JUST ROLLING ALONG--
On the Kokosing Gap Bicycle Trail


Somehow it was disconcerting to learn the steam engine in these two photos, regarded as an historical object by most folks today, is younger than me.

It was built in New York in November 1940 and spent its early life moving cargo around the docks in Mobile, Alabama until 1956.  The engine and tender behind it weigh 106 tons, are 67 feet long and can hold 8,000 gallons of water and 10 tons of coal.

The coal was shoveled into the gaping hole in the top picture where it was burned in the engine's boiler, making steam which propelled the engine.  In the small photo, lower right, I am standing atop the sloped floor of the tender and looking forward across the engine.  Angled wooden baffles were removed one-by-one to give convenient access to coal being shoveled into the boiler.

After its life on Mobile's docks it was displayed in Tuscaloosa, AL from 1959-1980.  It was bought by the trustees of the Kokosing Gap Trail and moved to its current location in April 2001.

The engine and tender along with a flat car and red caboose, typically the end car of trains in its day, are now on permanent display along the bicycle trail which passes south of Kenyon College in Gambier where it is being enjoyed by bicycling companions Mark and Nancy Meinzer and Sue Brooks.

The caboose was built in 1924 and rode the Chesapeake and Ohio RR rails until 1979 when it was donated to Mt. Vernon.  It sat in front of the Pennsylvania RR station on S. Main St., there until 1997 when it was donated to the bike trail and moved to Gambier.

The caboose had been vandalized and horribly deteriorated.  Volunteers threw everything away but the steel components and rebuilt the caboose.  Ultimately it was painted in genuine C & O RR colors.

Today the bike trail is a paved corridor from Mt. Vernon through Gambier and Howard to Danville, OH, 14 miles in length along the old roadbed of the Pennsylvania RR.  Visitors enjoying today's trail will traverse the Kokosing River twice on newly decked, steel bridges more than 250 feet long.

The trail is a delightful ride with restroom facilities in Gambier--with its marvelous "train station"--, Howard and Danville.  The first four miles of the trail are through hilly, heavily wooded terrain and much of that along the river.  Regardless, the trail is virtually level along its entire route.

Benches are provided nearly every 1/2 mile for folks without seats attached to their means of locomotion.

I especially like the fact there is little vehicle traffic to contend with.  Only one highway is crossed and that is lightly traveled Ohio Route 229 which the trail crosses near Gambier.  The other highway encountered is US 36 at Howard, but there the highway passes high above the bike trail on a splendidly arched, brick bridge.

The trail also has the unique distinction of being the largest, paved rails-to-trails park in the US which is administered and maintained totally by volunteers.

"It's non-profit board relies solely on gifts, contributions and volunteers for support...."

Can you see my smile of appreciation?