The Short Line right-of-way is walkable from the Armory to Bloomsbury Ave. outside I-695, and from Shady Nook to Charlestown inside I-695.
Map of Short Line Trail [pdf 576KB]
General Description:
A new sign marks the trail entrance opposite the Armory on Mellor Ave.
A 10 foot clear trail has been cleared from the Mellor Mews to Bloomsbury Ave.
The trail is dirt and gravel and accessible for multi-use at this time.
Access to/from Bloomsbury requires ascending/decending a steep bank from the trail up to Bloomsbury and stepping over the guard rail.
Many thanks to Brian Yakel of Boy Scout Troop 306 for all
the work he did to clean up this part of the trail for his
Boy Scout Eagle Project. Brian and the Scouts removed trash,
cleared brush and rocks, smoothed out the entrance from
Mellor Ave., made and erected the new sign at the Mellor Ave.
trail entrance. Read the details of his
Eagle Project (rtf 330KB)
Great Job Brian!
General Description:
Bloomsbury Ave has cut off the existing railroad bed when a tunnel
collapsed in years past. Currently the trail would have to climb up
a steep grade to cross Bloomsbury Ave. There is no usable trail
from Bloomsbury to the Beltway.
On the east side of Bloomsbury Ave there are 6 - 8" trees which would need to be removed along with extensive brushing for the first 600' to where the tracks crossed Asylum Lane at grade. Asylum Lane must be used for this first 600 feet.
The rail continues along a grassy newly fenced storm water detention pond to the old rail bed which is running along Spring Grove property. This section to Wade Ave is in need of 6 - 8" tree removal.(probably chain saws would be best). There is also extensive multiflora rose in this section. There is a fence gate (sometimes locked) at 2040' from Bloomsbury Ave. Railroad ties and rails begin at 2250' and continue to 3730' ( at the Beltway ). There is a double rail for the last 115' which was placed to reduce the liklihood of a train derailment when the tracks were crossing a bridge (now removed ) across the Beltway.
The section from Wade Ave to the Beltway is completely overgrown and there is one spot where there been some erosion of the roadbed on a levee. Extensive clearing with chainsaws and extensive brushing will be required in this area.
There is 3190' of rail in this section. Wade Ave is in the middle of where the rails are located and would be the logical place for staging the rails for further loading and transport to the scrap yard. There are rail joiners, spikes and rail plates from this section. There are ties in this area which would also need to be removed.
The Trail Head is a grassy area in the bend of Shady Nook at the Beltway sound wall. There is minimal street parking. The rails have been removed and the remaining ballast gravel makes a nice walkable 6 to 10 foot wide trail 3067 feet long.
Eagle Scout Candidate Mike Bledsoe of Boy Scout Troop 306 organized trail clean-ups on May 26, June 23, and July 7, 2007. His work crews cleaned up the downed brush and logs along the Short Line Trail east of Maiden Choice Lane. Well done Mike, and thanks!
Last Updated: July 30, 2008
Curator: Thomas C. Bagg, III,