Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail

Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail. …where fun comes naturally. , Points of Interest, Monkton Train Station , The restored 1898 Monkton Train Station (located at 1820 Monkton Road, Monkton, MD 2111) serves as a museum, gift shop and Ranger Station. It's a great place to learn about the history of the Northern Central Railway. Hours of operation can be found on the Gunpowder Falls State Park website., Sparks Bank Nature Center , The Sparks Bank Nature Center (located at 1207 Sparks Road, Sparks-Glencoe, MD 21152) features interpretive displays and family activities. Hours of operation can be found on the Gunpowder Falls State Park website., Trail Fast Facts , . The railway operated from 1828 until 1972, providing both passenger and freight services throughout its history. At its peak, the mainline extended from Canton, MD to Sodus Point, NY. , . The Department of Natural Resources purchased the abandoned line between Cockeysville and the Pennsylvania state line in 1980. The first section of the trail opened in 1984. , . The Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail follows 19.7 miles of the former Northern Central Railway (NCR) from Ashland, MD north to the Pennsylvania state line. , . The Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail is one of the oldest rail trails in the United States. In 2015, it was inducted into the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Rail-Trail Hall of Fame., [Captions:] , Railroad History Notes , The trail's railroad past remains evident in many of the fixtures and markers along the trail today. Railroad enthusiasts will enjoy visiting the historic Monkton Train Station, now a park visitor center and railroad museum. From 1898 until 1959 it operated as a passenger and freight station. The station fell into disrepair in 1959, but in 1980 the DNR began renovations, ultimately restoring the station to its present status at the heart of the rail trail., Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail , The Northern Central Railroad began operation in 1832. The railroad was designed to service the growing Baltimore, York and Harrisburg industries. During the 140 years of operation, the NCR had 46 stops, 22 of which were in Maryland., In 1984, the railroad was converted into the NCR trail under the supervision of the NCR trail under the supervision of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Over the past 20 years the trail has developed into a popular recreational destination due to the help of volunteers from the greatest believer and advocate for the trail, Dr. Torrey C. Brown. In honor of Dr. Brown's overwhelming support for the trail it was renamed the Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail in 2007.