LUCINDA, Pa. (EYT) — Rail 66 Country Trail Inc. is moving forward with plans to develop 24 miles of a hiking and bicycling trail now that Clarion County section of the newest rail trail in the region, including the old Lucinda Train Station.
(Pictured above: Directors and officers of Rail 66 Country Trail, Inc. recently joined State Representative Donna Oberlander at the old train station in Lucinda to celebrate the acquisition of the Knox and Kane rail line for a hiking and bicycling trail. From left are Al Lander, Vince DiStefano, Trudy Alexander, Tim Huebert, Sue Patton, Greg Borland, Tom Matticks, Donna Oberlander, and Mike O’Neill.)
The Headwaters Charitable Trust purchased 78 miles of rail line last month from the Knox and Kane Rail Road, Inc. using foundation, government, and privately donated funds. Headwaters turned over operation of 24 miles of rail trail in Clarion County to Rail 66. Other citizens’ groups, local governments, and government agencies will develop the trail through Forest, Elk, and McKean counties to Kinzua Bridge State Park.
The purchase includes the old train station at Lucinda and a six-acre-parcel where Rail 66 will establish a trailhead park at what was once called Clarion Junction on River Hill west of Clarion.
Rail 66 officials recently met with State Representative Donna Oberlander to celebrate the acquisition of the Knox and Kane rail line. Oberlander praised the volunteer efforts that brought the rail trail project to reality.
“While the purchase of this corridor is made possible through private donations, foundation funds, and in partnership with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), I applaud the hard work and cooperation demonstrated by countless dedicated volunteers who gave so much time and energy to make this a reality.”
“The efforts to complete the Rail 66 Country Trail is a perfect example of a successful public-private project that will benefit an entire region here in the Allegheny National Forest area and north central Pennsylvania,” said Oberlander.
Rail 66 has already cleared, paved, gated, and otherwise improved 4.3 miles of the trail in the Lucinda-Snydersburg area and will now focus on extending those improvements northward to the Forest County line and southward to Marianne.
According to Rail 66 officials, there is much work to be done, including clearing brush on the sides of the trail, replacing old wooden culverts, building and installing special gates and signage at road crossings, and paving the trail with an all-weather surface.
Rail 66 hopes to add more volunteers to its dedicated crew and is launching a major fund raising campaign and sponsorship program.
“The state funding was made a reality with Donna’s help,” said Rail 66 founder and director Al Lander.
“When the grant application became held up in the agency review process, she knew who to call and how to move forward. Her experience in Harrisburg was invaluable. The trail acquisition would not be completed without her help.”
The trail follows the rail line of the former Knox and Kane Railroad, and its predecessor, the B&O Railroad. It passes through or near the villages of Marianne, Lucinda, Snydersburg, Leeper, Tylersburg, Crown, and Vowinckel.
As part of the sales agreement, the trail is closed to all motorized vehicles. Keeping ATVs and motorcycles off the trail will reduce noise and disruption to nearby residences.
The trail connects to the North County National Scenic Trail at Vowinckel and plans are in the works to connect the trail to the bike trail and hiking trail system of Cook Forest State Park.
Rail 66 Country Trail is a 501-c-3 nonprofit organization.
Its board of directors gathered at the Lucinda station on September 29 to celebrate the acquisition and thank state Rep. Donna Oberlander (R-63) for her help.
For more information visit the Rail 66 website at www.rail66.org and the group’s Facebook page at Rail 66 Country Trail.
