One If By Train-Two If BY Air LbNA #46011
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Add Location| Owner: | Adoptable |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Mar 18, 2009 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Holyoke |
| County: | Hampden |
| State: | Massachusetts |
| Boxes: | 2 |
| Planted by: | Rubaduc  |
|---|---|
| Found by: | Traveln Turtle |
| Last found: | Sep 8, 2019 |
| Status: | FFFFFFFFFFFFFF |
| Last edited: | Mar 18, 2009 |
I've been told that there are no trespassing signs here so you need to find an alternate route. I'm unable to rewrite.
A nice walk, about three and half miles round trip along the old Mt. Tom railroad in Holyoke, MA. This paved road is closed to unauthorized vehicles but is open to pedestrians.
Construction of the one mile rail line began in 1897. With a 21 degree grade, the rail cars had special slanted seats for the passengers. The railway ran until 1938 when it was closed, dismantled and sold for scrap. It took passengers to the Summit House and it’s said that President McKinley once rode on it. Interestingly the engines were named the Holyoke and the Thomas.
Going north on I-91 take exit 17-A, at the traffic light go left on route 5 north for 1.5 miles and turn left at the Mt. Tom sign (sometimes not very visible in summer). As you cross over I-91, park along the right side of the road (even on the bridge) but don’t block any gates. Everything around here was once the old Mountain Park Amusement area where (if you’re old enough) you might have spent some fun summer days riding the rides.
After parking, walk through the yellow gate to the right and as tempting as it might be to continue driving DO NOT try it. This gate is locked at the whim of the quarry owners. After walking along this paved road (the road is paved the whole way to the top) for about seven tenths of a mile you’ll see a mini power station. At this point go left through the red gate with a sign to the right designating this as the B-17 Walking Trail. Now the road starts to get steep. Just before pole #8 watch for a single white birch tree on the left. Above it will be a cedar tree sharing the top of the knoll with a scraggly companion. Look in the back of the companion’s roots for One If By Train.
Continue UP until you see (on the right) a memorial to the "Flying Fortress" bomber that crashed at this site in 1946. There were 25 service men onboard when the B-17 slammed into the mountain. No one onboard survived. The memorial is truly amazing sight. After paying your respects, turn around and the view across the valley is pretty amazing too. Continue UP until pole #20. Walk along the road, passing (on the right) a flat rocky ledge until you see a small pine with a larger pine behind it. Look under a rock behind the larger pine for Two If By Air.
Continue up to the communication towers to see the old cement pilings of the Summit House and for spectacular views of Easthampton. It’s worth the extra steps but DO NOT go near the edge. Some of the cement is starting to crumble.
A nice walk, about three and half miles round trip along the old Mt. Tom railroad in Holyoke, MA. This paved road is closed to unauthorized vehicles but is open to pedestrians.
Construction of the one mile rail line began in 1897. With a 21 degree grade, the rail cars had special slanted seats for the passengers. The railway ran until 1938 when it was closed, dismantled and sold for scrap. It took passengers to the Summit House and it’s said that President McKinley once rode on it. Interestingly the engines were named the Holyoke and the Thomas.
Going north on I-91 take exit 17-A, at the traffic light go left on route 5 north for 1.5 miles and turn left at the Mt. Tom sign (sometimes not very visible in summer). As you cross over I-91, park along the right side of the road (even on the bridge) but don’t block any gates. Everything around here was once the old Mountain Park Amusement area where (if you’re old enough) you might have spent some fun summer days riding the rides.
After parking, walk through the yellow gate to the right and as tempting as it might be to continue driving DO NOT try it. This gate is locked at the whim of the quarry owners. After walking along this paved road (the road is paved the whole way to the top) for about seven tenths of a mile you’ll see a mini power station. At this point go left through the red gate with a sign to the right designating this as the B-17 Walking Trail. Now the road starts to get steep. Just before pole #8 watch for a single white birch tree on the left. Above it will be a cedar tree sharing the top of the knoll with a scraggly companion. Look in the back of the companion’s roots for One If By Train.
Continue UP until you see (on the right) a memorial to the "Flying Fortress" bomber that crashed at this site in 1946. There were 25 service men onboard when the B-17 slammed into the mountain. No one onboard survived. The memorial is truly amazing sight. After paying your respects, turn around and the view across the valley is pretty amazing too. Continue UP until pole #20. Walk along the road, passing (on the right) a flat rocky ledge until you see a small pine with a larger pine behind it. Look under a rock behind the larger pine for Two If By Air.
Continue up to the communication towers to see the old cement pilings of the Summit House and for spectacular views of Easthampton. It’s worth the extra steps but DO NOT go near the edge. Some of the cement is starting to crumble.