Old Railroad Tracks Reborn In Wheeling
By BETHANY A. ROMANEK Staff WriterArticle Photos
WHEELING - Thirteen miles of historic trails are located within the city of Wheeling - offering walkers, runners and cyclists a chance to get some exercise along some of the area's most beautiful views.
Where the lonesome whistle of a train once dwelled, an abandoned railroad track was converted into some 13 miles of walking trails that run along the Ohio River and from East Wheeling to Elm Grove.
The Wheeling National Heritage Area Corporation, a group that aims to preserve and celebrate the city's dramatic setting, resources and history, notes that the Wheeling Heritage Trails are an important element adding to Wheeling's vitality.
According to the WNHAC, at one time as many as seven railroads served the city. They included the Baltimore & Ohio, the Wheeling & Lake Erie, the Pittsburgh Wheeling & Kentucky, the Hempfield, the Panhandle, the Ohio River & Western and the Pennsylvania Railroad.
Hydie Friend, executive director of the Wheeling National Heritage Area Corp, remembers when the old railroad line was abandoned by Consolidated Rail Corporation, also known as Conrail, in the 1980s.
"I was at the Department of Development for the city of Wheeling," Friend said. "It was in the 1980s and Conrail abandoned the railroad line from McMechen/Benwood up to Pike Island. We went north first and then south with the trail system. It was well accepted, and it was immediately popular with people who walked and families who rode bikes."
The city of Wheeling received Land and Water Conservation Funds created by congress in 1964 to fund the creation of a trail system. The Land and Water Conservation Funds provide money to federal, state and local governments to purchase land, water and wetlands for the benefit of all Americans. Friend also said the city received funding from the Transportation Enhancement Program.
The Ohio River Trail runs north-south starting at the city line in South Wheeling and reaches the Pike Island Dam where the trail continues into Brooke County.
In Wheeling's 8.5-mile distance, the trail follows the river, passing many of the city's industrial sites and crossing through Wheeling Heritage Port.
Along the way, users have the opportunity to stop and read historic signs, take in the National Historic Landmark Wheeling Suspension Bridge, and view river traffic particularly as barges pass through the locks at Pike Island.
The Wheeling Creek Trail runs east-west providing opportunities to cross the Hempfield Viaduct high above the water and to experience the historic Hempfield Tunnel. The trail begins in downtown, connecting to the Ohio River Trail at Heritage Port and extends east five miles to Elm Grove.
"A lot of cities with old train tracks have trails," Friend said. "I am surprised to see people out in the snow utilizing the trail. They have a huge impact on quality of life and the economy. People will travel to ride the trails and I know people have traveled to Wheeling to ride the trails."
Access can be gained to the Ohio River Trail at several locations including: Pike Island Dam W.Va. 2, north of Warwood; First Street in North Wheeling; Fifth Street in North Wheeling; 12th Street at Heritage Port in downtown Wheeling; 14th Street at Heritage Port in downtown Wheeling; 24th Street in Center Wheeling; 35th Street in South Wheeling and 48th Street in South Wheeling.
To utilize the Wheeling Creek Trail, access from the main road can be made on 14th Street at Heritage Port;17th Street in East Wheeling; Rock Point Road; Washington Avenue in Clator and Lava Avenue in Elm Grove.
Handicapped accessible parking areas are located on W.Va 2, north of Warwood; north Ninth Street in Warwood;12th Street at Heritage Port in downtown Wheeling; 35th Street in South Wheeling and on Lava Avenue in Elm Grove.
But the chance to utilize a trail doesn't end in Ohio County. Since June 1997, Brooke County residents interested in trail activities have worked to create their own system of walking paths.
Located in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia, the trail is presently 3 1/2 miles long. It runs from Wellsburg to Beech Bottom 3 miles and 1/2 mile in Short Creek connecting with the Wheeling Heritage Trail.
In the fall of 2003, Wellsburg Yankee Trail also connected into the Brooke Pioneer Trail at the county's north end allowing an easier ride into Wellsburg.
Ruby Greathouse, president of the Brooke Pioneer Trail Association Incorporated, said the Wellsburg trail is 28 blocks long and goes through the full length of the town. However at this time there is no trail north. She said it would cost $310,000 to complete the trail.
"We are desperately trying hard to get our connector at Beech Bottom," Greathouse said. "There is a 3 and 4/10-mile gap. Essentially the gap starts immediately north of the Budweiser building. We have a request in Charleston now that needs a 20 percent match."
Because of the high price to finish the trail, a member of the association came up with a suggestion a healthy recipe book. Named "Healthy Trails To You," the book features the ideas of area residents. Greathouse said the book will be available within six weeks.
"Professionals from West Virginia University are helping to make sure the book is health-oriented," Greathouse said. "We put out the invitation to the general public and this is all going into that recipe book 102 recipes. We also have a forward written by Dr. Robert Marks, a local doctor in Wellsburg.
"We have very strong support from all our doctors here. We have every tenth of a mile marked so if you had a bypass surgery, or had a baby, you can follow the doctor's orders."
Greathouse said the trail is heavily trafficked by people from East Liverpool, Weirton and Pittsburgh, Pa. She said visitors enjoy the trail because it's paved, the grade is mild and comfortable because of the old railroad bed, and the trail does not produce conflicts with motorists.
"You have amazing scenery and interesting sights of deer, birds and wildlife," Greathouse said. "People are not needing to stop every time they turn around for a vehicle, so they enjoy that and we were also pleased to find out that if you carry your cell phone it receives service a comfort point for many."
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atoddh
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09-21-08 1:14 PM
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Uncommon:The railroads are having a remarkable comeback.Shipping via rail is, now, just 25% the cost of shipping via truck.Buffett is now a big railroad investor. He makes few mistakes. Acmecoke: Upwards of 100 million in Federal investment has been squandered on a variety of projects via WNHAC with a negative impact on Wheeling and no job development.The same money could have seeded dozens of new business starts with hundreds, perhaps thousands, of new jobs.Economic development is largely in the hands of non-elected persons in Wheeling who have placed themselves between the City and the Federal money.
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UNCOMMONSENSE
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09-21-08 8:11 AM
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With the skyrocketing price of diesel fuel and trucking costs, bringing back the railroad tracks would be much better for the economy. Walking trails and trees spring up in withering communities.
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wvufan
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09-21-08 7:42 AM
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The walking trail may not bring industry to town, but it does sway some people to live within the city. I bouth my house for instance because it is only a 100 or so feet from the trail and my wife and I enjoy and utilize the trail often.
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acmecoke1
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09-21-08 2:48 AM
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Wheeling is dying. Spending millions to create waking paths for a few people is not economic development. Closed industrial buildings, stores and other eyesores dot the city. The recent purchase of Wheeling Pittsburgh by Severstal is eliminating more and more jobs. Putting money in what is left of the past is not good money management. Its like pouring money down a rat hole. Making cookbooks to create more trails is something out of a comedy store. The city needs to be made more attractive and open to business. Cleaning up run down buildings and developing a more positive attitude for business ventures is a far better investment for public and private money. If the city is every going to be successful again, the money needs to be applied to more productive ventures.
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atoddh
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09-21-08 1:12 AM
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How many well paid jobs have resulted from this multi million dollar investment? The City has lost substantial population since the 1980's.This is not economic development.The trails actually provide a tour of mostly vacant buildings and decay due to poor development policy and priorities.
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