Northern Central Railroad Trail

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The Northern Central Railroad Trail runs along a corridor from Cockeysville, Maryland up to the Pennsylvania line. It is situated on the site of the old Northern Central Railway, hence the name.

The Northern Central Railway, built in 1838, ran between Baltimore, Maryland and Sunbury, Pennsylvania and was one of the oldest rail lines in the country. Already in financial trouble, the Northern Central ceased operations in 1972, when Hurricane Agnes battered its bridges.

In the early 1980's when it was proposed to place the hike and bike trail in the place of the train tracks, a contentious battle raged between property owners and the state. The owners contended that the property was taken under eminent domain for the purpose of train tracks. The owners felt that once the property was no longer to be used for a train the property rights should revert to the previous land owners.

The state prevailed in its fight for the property and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources converted the corridor into a trail which opened to the public in 1984. Today, hundreds of people enjoy the trail daily by bicycle, foot and horse. The trail also provides boating and fishing access to the popular Gunpowder River and Loch Raven watershed.