Entries to Win Afghan

Sign up to receive the Books Leaving Footprints Newsletter. Comes out occasionally. No spam. No list swapping. Just email me! jhyshark@gmail.com Previous gifts include a short story, a poem, and coupons. Add your name, and don't miss out!

Sunday, March 27, 2022

Tunnels, Bridges, Views - Day 117

  Today, I went back and filled in the missing piece. This included the Kennerdell Tunnel on the Allegheny Valley RR. This is a longer tunnel, at 3350 feet, but it is straighter, so you aren't in the dark for as long. Kennerdell Tunnel

This was what it was like for a great deal of the time today. But between snow squalls, I saw an eagle fly across the river. snowstorm

The bridge at Belmar isn't part of the NCT, but you can see it. (It's connected- you could walk it if you wanted) It's located where the Allegheny Valley RR and the Franklin & Clearfield RR (now the Sandy Creek Trail) "meet." The F&C is at least 20 feet higher, but there are stairs now because both rail beds are trails, and this is where the NCT turns the corner.

The 1361-foot bridge was built in 1906, and was a massive undertaking with only horse and steam power. Belmar Bridge

Imagine my surprise when I discovered there is another small tunnel on the F&C line. You can just look right through it. But it needed interior repairs to make it safe for trail use, so that "liner" was added in 2005. This is called the May's Mill Tunnel Mays Mill Tunnel

This part of the trail crosses Sandy Creek a number of times. Sandy Creek is pretty big for a "creek." And it is a beautiful waterway. Sandy Creek Sandy Creek

Someone has painted this old part of an abutment to look like a train! It's really quite creatively cute. grafitti looks like train

And! I had a hiking companion for about 2/3 of the day. Tracy came and walked with me. She has almost completed Pennsylvania. hikers

Miles today: 17.3. Total miles so far: 1549.

And! Sue completed her NCT Hike 100 and the Pennsylvania Hike 50 today!

See Franklin & Clearfiel RR

5 comments:

Ann said...

What a great looking area. I would love to walk through that first tunnel. That painting of the train is pretty cute.

Unknown said...

Sandy Creek looks pretty - I love when the NCT zig-zags over streams. More great tunnels, and that train is pretty cool. Nice to see you had a companion. Always great to see an eagle! April

The Furry Gnome said...

Oh thanks! I've got pictures now! Makes it much more intersting.

Sharkbytes said...

Ann- It was such a treat since I haven't seen that part before (all rerouted since my last time)

April- I hear it is spectacular in fall

Stu- well. you're welcome! But I didn't do anything. haha

The Oceanside Animals said...

Lulu: "That's a long tunnel all right! Probably almost as long as some of the gopher tunnels in our yard!"