Redbank Valley Trails Association
History of the Rail Corridor
Trail ownership
February 18, 2020, marked an important date for the Redbank Valley Trails Association as that was the date the trail ownership was transferred to RVTA.
Surfacing and flood recovery
August 2019 marked completion of all surfacing on the main trail and the Sligo Spur. Unfortunately, celebrating that accomplishment was delayed because of the July 19, 2019, flash flood that destroyed the 1871 stone arch over Long Run at mile 19. It created a 40-foot gap in the trail with steep terrain on either side that had to be repaired at a great expense. Bridge installation was completed on November 3, 2020, thanks to our donors and private grant funders.
The Low Grade corridor
2017 marked an important year in the history of the Low Grade corridor. It marked 10 years since the tracks were removed, 140 years since the completion of the Brookville and Climax Tunnels and work toward reopening after completed renovation of the Climax Tunnel.
From railway to trail
The last train ran on the corridor through New Bethlehem on November 5, 2007, as it pulled up tracks and ties, and shortly thereafter completed the last journey through to Brookville. Use of the Sligo Spur had been discontinued earlier. The corridor was purchased by the Allegheny Valley Land Trust from the Pittsburg & Shawmut Railroad, LLC, Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc. and Shannon Transport Inc. on June 25, 2010. AVLT began working with RVTA to develop and improve the corridor. RVTA’s efforts were recognized when the Redbank Valley Trail was named PA’s first trail of the year in 2014 by DCNR.
Railroad beginnings
The corridor was known most recently as the Mountain Laurel Railroad low grade corridor. The corridor was originally developed by the Allegheny Valley Rail Road to connect from the Allegheny River line to Driftwood. Grading began in 1872 and was completed in March 1873. According to the 1887 A.J. Davis History of Clarion County, the Sligo Branch, at first called the Clarion County Railroad, was built in 1873-1874, to reach the rich ore beds in the vicinity of Rimersburg and Sligo. For more history visit www.shawmutline.com.
A working industrial corridor
The low grade main line was built to service the many oil wells, coal mines, lumber and other industries in the area as well as passenger trains to and from Pittsburgh and other cities. Remnants of some of those industries remain along the corridor, including the St. Charles Brick plant, coke ovens near New Bethlehem, and the chimney of the Hawthorn Pottery Company at the United Valley Soccer Fields in Hawthorn. RVTA has installed some historic markers and hopes to install more at these locations and where rail stations, tipples and other points of historic interest existed.
Art along the trail
Another unique feature of the trail is the addition of sculptural art which began in about 2012, some by professional metal artist Dale Rogers and 3 fiberglass bears painted by the Brookville High School art students under the direction of teacher and artist Steve Jaworski.