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USGS
Topographic map of Winchendon
USGS
Aerial photograph of Winchendon
All evidence of the Winchendon Depot has been obliterated by new construction. However, the Webmaster presumes that the depot was located near the Central Street Crossing.
Looking southwest along trail from Glenallen Road.
Digital photograph by Kenyon F. Karl on July 24, 2000.
Looking northwest across Genallen Road along trail.
Digital photograph by Kenyon F. Karl on July 24, 2000.
Millers River from the adjacent Glenallen Road
Bridge.
Digital photograph by Kenyon F. Karl on July 24, 2000.
Whitney Pond from the adjacent Glenallen Road Bridge.
Digital photograph by Kenyon F. Karl on July 24, 2000.
Whitney Pond from the north end of the B&M RR bridge.
Digital photograph by Kenyon F. Karl on July 24, 2000.
This trail appears to form a junction with the Baldwinville-Winchendon Rail-Trail at the south end of the bridges. By turning very sharply at that point, users of this rail-trail can easily reach the beginning of a bypass route along Route 12 and Central Street (Route 202) into downtown Winchendon. By crossing Route 12, trail users can likewise continue their trip on the Winchendon section of that trail as far as desired .
Two very different railroad companies once crossed the outlet of Whitney Pond to reach downtown Winchendon, which explains the differences in design between the two railroad bridges.
For public safety reasons, both of these abandoned railroad bridges are currently closed to public use. Close inspection will show a substantial gap between each of the railroad ties on the bridge that is very hazardous to most kinds of trail users. Despite the age and long neglect of these bridges, the Webmaster suspects that the construction of a solid wooden deck on top of the existing railroad ties as well as the provision of sturdy railings is all that is necessary to allow trail usage of either one of these bridges!
The B&M RR bridge across the outlet of Whitney Pond.
Digital photograph by Kenyon F. Karl on July 24, 2000.
The adjacent B&A RR bridge across the outlet of Whitney
Pond.
Digital photograph by Kenyon F. Karl on July 24, 2000.
The Webmaster noted a complex of ancient factory buildings just west of the outlet of Whitney Pond, largely surrounded by a chain link fence. The Webmaster hopes that these buildings will be saved for restoration as a Heritage State Park similar to what has been done in other old factory towns in Massachusetts.
Two ancient factory buildings just west of the railroad
bridges across the outlet of Whitney Pond.
Digital photograph by Kenyon F. Karl on July 24, 2000.
The recent expansion of a lumber yard precludes the termination of the rail-trail at the former railroad crossing of Central Street (Route 202) in downtown Winchendon. Note instead that the map for the North Central Pathway suggests instead that the trail will instead leave the railroad bed just north of the bridges to jog southwest into the Winchendon Recreation Center. This change of route should be beneficial as future trail users should have access to the parking area, toilets, water, shower, and similar facilities normally available at the Recreation Center!
The potential Central Street trailhead has been blocked
by the chain link fence of an active lumber yard.
Digital photograph by Kenyon F. Karl on July 24, 2000.
Rail-trail users must note that four rail-trails currently converge at Winchendon:
Cheshire Branch Rail-trail to Keene and Westmoreland NH
Monadnock Branch Rail-trail to Jaffrey NH
North Central Pathway to Gardner MA
Ware River Rail-Trail to Coldbrook.
'Street-legal' trail users can enter and exit the trail at the following points:
Glenallen Road Crossing
End of Emerald Street
Via the Baldwinville-Winchendon rail-trail across Spring Street to Route 12 at Water Street (obscured by weeds and trees)
Ample parking is available at the Glenallen Road Crossing on an informal basis.
A McDonalds is located on Route 12 just southwest of the Emerald Street
intersection (exit the trail at the other end of this residential street). Toilets and water are presumably available at
McDonalds along with the usual very limited menu. A convenience store is
located across the street that advertises that it is open on a 24 hour per
day basis. Unfortunately, the Webmaster failed to check on the offerings of this
store, but it presumably sells hot coffee, cold soda, and cold sandwiches for
consumption elsewhere. Because Route 12 is a narrow and busy street, bikers may
wish to walk their bikes along the sidewalk for the short distance from Emerald
Street. Baldwinville-Winchendon Rail-trail users may wish to walk their bikes
along the sidewalk from the crossing at Water Street.
'Street-legal' trail users from Gardner that wish to reach the bus stops, the
post office and the downtown area of Winchendon, or wish to continue their
journey via rail-trail into New Hampshire can bypass the railroad bridges by turning sharply at the trail
junction at the south end of the railroad bridges, then using a short section of
the Baldwinville-Winchendon Rail-trail to cross Spring Street to reach Route 12 at the end of Water
Street. The informal unmarked bike route from that point involves:
northwest on Route 12 across the river
northeast on Central Street (Route 202)
The Post office is on Central Street, across from the Recreation Complex and
a quarter-mile east of the former railroad Crossing.
Listed on the National Register of
Historic Places:
Murdock School - Murdock Ave., Winchendon
Old Centre Historic District - Roughly Old County and Baldwinsville Rds., Hale St., and Teel Rd., Winchendon
Vermont Transit
(Greyhound) stops in Winchendon at Ashburnham Cab on Central Street
(near Recreation Complex) on its route between Boston MA and Rutland VT. Vermont
Transit will transport a bicycle in an appropriate box as part of the normal passenger baggage
allowance.
Montachusett
Regional Transit Authority operates the Gardner and Winchendon
Link route on weekdays that stops at the Post office on Central Street (near
Recreation Complex). A connecting bus operates to Fitchburg to connect with MBTA
Commuter Trains to Boston. Other 'Link Routes' jointly operated by the Franklin
Regional Transit Authority connect in Gardner to serve Athol, Orange,
and Greenfield. Note
that MRTA busses do not accommodate bicycles!
Winchendon (on the Cheshire Branch Rail-Trail)
