By Kevin Williams
Not sure why, but I have an odd fascination with old railroad tracks. My Rust Belt hometown is bisected by one main rail line and many times a night shrill train whistles can be heard as freight rumbles through on its way to some distant destination (and Aster wakes up scared of the whistles, while I find myself entranced by them). There's a spur rail line that goes off the main one and angles through the heart of what was once the vibrant industrial spine of the city. Freight cars could pull up to the many factories to load goods that would then find their way to the world marketplace. As the factories shuttered and jobs moved away the spur line became less and less used. Occasionally I'll see a railcar or two on it, I think delivering road salt to the city's maintenance depot, but that is about all.
END OF THE LINE: The spur line fades into grass behind and old factory in town....
I followed the track beyond the old factory and it just disappears into a thicket of Queen Anne's Lace and weeds.
Sometimes these old tracks are converted to bike trails through the Rails to Trails organization. What a great use for them! My grandparents used to live in Branch Hill, Ohio and behind their house was, for the longest time, an abandoned rail line that is now part of a vibrant bike path network. Doesn't look like the same great fate will await this crumbling line in my town......
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