.02% is water.Pawlet is a rural farming town...
, Poultney
Poultney (town), Vermont
Poultney is a town in Rutland County in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Vermont. New York state is on its western border. Castleton, Vermont, is on its northern border. Poultney is home to Green Mountain College, a private liberal arts college with about 820 students. The Village of...
, and Castleton
Castleton, Vermont
Castleton is a town in Rutland County, Vermont, United States. Castleton is about to the west of Rutland, and about east of the New York/Vermont state border. The town had a population of 4,717 at the 2010 census. Castleton State College is located there, with roots dating to 1787...
. However, between Pawlet and Poultney, the trail enters Granville (town), New York (and thus skipping over the intervening Vermont Town of Wells
Wells, Vermont
Wells is a town in Rutland County, Vermont, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 1,150.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which is land and , or 3.42%, is water....
), before returning into Poultney.
Bicycle
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
s, horse
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
s and hikers share this trail. It was converted from an abandoned Delaware and Hudson Railway
Delaware and Hudson Railway
The Delaware and Hudson Railway is a railroad that operates in the northeastern United States. Since 1991 it has been a subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway, although CPR has assumed all operations and the D&H does not maintain any locomotives or rolling stock.It was formerly an important...
corridor known as The Washington Branch, whose trains were known locally as the “Slate Picker”. The Washington Branch ran from Eaglebridge, New York, to Castleton, Vermont. In 1980 Delaware and Hudson Railway fell on hard times and due to track conditions, embargoed the line. The line from Eaglebridge, New York, to Salem, New York, was purchased by Ron Coward with a grant from The Urban Development Corporation and was rebuilt. The Line from Salem, New York, to West Rupert, Vermont, and from West Pawlet, Vermont, to Granville, New York, was purchased by The New York State Department of Transportation. The state had planned a rail trail for both segments that it had purchased, but the Governor Pataki Administration dragged its feet and lost out to a land grab by local property owners, who leveled the right-of-way.
The line from Poultney, Vermont, to Castleton, Vermont, was purchased by Vermont Department of Transportation, as was Rupert, Vermont, to Granville, NY. This line fared much better and became the Delaware And Hudson Trail.