23 Walks: Cheney Railroad.

 Cheney Railroad.

 

On Saturday, May 20, at 1:00 p.m., we’ll explore the old Cheney railroad, starting on the front steps of Fuss & O’Neill, 146 Hartford Road. Built in 1869 to connect the Cheney silk mills to the main rail line in the North End, the South Manchester Railroad, at 2.5 miles, was the shortest freight-and passenger railroad in the United States. Passenger service ended in 1933, but freight still rolled along these rails into the 1980s. Hikers will have an easy, fairly flat, moderately paced walk along streets leading to the rail trail, over a trestle, then on to the bridge overlooking Center Springs Park and Bigelow Brook, returning the same way, about three miles round trip. Participants will hear about the history of the railroad. Rain or shine. More about the 23 free walks in 2023: http://www.manchesterhistory.org/Booklet23WalksWeb.pdf