Questions about GAP/C&O Canal
#26
Senior Member
We lost a day to a group that started the Trans Am with us until we passed Mineral, VA. We both camped behind the fire station, perhaps 100 yards from the railroad crossing They were terribly bothered by the trains coming through all night, to the point that they rode a dozen miles to a B&B to get some rest. We heard a train before bedtime and another when we woke up, well rested, and caught up with them a couple days later. Either CSX paused train service for a night or we slept through all the rest of the trains!
#27
It’s not the trains themselves that usually bother people but rather the sounding of horns at crossings. That’s required by federal law unless a “quiet zone”has been established. One is often expensive to establish, which is why you don’t find many.
Rented an old caboose for the night next to the CSXT main in Chester, MA. Only heard two of the six that came through that night, and one of those because the locomotives stopped next to the caboose for a meet.
Rented an old caboose for the night next to the CSXT main in Chester, MA. Only heard two of the six that came through that night, and one of those because the locomotives stopped next to the caboose for a meet.
#28
Recently finished riding from DC to Pittsburgh on C&O/GAP and it appears most of the pumps are open and operational along the trail. I think we only used one during our trip. As for trains, you do hear a lot of them near the trail. We stayed in motels and one AirBnB in Confluence. Lots of trains in Cumberland but we had done a 90 mile day so the noise didn't bother me plus we were on the 5th floor so somewhat above it all. The AirBnB in Confluence was closer to the tracks and, as we were preparing to leave, I commented that I only heard two trains during the night. My riding partner said there were a lot more than two trains during the night. Enjoy the ride, we had a great time.