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The Torrey C. Brown Trail f/k/a The Northern Central Railroad Trail
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| Location | Ashland, MD to York, PA |
| Length | 20 miles |
| Trailheads | Cockeysville Freedom New Freedom |
| Use | Hiking, biking, horseback riding, fishing, pet walking |
| Difficulty | Easy, level, ADA accessible |
| Surface | Crushed limestone |
| Hours | Dawn to dusk, year-around |
| Amenities | Benches, mounting blocks, picnic facilities, museum, markers. |
| Bathrooms | All trailheads and throughout the trail |
The Torrey C. Brown Trail, formerly known as the Northern Central Railroad Trail (NCRT) is a rail trail that runs along an abandoned railroad corridor where the Northern Central Railway used to run. The trails extends from Cockeysville, Maryland to the boundary with Pennsylvania. At the Pennsylvania line, the Torrey C. Brown Trail becomes the York County Heritage Trail and continues to run into the city of York.
The trail is 10 feet wide with a stone dust surface and the majority of the trail runs along the Gunpowder River. It has a beautiful rural scenery with trees along the trail that make it a pleasant outdoors experience. Popular activities on the trail include horseback riding, jogging, walking, hiking, fishing and biking. It is open to the public from dawn to dusk, seven days a week throughout the year. The trail is also pet friendly as long as the pet is on a leash.
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Historical significance
The Northern Central Railway, built in 1832, ran between Baltimore, Maryland, and Sunbury, Pennsylvania, and was one of the oldest rail lines in the country. The railway serviced the growing Baltimore, York and Harrisburg industries, had 46 stops, 22 of which were in Maryland, and operated for 140 years. It carried passengers, people vacationing at Bentley Springs, and freight between Baltimore and York or Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. During the Civil War, the Pennsylvania Railroad-controlled Northern Central served as a major transportation route for supplies, food, clothing, and material, as well as troops heading to the South from Camp Curtin and other Northern military training stations.
Already in financial trouble, the NCR ceased operations in 1972 after Hurricane Agnes battered its bridges. The old bed, which was converted to a rail-tail in the early 1984, can still be seen today. Historical markers can be found along the trail such as the Monkton Train Station that underwent renovations and is now serving as a museum, gift shop, and ranger station. The hours of operation for this station are Wednesday through Sunday from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Also, during the spring and fall the station is open to the public on weekends.
Trail’s history and evolution
In the early 1980s 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. The trail is under the supervision of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. In honor of Dr. Torrey Brown's unconditional support for the trail, it was renamed the Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail in 2007.
Design and construction
The majority of the trail’s 20 miles is 10 feet wide with a smooth stone dust surface. The trail is wheel-chair accessible. To reach the southern end of the trail from the neighborhood of Ashland, follow Interstate 83 north from Baltimore, and take exit 20 to Cockysville. Turn RIGHT on York Road (MD Route 45), and then turn LEFT on Ashland Road, which is a T-intersection. Ashland turns into Paper Mill Road. The trail parking lot will be on the left. There are additional parking lots along the trail where visitors have access to parking spaces. The following markers and railroad signs are placed throughout the trail to warn and and ensure the safety of trail goers: warning signals, mialage markers, and signal signs.
Trail amenities
Amenities include drinking fountains, picnic tables, benches, and portable restrooms. There are several places where the trail enthusiast can stop for food and water; however, because of the rural setting if a person or group will travel long distances, packing enough food and water for the trip is recommended. Within a mile of the trail, there are hotels and motels and there is easy access to a bike shop that rents and repairs bikes. In addition to the renovations to the Monkton Station, there is also the Sparks Bank Nature Center, in Sparks, Maryland that is open on summer weekends from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is available for educational and recreational purposes to schools around the area.
Trail supporters
The Torrey C. Brown Trail is managed and maintained by the MD Department of Natural Resources, a state government agency. The Maryland Park Service's volunteer program in in charge of recruiting volunteers to invest their time in the many trails throughout the state of Maryland. The trail receives state and federal founding as well as donations.
Special events
There are different events hosted every month put together by the MD Department of Natural Resources, as well as from outside institutions. Some of the events held are:
http://dnr.maryland.gov/greenways/ncrt_trail.html
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