Bradford to Gettysburg Section

Ohio To Indiana Trail- The trail from Urbana in Champaign County, through Piqua in Miami County and Greenville in Darke County ending at the Union City Gateway is called collectively the Ohio To Indiana Trail. For some time to come much of the trail will consist of marked trails on rural highways in the three counties.

Route for Bradford to Gettysburg - The trail was completed in the late Summer of 2010. The trail description and photos (that I have ) are below.

Trail Description and Photos - I took these photos in early November 2010. I was not able to ride the trail so parts of it have not been photographed. I would welcome other photos with appropriate descriptions by my readers.

This trail will start in Bradford and run Southwest to Gettysburg along the old Pennsylvania Railroad right of way. It may start at the Y-Yard Park that I describe below. I am hoping that this park can become part of the finished trail. In any case I will show photos and descriptions of Y-Yard Park in the hope that it will.



Map - Please click at the link or on the map at right to see the trail route which I have marked. At the far right you can see the "Y" which is Bradford's Y-Yard Park.	Click on Photo for larger image

Photo: By William Fischer, Jr., March 6, 2010 Click on Photo for larger image	The first picture was taken at Bradford's Y-Yard Park. Click Here to see their webpage on the subject. The Y-Yard is an old railroad switching yard for the Pennsylvania Railroad. Here is a link to Google Maps so you can see an aerial view of the park. Two main line rail-lines connected here in a "Y" configuration, hence the name of the park. The old rail-beds in the park have been turned into bicycle trails.

At the East end of the Y-Yard Park is the old switching tower for the yard. It is a part of the: Bradford Ohio Railroad Museum 200 N. Miami Avenue Bradford, Ohio I was unable to visit the day I was in Bradford. Take a look at their webpage to see what I (and you) have missed if you are a train buff. The Museum is just across East Main Street from Y-Yard Park. Click Here to see a Google Map of it. You need to go to the Museum in order to see the Tower which is shown at right.	Click on Photo for larger image

Click on Photo for larger image	At right is the historic marker next to the Railroad Museum. It will tell you a lot more than I can about the importance of the "BF Tower at Bradford Junction."

The trail starts about 800 foot West of the intersection of the old railbed and New Harrison-Bradford Road. The Google Map at right will show you the railbed and you can manipulate it to see the railbed (Northeast to Southwest) crossing the road (East and West) You can see the railbed just to the right (West) of the Route 721 in a circle.	View Larger Map

Click on Photo for larger image Source" Jim Clouse	This photo is from Jim Clouse who lives near Bradford. It is facing Northeast and shows the end of the current trail's construction in the middle of a soybean field. I understand the the Darke County Parks District is in negotiations with the farmer so that the trail can get to the road, but not by running through the middle of his field.

This aerial photo from Bing.com shows the old railbed starting at the bottom of the picture (East) at New Harrison-Bradford Road and running Southwest across the field towards Gettysburg.	Click on Photo for larger image Source: Bing.com

Click on Photo for larger image Source" Jim Clouse	This next photo shows the trail going through (or next to) another farmer's field on its way West to Gettysburg.

Between Bradford and Gettysburg the trail goes through a small woods. This is the scenic woods you'll be going through.	Click on Photo for larger image Source" Jim Clouse


Click on Photo for larger image	The trail runs Southwest from Bradford down the old railbed crossing several farmer's fields. It finally crosses George Street on the Eastern outskirts of Gettysburg. Click Here to see a Google Map of the crossing. We are looking West on the trail and can see the Gettysburg water tower in the distance.

Here you can see the current end of the trail looking West at North Bridge Street in downtown Gettysburg. Across the street is the continuation of the railbed that may someday carry the trail West to Greenville, Ohio	Click on Photo for larger image