Placentia group works to improve railbed trail
A Placentia-based volunteer group is working to refurbish the Newfoundland railbed trail in the region.
The hope is to clean up the railbed that runs from Placentia Junction to Argentia, for all-terrain vehicle users in the region and beyond.
The group, known as the Argentia-placentia T’railway, was started in February, but there was little traction then.
That was until recently, when Nick Mooney, one of the organizers, made a post about doing some work on the trail.
He hoped to generate some interest in the project.
“I thought I’d try it and see what happens,” said Mooney. “As soon as I made it public, there was a lot of interest.”
In a matter of days, the group’s membership ballooned to over 300 and some of its members have already been out cutting brush.
It isn’t a new idea for the area. There was a previous group doing similar work, but they haven’t done anything in the last couple of years.
“(The work) can make a difference,” said Mooney.
The Placentia group is the latest in the region to clean up the old Newfoundland railbed. A group in Conception Bay North has been restoring the railbed in hopes of connecting that region via the railbed.
Similar groups in Harbour Grace and Old Perlican are helping with that goal.
“Our trails have been around for years, and they have been used forever,” said volunteer Justin Linehan.
The plan now is to start small. They will start clearing the part of the railbed that runs from Fox Harbour Road to Argentia of the brush that is slowly overtaking the route.
From there, the group would look at fundraising and attempting to tackle some of the larger issues that are affecting the trailway.
There have been washouts and other damage caused by some of the recent storms that have hit the area.
“We want to start small, clear the brush and other things, before moving into fundraising,” said Linehan.
The recent activity on social media is sure to have a positive effect on the work being done by volunteers.
When people see others getting involved, they may be more motivated to help where they can.
At least, that is what Mooney hopes.
“I’m excited to see the uptick (in activity),” he said. “It gives people more initiative.”
The t’railway in the region is a popular run for local and non-local all-terrain vehicles. Often, out-of-province users will leave the ferry terminal and explore the province before leaving via the ferry, either back in Argentia or Port aux Basques.
It also makes a good day run for people in the region and offers the chance to explore the remnants of the American naval base in Argentia.
Refurbishing the railbed could serve to bring more tourists to the region.
“It can add a lot to the area,” said Mooney.
Dunville resident Ray Murphy says such work is a long time coming.
Murphy says the tourism sector would benefit from any improvement to the trailway.
“It is something that really needs to be done, desperately,” he said.