CHESTER — Western Mass Hilltown Hikers is offering a group tour of the Chester and Becket Railroad Granite Line on Sept. 7 at 1 p.m. Parking is on Hampden Street at the Chester and Becket Trailhead.
The Chester and Becket Railroad Granite Line was built in 1896 as a 5.25-mile spur off the Boston & Albany Railroad to deliver granite from the Becket Quarries to the Chester finishing works.
Both Chester and Becket issued bond stock in the quarry company to help in building this line because there was money to be made from the “Chester Blue Granite” for monuments and gravestones.
This railroad was blasted out of the steep and winding side of the Walker Brook Valley. The first locomotive to run on this line was a wood burner, eventually upgraded to a coal burning locomotive.
The guided hike, which is an easy 2.5 miles in and back, mostly fat terrain on dirt, will pass the remains of a wooden trestle still standing on the trail and show how this route was used in Chester’s Emery and Granite industry.
There is an optional continuation on the railbed to the Boston and Albany Connector, which is an additional 3 miles. Donations for the newly conserved Chester Granite Company
Finishing Works property are greatly appreciated.
Parking for the hike, which is rain or shine, is on Hampden Street at the Chester and Becket Trailhead in Chester. Registration is required. Register per carload on westernmasshilltownhikers.ticketleap.com.
Maps and bottled water are provided, and well-behaved dogs are allowed. The event is volunteer-led.
Suggested donation is $15. More details are on hilltownhikers.com.
Email westernmasshilltownhikers@aol.com or call or text 413-302-0312 with questions.
As always be prepared for rocks, mud and roots, bring trekking poles.
