By Maurice D. Adams, Contributing Editor.
The Valley Rail Road (VRR, Essex Steam Train & Riverboat), has just announced a pilot.
Rail Bike experience, starting this weekend October 19, 2019. This is your chance to locally test a 4 mile roundtrip Rail Bike experience (2 persons, $40 total for the Bike). There are two Rail Bikes available for each one-hour time slot. You start at the Goodspeed Station on Bridge Road in Tylerville, bike up through Midway Marina/Blue Oar, continuing on, then turning your Rail Bike around and heading home to Goodspeed Station. This photo is of the testing last weekend. But please, go right now to the website for signing up (no walk-ons): essex-steam-train-riverboat.myshopify.com. Then click on “Rail-Bike Adventure” for your tickets.
Background: VRR has been exploring ways to add outdoor recreation to their scenic train and riverboat experiences. The Rail Bike program is one they’ve come up with, following successful examples around the country. They did testing this past spring, then ordered some Rail Bikes, and are now conducting this pilot program after their employees tested them out last weekend (to great enthusiasm). VRR has also been making improvements to their tracks between the High Bridge on Mill Creek, through Haddam Meadows, and up to the washout towards Higganum. The intention is to start enhanced rail bike operations out of Haddam Meadows in 2020.
Sign up now, on-line, to reserve your Rail Bike.
Open up space for actual bicycles and you will have more business than you could imagine.