Please click on the link below to sign-up for our Newletter!! Subscribe to our newsletter FNRT Home News General Information Who We Are History Trail Surface Trail Uses Trail Access Useful Links Lodging near the Trail NH State Trails Plan Maps Progress & Plans Photo Gallery by Town Andover Scenes Andover Usage Andover Fall Scenes Supporting Organizations Testimonials How You Can Help Our Contributors Contact Us Friends of the Northern Rail Trail in Merrimack County P.O. Box 154 Andover, NH  03216 Email:  Info@FNRT.org 603-735-5061		Mission: Improve, promote, and maintain the Northern Rail Trail as a four season, multi-use trail through Merrimack County.  The Northern Rail Trail goes through the towns of Danbury, Wilmot, Andover, Franklin, and Boscawen in Merrimack County			Please click here to find out how to help download our membership form or make a donation now! $ By donating to FNRT you also become a member!
		Upcoming FNRT meetings See calendar below for meeting and activity dates.  Normally the meetings are held at the Andover Fire House on Rte. 11 (Main St.) in the center of Andover. FNRT Calendar Please click on the Calendar for a full size version Future amenities on the rail trail planned Friends of the Northern Rail Trail in Merrimack County (FNRT-MC) announce plans for new amenities on the rail trail thanks to commendable work by eager beaver Steve Rayno of Franklin.  Not only did he take charge of clearing a large area around the old railroad engine turntable site along the rail trail in Franklin last fall, but he is trying to restore another special site, a spring near the Franklin/Andover town line. To fund the effort, Steve organized a bike raffle netting the organization over $700 in January. Steve is a relatively new member of the FNRT-MC board and has proven to be a strong advocate of the rail trail.  He is an active rail trail user himself both on a bike and snowmobile.  While exploring the latest section of the trail built in Franklin last fall, he was excited to find the remains of the old engine turntable.  This circle of granite blocks is where engines were turned to head up the Bristol Branch Line to Newfound Lake from the track otherwise headed to White River Junction, Vermont.  Steve reports that he and his buddy, Billy Hurd, removed about 85 tires plus truckloads of debris from the area.  And with the help of Thomas Richardson encroaching trees were cut down as well.  Steve envisions eventually turning the area into a grassy picnic park with historical markers. More recently another historical site has become the focus of Steve's attention.  He had heard tales of a famous spring head and decided to investigate where it might be located in relation to the rail trail.  He found it near the Andover and Franklin town line and is working with the property owners to relocate access to it for rail trail users.  Known in times past as Cold Spring from records going back to 1842, the spring was prized for its water quality.  People came from far and wide to fill jugs and milk cans. "We know the spring passes drinking water tests so, assuming we can get permissions from the state and property owners, the fresh water spring would be an added amenity to the trail as well as a point of interest," comments Alex Bernhard, FNRT-MC vice president.   The FNRT-MC board voted to support Steve by designating any moneys that Steve is able to raise to benefit the turntable park and spring renovation projects. To this end, Steve came up with two beautiful bikes and three other prizes to raffle off at the Andover Snowmobile Club Spaghetti Supper on January 28 at the Andover Elementary School, grossing FNRT-MC $750 for the effort. The Andover Snowmobile Club, an FNRT partner, was kind enough to allow the raffle to be a part of the night's festivities.  Allan Houle presided at the microphone and Steve's son Shawn along with Bob Ward assisted.  FNRT-MC president Bob Ward wrote the FNRT-MC board recently, "I just want to let everyone know how successful the 'winter bike raffle' was.  Kudos to Steve Rayno for his good idea and making that idea a reality. Way to go Steve!" On Friday, November 11, the Friends of the Northern Rail Trail remembered the late Peter Oren Crowell, an FNRT board member, by riding the Northern Rail Trail from Potter Place north toward Danbury inthe Second Annual Peter Crowell Ride.  It was a blustery but sunny morning, one that Peter Crowell would have enjoyed with his grandchildren, two of whom were in the trailer in the photo.  A combination of Crowell family members and FNRT volunteers commemorated Mr. Crowell's indomitable spirit and his love of bicycling, the rail trail, and the outdoors.  Pictured in the photo are, from left to right:  Myra Mayman, Board secretary; Peter Crowell's son, Ben, with his son Corbin and nephew Hunter in the trailer; Ben's wife Abby Crowell, FNRT volunteer Chris Norris of East Andover and FNRT Board member Steve Darling of Andover.  The can-do spirit of Peter Crowell was evident in this ride. Friends of the Northern Rail Trail (FNRT) volunteer Ed Hiller demonstrates the attention to detail that has been involved in his project of repainting the old Northern Railroad mileposts on the rail trail. 26 mileposts from MP-90 to MP-115 have been painstakingly restored using vintage fonts. Other rail trail volunteers including Steve Robinson, Ricker Miller, and Steve Rayno have cleared the areas around them in preparation. These markers "give a feeling of historical significance to the rail corridor, and also provide trail users with an idea of where they are and how far they have come," Ed says.  Thank you for your devotion to railroad history and rail trail users, Ed. Check out a video from NH Chronicle - Turning Rails into Trails (2008) http://youtu.be/vB3guXPKhss September 2011 Rail Trail Extension Update Once again there has been another successful effort to extend the Rail Trail.  The end of September saw two more miles added to the trail in a southerly direction from Depot St. in Franklin to Webster Place also in Franklin.  This extension is significant for several reasons.  One is that the new section begins to travel beside the Merrimack River, increasing the scenic aspects of the trail.  The second is that this brings the trail closer to Boscawen, NH where the trail will eventually start, giving easier access to more people in the greater Concord area.   More information about this new section will be added in the during the next few months. New Rail Trail Maps Northern_Rail_Trail_-_Franklin.pdf Northern_Rail_Trail_-_Potter_Place_to_Webster_Lake.pdf Northern-Danbury_to_Potter_Place.pdf or Visit the Maps page to see them full scale online Or find them on Facebook (you don't need to be logged in) RAIL TRAIL maps! We have a facebook page! Please check it out and become a fan! See the News page for the latest information about the trail expansion activities. In memory of Peter Oren Crowell Friends of the Northern Rail Trail in Merrimack County P.O. Box 154 Andover, NH  03216 Email:  Info@FNRT.org 603-735-5061 News: See why people are talking about the Northern Rail Trail! Ethney McMahon produced a short video that shows the trail, how people are using it, and scenic views. Don't forget to turn on your speakers, it has audio! Please be patient, the video takes a few seconds to load even with High Speed access. Top Photos courtesty of Peter Southworth and Charles Martin The Northern Rail Trail passes through some beautiful and remote areas.  FNRT-MC recommends that trail users exercise the same caution in traversing these areas as they would in passing through any other remote area. Please click here to return to the top