| THE SPLINE The NH spine route will total 17.2 miles and we anticipate virtually all of it will use the corridor of the Boston and Maine R.R. from Seabrook to Portsmouth. (This R.R .Right Of Way crosses into Massachusetts and is being advanced there as a trail.) The southernmost portion of this ROW in NH (4.5 miles) was acquired by the State of NH DOT when it was abandoned as a rail corridor, including the section passing through the Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant. The northern section (11.5 miles) is owned by Guilford Industries and is still active on a limited basis for rail freight. In Portsmouth, the East Coast Greenway (ECG) leaves the railroad ROW and uses an on-road route to reach Memorial Bridge,where it crosses into Maine |
Earlier planning for the greenway identified the Boston & Maine/ Eastern line RR corridor as the most feasible route because the State of NH already owns the section from the Mass. border in Seabrook to Hampton. The section from Hampton to Portsmouth is privately owned at the time, so an on-road route is planned for now. |
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| The Rail Trail |
| New Hampshire's 'Blueprint For Action' |
| The trail begins at the Massachusetts border in Seabrook, where the old Atlantic Rail Road Station was located. |
| Atlantic Station & Rt. 286 Picture courtesy Gary Lapoint-R.R. Stations in NH & MA |
| North of RT. 286 bridge Stations in NH & MA |
| The route begins near Maine's New Hampshire border in Kittery after crossing Memorial Bridge, a town known as an outlet-shopping mecca including Kittery Trading Post. The route ends at Bug Light Park in South Portland, with its stunning views of Portland Harbor in Casco Bay. 'Portland is an old seacoast town. It is also a funky city filled with galleries, one-of-kind boutiques and shops, and incredible restaurants serving everything from New England clam chowder, lobster rolls and Maine seafood to nouvelle cuisine.' It will follow the Old Eastern Rail Line. |
| It then continues into Seabrook Station property where it is fenced off. The owners (Florida Power & Light Co.) has expressed interest in helping find an alternate route. Digital pictures by Kenyon F. Karl on April 29, 2001 |
| A Science and Nature Center is present on the Nuclear Power Station Grounds. That building may provide toilets & water to trail users, and also serve as an attraction for trail users. |
| ‘The Coastal Trails Coalition network. This is a Coalition of Amesbury, Newbury, Newburyport and Salisbury. They are creating a Coastal Trail network that is emerging as a 30 mile public system of bicycle and pedestrian trails linking the seacoast and their communities together. 'Imagine being able to travel from the revitalized mill village of Amesbury to the beaches of the Salisbury Beach State Reservation; from shopping in historic Newburyport to the natural sites of the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge in Newbury - all without getting in your car.' Eventually it will connect to the 'Boston to Border Trail' which has been chosen as a Millennium Trail. |
| And that’s just the local aspect of the Greenway. The big picture is connecting to: |
| It then picks up just before the Browns River Culvert north of Seabrook Station. From there it passes the end of Brimmers Lane in Hampton Falls, NH along the town's boat ramp area at the end of Depot road and across the Hampton Marsh. |
| Looking south from Depot Road. Digital picture by Kenyon F. Karl 2001 |
| We envision the Greenway as a safe recreational corridor for adults and children from Seabrook to Portsmouth. Greenway users will be both avid and recreational cyclist, walkers, runners, and others who are seeking ways to become more active. In the winter the trail may be used for cross country skiing and snowshoeing. The Greenway will be a corridor for bicycle riders, walkers, and provide an opportunity for children to walk or bike to school, the library or other local destinations. |
| The abandoned B&M Rail Road right-of-way in Hampton Falls, NH. Photo: K. Arrain |
| Looking east towards Hampton Digital picture by Kenyon F. Karl 2001. |
| Looking south from under the Rte 1 underpass. Photo: Krystina Deren Arrain 2001 |
| The most appropriate place to end the rail-trail would be in the vicinity of the rear of the Hampton Post Office. Students of Winnacunnet High School, long distance bicyclists, and local riders can cross Route 1 at light controlled crosswalk. At that point they can continue onto their destination, be it school, beach, shopping or the on-road bike route that continues north to Portsmouth. |
| Railroad hopper cars at Foss Manufacturing. Photo: Kenyon F. Karl 2001. |
| Hampton Falls |
| Hampton |
