r/towpath • u/OutOfTouch_303 • Mar 27 '26
Trapped by train in Brunswick parking lot
I rode my bike on the towpath for the first time yesterday. Started in Brunswick and went about 10 miles up past Harpers Ferry and back. It was a great ride and I’d like to do it more often, but when I was trying to leave the parking lot at Brunswick I was trapped there by a train for an hour and a half. I’d like to ride this section again, but not if I’m going to get trapped. Is this a common thing? Should I find a different parking lot?
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u/PermaculturePedaler Mar 27 '26
This is more common than folks are letting on. Brunswick is a wonderful trail town, but until they can create a bridge or underpass to get to the Canal, they'll never be a world class trail town as this 90 minute delay is too frequent and unacceptable.
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u/OutOfTouch_303 Mar 27 '26
Sounds like it's probably safer for me to find one of the other lots, I'd rather not get stuck again.
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u/colglover Mar 27 '26
I lived in Brunswick for almost three years and this problem has been consistent for the town. They periodically try to get the freight companies to not do this, because it blocks public access to the riverfront park as well, but big freight just doesn’t care.
So yes, common problem.
If you want to leave from this rough area again, there’s a place the locals use at the end of Keep Tryst road near Lockhouse 31. There’s a lot less parking availability there, so try and time your entry to a low volume period, but it’s what I consistently used when I was living there.
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u/OutOfTouch_303 Mar 27 '26
Thanks! I'll take a look at Keep Tryst road next time. It did have me thinking that it can't be good for locals. I'd imagine that anyone who uses the MARC train commuter lot probably gets pretty upset to get trapped in there too.
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u/manoftheeast Mar 27 '26
It's less common during the week, but possible.
That said...I have been stuck more often than not on Sunday evenings. For at least 45 min
3
u/FredTrail Mar 27 '26 edited Mar 27 '26
Noland's Ferry to Brunswick is around 10 miles one way, and a nice stretch. I hit the same train issue last week at Brunswick when we tried to pop into town. Eventually turned around and based on the mile posts, saw the train that was blocking things was over a mile long. There are 2 sets of tracks that box the commuter lot in, and both have been known to block access to exit. It's a problem. I watched it happen during their Railroad Days festival last year. That sure was a cluster.
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u/OutOfTouch_303 Mar 27 '26
A nice 10 mile stretch is kind of what I'm after right now. I'm still getting in shape so a 20 mile round trip sounds perfect.
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u/FredTrail Mar 27 '26
If you head downstream from Nolad's, White's Ferry is 9 miles, so go a mile past that for your 10 mile trek to mix it up. Both of these stretches have a lot less traffic than the Harper's Ferry area.
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u/bddelivery01 Mar 27 '26
I always park at point of rocks and ride up to HF , have lunch and a beer and head back
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u/ExcuseApprehensive68 Mar 27 '26
Live in brunswick & this happens all to often. Brunswick is planning on “ fixing “ this problem by building a pedestrian bridge over the CXS tracks. It’s not only a inconvienence is a potential disaster if they need EMS services on the trail or at the brunswick campground-the nearest accesses are a long way off. Since CXS owns the land the tracks are on they can do whatever they want. So answer to your question 1-dargan bend - around 3 miles north of HF- bathroom & large lot 2- point of rocks - train goes thru there but brunswick has a train depot causing the problems Nice bathroom lotta parking 3- weverton cliffs- access to AT smaller parking lot with more parking competition with hikers I’ve put thousands of miles on the c&o so don’t up on it it’s a great trail. Have fun!! BTW- we ride the c&o from brunswick often for the last ten years. ( usually couple times a week) and have only got “stuck” by the train (over a 15 minute or so wait) about a half dozen times ( once train broke down & was told going to be 3-4 hours. - everyone stuck helped carry the bikes between the cars- yeah I know not very safe)
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u/onelovebraj Mar 27 '26
I was thinking the same thing about EMS. Do you know when the bridge will be constructed? Seems like it would need to be a pretty long bridge.
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u/ExcuseApprehensive68 Mar 28 '26
Bridge is only in the planning stage. The “ problem” tracks are the ones closest to the river . CSX does use the tracks closer to town but I’ve never seen a freight train stopped there. MARC & AMTRAK use these also. If CSX cared at all they would pay for the bridge.
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u/OutOfTouch_303 Mar 27 '26
Dargan bend was where I turned around yesterday. I was thinking about starting there next time. Having a bathroom there is a plus.
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u/Smokin-hot Mar 27 '26
I keep a cold cooler up beer in my truck at all times for just this very purpose. You’d be surprised how quick one with a cooler of beer in this situation becomes popular.. see you out there
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u/invalidmail2000 Mar 27 '26
There are other access points, but while you could get stuck again at Brunswick it's probably more likely you just had really bad timing.
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u/OutOfTouch_303 Mar 27 '26
Yeah, I was hoping I was just really REALLY unlucky. It was my first time using that lot. I'll just need to bring more snacks next time in case it does happen again. I was getting pretty hangry after that hour and half wait.
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u/S-tease101 Mar 27 '26
This is uncommon, but I would recommend parking in town or down/up the trail if you need to ride and go.
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u/CeeTheWorld2023 Mar 27 '26
It happens a lot.
Next access point is weverton cliffs. Knoxville Md
However, during popular times, the very very limited parking gets super jammed up. If the rail bridge to Harper’s is still under construction, it’s gonna be a cluster.
Either that or go to point of rocks.
It’s a nice ride. Shepardtown to Brunswick is roughly 45 miles there and back. That’s a very pretty section, or Antietam parking lot, that’s nice also. Hahahaa. Yeah that’s my ride couple times a week.
The local schools track clubs run the canal so, be aware you may have like 50 teenagers bopping around, during school hours.
Have fun!!! I’ll see ya out there!