Read the latest issure of our newsletter "Track Record".
Mowing the North Bend Rail Trail just got a little easier for the North Bend Rail Trail maintenance crew. Last week, the trail crew received a brand new 8-foot John Deere GM2190 R mower deck courtesy of the North Bend Rails-To-Trails Foundation, Inc.
From spring through the fall of each year, the trail crew is responsible for mowing the 72 mile rail trail. As soon as the mowing crew would reach the eastern end of the trail at Wolf Summit near Clarksburg, they would have to start at the other end in Parkersburg and start the whole process over again.
The entire trail encompasses about 600 acres and takes approximately 3 weeks to mow one time.
Fortunately, the new mower is wider ( 8 feet instead of 5 feet ) and can mow closer to the ground thus saving time and fuel according to Trail Superintendent Jesse Ulderich.
The timing of the receipt of the mower is also fortunate because the heavy, spring rains have prevented mowing the trail even once this year.
The minutes of the recent meetings of the Foundation can be seen by clicking on the meeting dates below:
Oct. meeting was a work meeting only
Dec. meeting was annual Christmas dinner meeting
These are two examples of the picnic area on the trail.
The new Rail Head for the North Bend Trail located at the Pennsboro B&O Depot.
The 2011 summer hours are Sat. 10-5
The maintenance crew for the North Bend Rail Trail poses beside the new mower deck purchased by the North Bend Rails-To-Trails Foundation, Inc., for use on the 72-mile long trail. Pictured (l to r) are Ben Baker, Trail Superintendent Jesse Ulderich, Ray Richards and Dave Richards. (NBRT Foundation photo by Ken Adams)