NH Resources

  There is a proposal to tear up part of the state owned rail line between Concord and Lincoln for a multi-use recreational bike trail.🚵🚵🚵     It's an idea that should at least be considered.   Purchased in 1975 from a bankrupt Boston & Maine railroad this state owned rail line has never been anything more than seasonal tourist trains and a scant few freight cars serving industries that really no longer even exist.   This is compounded by the fact that the state has no plans or even a strategy to market these rail properties or even improve them. The attitude of DOT Commissioner Victoria T. Sheehan is indifference, I know because I've asked her about state owned rail lines like the Concord-Lincoln line.     Regional Planning Commissions or even the Office of Business and Economic Affairs could advance both state and federal grant applications for this rail line, but they don't because this lethargic rail line just isn't a state prio...

 As a railfan I've riden mountain bikes on near many abandoned and active railroad lines. The Danville rail trail is one of the best in the country.     Rails to trails is still relatively new. Abandoned railroad tracks are being removed becoming an almost instant rail trail. The problem arises when the prior surface materials from decades of railroad operations like gravel, cinders and crossties are left plus New England seasonal storm debris that is often not cleaned up. The trails in New Hampshire and parts of Maine are like this.   This Isn't A Rail Trail. It's A Regular Trail. There Is A Difference.   This isn't the case in Danville. The trail is well graded, maintained and very level for a rail trail. It's distance isn't lengthy but it's very scenic. Unlike most rail trails there is also one way access at both ends of the mountainous route as RCT allows mountain bikes on their busses servicing the entire trail. I'd reccomend starting at ...

 Vermont could have one of the best passenger rail systems in the country.     It isn't to be and the reason is politics and chaos on both sides of the river.      During the last 30 years I've watched Vermont taxpayers throw millions of dollars in financial subsidy at Amtrak in exchange for empty seats and an unclear direction for the future. Nothing has ever changed.     The Amtrak Vermonter train which truncates at St. Albans is politically supported by Senator Patrick Leahy and more recently, New Hampshire's Senator Maggie Hassan.There is an expensive proposal to bring this train back to it's original namesake, Montreal. Nothing is ever said about ridership numbers for this idea. "They are so critical for our state's and businesses." Sen. Hassan said in support of Amtrak. She hasn't said which New Hampshire businesses and how Amtrak running up and down the Connecticut River Valley could be considered "critical." Amtrak In Northeast Ne...

 After the Northern Pass decision was reached Mayor Paul Grenier responded by making statements about Governor Chris Sununu and economic development in the North Country. Neither of these statements has any validity.   "This sends a very chilling message to anyone working to bring economic development to the North Country." Grenier said as he requested that Gov. Sununu take a more active role in addressing the real issues in the North Country. He didn't say what these real issues are.   Berlin could pursue many strategies in economic development and creating jobs but it's clear that Mayor Grenier himself that isn't taking an active role in addressing the real issues in the North Country. I've Recently Seen Trains To/From Canada.   As a long-term railfan I've excitedly and recently watched Norfolk Southern railroad locomotives power a St. Lawrence & Atlantic train up through Berlin enroute to Canada. There is immense potential to use rail transp...