Cotton Valley Rail Trail Club, Inc.

LEGAL NOTICE: Operation of railway equipment, including motorcars, is governed by Federal, State and Railroad authorities. All rail property is owned by someone.  Operation of any equipment on or around railroad property is only permitted with permission of the property owner or leasor.  CVRTC will assist local, State, and Federal authorities in prosecuting illegal operators of railway equipment.  Railway motorcar organizations now exist in most parts of the world.  Please contact one of your local organizations.  They have access to rail property, equipment information and SAFETY information.  They are always looking to promote the hobby/sport and would love to have your help.
The Cotton Valley Rail Trail Club is an association of railway motorcar owners dedicated to performing volunteer right-of-way and rail trail maintenance in New England.
CVRTC, Inc. Safety Events Trail News Membership
Open House Wolfeboro For Sale Photos Links

Open House on July 12th

For more information, see the open house page.

Clean Sweep

(June 27-28, 2009) The day started with a hardy breakfast in East Baldwin, and after the Safety meeting CVRTC and Bus Club members headed west toward Fryburg on the former Maine Central Mountain Division. Progress was slowed by the numerous paved-over crossings. After a lunch break at the State Line, the group returned east, picking up trash along the Right-Of-Way. Besides the usual cans and bottles... we collected an old milk can, broken rails, and at least one old TV. To the left, our group posed for a picture before dinner with the trash filled lorry car. We all learned to cook "Hobo Burgers" for dinner.

On Sunday, the group headed east. Hank provided a picture of the group inching the lorry car and caboose across one of the paved over crossings.

A big THANKS to Harvey and Bill for organizing this meet; a big THANKS to the bus club members who hosted us; and to the Whistle Stop store for their parking lot. (JWM)

Thursday Gang

(June 25, 2009) Russ reports that the Thursday Gang made it out on the rails with the new mower deck. Pictured is Dave's MT-14 towing the mower along the siding at Cotton Valley. (JWM)

Ready To Mow

(June 20, 2009) Dave reports that the Club's new mower deck has been fitted to the old mower frame. Don and Norm helped with the modifications on Wednesday, and then the Thursday Gang from Fernald's to Miss Wakefield and back.  The mower did a great job.

Members are cautioned to please NOT use the mower until they get a chance to fit a skid plate, so it will ride up if it hits something. (JWM)

June Meeting


(June 14, 2009) Club members gather at Fernald Station under grey and rainy skies.  Dick and his grandkids, Jon, and Harvey and Bill ventured eastbound before the meeting to inspect the line and check culverts.
After the meeting members helped to put the station back in order, and rearranged the equipment stored in the enginehouse. To the right, Dick's picture shows the three trackcars after their return to Fernald. (JWM)

Hobo Trackcar Run


(June 6 - 7, 2009) This was the 21st Annual Hobo Trackcar Run.  The published roster showed 52 cars... and many of those were CVRTC members.  It was two days of smooth track and good weather. Saturday involved running from Lincoln to Weirs Beach, and back.  Sunday started with a trip south into Tilton, almost to Caboose Village.  Then it was north to Weirs Beach and back. James took this picture of Frank and Carolyn as they coasted into Ashland Station. (JWM)

Shake-down Day

(June 5, 2009) The CVRTC opened up the Fernald Enginehouse and Wolfeboro line to visitors for a pre-Hobo "Shakedown Day".  Visitors were impressed, and two new members joined the club. Dick took this photo of one of Harvey and Bill's MT-14 diesel trackcar.  Seeing the Club's new grill makes me think that our Open House isn't too far away! (JWM)

NEGS Work Ride

(May 31, 2009)  Jon, Frank, Roy, Brian and Dick seton in East Concord and patrolled the White Mountain Branch. Several trees were cleared from the track, along with some brush from recent tree trimming operations. (JWM)

Maine Central Work Ride

(May 30. 2009)  Several CVRTC members seton the Mountain Division for a track patrol. (JWM)


May Meeting

(May 17, 2009) Keeping a careful eye on the weather, CVRTC members prepared to repaint the Fernald station. After a brief meeting, members helped to clean up around the station and enginehouse. A new coat of beige paint was applied to the station interior, and a fresh coat of red paint was applied to the exterior. (JWM)

Wakefield Pride Day

(May 16, 2009) Ian reports, "All in all we had a pretty good day in Wakefield on Saturday. The rain held off all day and we were able to haul just over 300 passengers and take in $82 in donations.

We were able to test out a new "ticket" system to determine that riders had signed a release. "Brakemen" punched the riders tickets before boarding. The system worked out amazingly well. Thanks to Bill C for the idea."

Thanks to Ian, Dick, Bill, Dave, and Harvey for all the work they did representing the Club! (JWM)

New England Southern Railroad

(April 26, 2009) Nearly a dozen CVRTC members assembled in Concord, NH to help apply a fresh coat of paint on the NEGS 2370, an ex-UP GP39-2. The locomotive had been pressure washed the day before. Preparation continued on Sunday morning, when members used grinders, sanders and wire brushes to remove more loose paint. Windows, doors, and lights were masked off, and a fresh coat of "Flame Yellow" was applied. The locomotive had last been painted by the UP eighteen years ago! A big THANKS goes out to Paul H, Pete L, Harvey S, Bill C, Roy F, Jessie M, Jon M, and Ian H. (JWM)

Hooksett Show

Hookset Show(April 19, 2009) While most members were at the meeting, Norm and Harry were attending the Hooksett Lions' Club Railroad Show. They had their trackcars on display in the parking lot, outside the main entrance. (JWM)

April Meeting


Fernald Station(April 19, 2009)  A brisk sunny day greeted members when they arrived at Fernald Station for the first regular meeting of the year.
At least eight members brought motorcars to the meeting, to the left, Jessie's MT-19 poses with a fresh coat of paint in front of Fernald Station.

Next month, weather permitting, the station will be getting it's own fresh coat of paint.

After the meeting, members headed out to patrol the lines, clearing trees, beaver dams, and cleaning the grade crossings. (JWM)

Annual Business Meeting

(March 8, 2009) The second Sunday morning in March brought the CVRTC members together at the Corner Meeting House in Belmont to start the 2009 season with the Annual meeting and the election of Officers and Directors for the coming year. Plenty of coffee and donuts got the day off to a great start, and good conversation fired up our enthusiasim for the plans, events and activities that we can look forward to in 2009. As always, it was great to see and talk with everyone again after 3 months of winter inactivity. All we need now is enough warm weather to melt the hard packed snow and ice off "our" rails before the April meeting in Wolfeboro. (JWM)

Happy New Year!

(Feb 12, 2009) Dave supplied this winter picture of Fernald Station and the Enginehouse. (JWM)

See the archives for postings from 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

CVRTC, Inc.
P.O. Box 417
Wolfeboro Falls, NH 03896

©2003 Cotton Valley Rail Trail Club, Inc.