TWIN CITIES RAIL TRAIL

TWIN CITIES RAIL TRAIL:

LEOMINSTER-FITCHBURG, MASSACHUSETTS

-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-

Last Updated: January 01, 2025

Length: Twin Cities Rail Trail; 3.9 miles

Difficulty: Easy. Flat paved rail trail.

Directions:

To Start from Leominster [Southern End];

From Route 2 Westbound in Leominster take exit 100 to Main St and head left. This will bring you to Mill & Main Streets where the trail crosses. Head left on Main St and immediately spot parking spots on your left next to the cemetery.

From Route 2 Eastbound in Leominster take exit 100 to Haws St and head left. Turn right on Mill St and follow to Main St. Head left on Main St and immediately spot parking spots on your left next to the cemetery.

The Twin Cities Rail Trail follows the old rail bed of the former Fitchburg & Worcester Railroad which began service in 1850, starting in Fitchburg and running through Leominster and Sterling to connect the two cities to the Worcester & Nashua Railroad and points beyond. After many consolidations and bankruptcies in the railroad industry, the corridor came under the control of CSX Corp. The trail travels from Leominster North, to Fitchburg. In Leominster you can also access the Monoosnoc Brook Walk to the South. For more information visit; TWIN CITIES RAIL TRAIL .

Starting from Leominster [Southern End]; From the Main Street parking lot in front of Pine Grove Cemetery travel North, along the sidewalk to the intersection. Here a cross-light takes you over Mill St to the start of the Twin Cities Rail Trail.

Note; Future plans call for extending the trail South, past Pine Grove Cemetery and through Cater Park to Summer Street, where you'll follow the old rail bed South, to the old Leominster Train Depot at Columbia St.

Note; From Summer Street, you can also check out the Monoosnoc Brook Walk. Travel South, on-road, down Summer St to Water St and head right, on-road. The old Leominster Train Depot is on your right and the old rail bed is on your left. Continue to Mechanic St, and cross the street into a parking lot. About halfway through the lot you'll pick up Monoosnoc Brook Walk, on your left, where the Monoosnoc Brook appears after 0.3 miles. Follow the gravel path along the West Side of the brook, where a paving stone path travels South, alongside Monoosnoc Brook. Informational signs along the route. Emerge at Central St under a blue gateway sign. Crosswalk over Central St, where a stone-dust path continues South, alongside the West Side of the brook. Cross a pedestrian bridge and continue South along the East Side of the brook. Trail ends at Adams St after 0.5 miles.

Heading North along the wide, paved Twin Cities Rail Trail. The trail is partially shaded and has many road crossings as it's an urban trail. All road crossings are marked with the street name on metal signs. Metal MILEAGE MARKERS every 0.5 miles. Pass by Doyle Field (sports fields/playground) on your right after 0.3 miles before crossing Priest Street (parking lot on your right). You then cross an arched bridge over a gully before traveling past a commercial area. You then cross Hamilton St where another bridge take you over Route 2 at 1 mile. Look right to spot the Fitchburg Airport off in the distance. Several road crossings before you cross Battles St as you cross into Fitchburg. Pass by an old cement RR Whistle Post on your left at 3.1 miles. + See; RR Whistle Post Below. You come alongside some active RR tracks (informational signs) just before you travel underneath the John T. Centrino Memorial, cable-stayed Bridge, which crosses over the RR tracks and Nashua River on your right. I believe this is where the old rail bed joined the current active RR tracks. The trail then brings you up to 4th St at 3.6 miles. This next section is on-road (low traffic volume). Follow the Bike Signs left to Middle St, then right to 1st St and continue right to Railroad St and Decaria Park where the trail currently ends after 3.9 miles.

Note; Future plans call for extending the trail East, over the active RR tracks, then North, across the Nashua River and connecting to the MBTA Fitchburg Train Station. Construction is planned for 2025.

If you are heading back towards Leominster, just follow Railroad St South, back to 4th St (residential).

Old Railroad Equipment:

+ RR Whistle Post:
The Whistle Post, was a post with a large "W" engraved or painted on it. This meant the railroad engineers were to start sounding the trains Whistle. The Whistle posts were usually placed 0.25 miles in advance of a road crossing, bridges, tunnels and other points. Usually, there would be a post placed on both sides of the crossing, covering both directions.

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