Cotton Valley Rail Trail Club
The Cotton Valley Rail Trail Club is an association of railway motorcar enthusiasts dedicated to preserving motorcar history and right-of-way maintenance through active operation and stewardship.
Established in 1992, NARCOA Affiliate since 2014
Safety
CVRTC prides itself on operating as a safety conscious group while keeping the hobby enjoyable for everyone.
Community
In the summer of 1992, a group of New England rail car owners joined with a group of local railroad enthusiasts in Wolfeboro, NH and refurbished the former Fernald Station.
Membership
CVRTC welcomes novices who are just learning about the hobby. Please contact a CVRTC official to discuss membership or motorcars in detail.
Our History
The Cotton Valley Rail Trail Club, Inc. (CVRTC) began in the summer of 1992 when a group of New England rail car owners joined with a group of local railroad enthusiasts in Wolfeboro, NH. Together they obtained permission from the State of New Hampshire to operate rail cars and to maintain the former Wolfeboro Railroad including structures. The club refurbished the former Fernald Station which is now used as the CVRTC meeting place. In September 2014, the Club became a NARCOA Affiliate.
What We Do
CVRTC members preserve railroad history by the use of railway motorcars and have kept alive the skills and experiences of the railroad workers who once used these vehicles to maintain railroad lines around the world. CVRTC currently maintains two branch lines in State of New Hampshire. The first is the Wolfeboro NH branch line and is now known as the Cotton Valley Trail. The second line is a portion of the former Boston & Maine Conway Branch between Rt. 28 and Rt.16.
Motorcaring as a Hobby
Railroad motorcars are small four wheeled motorized vehicles designed to run on railroad tracks. Sometimes called gang cars, putt-putts or section cars, they were used by railroad employees to perform various maintenance tasks such as track work, bridge inspection, and signal repair. They evolved from human powered pump cars in the early 1900s and were eventually replaced in the 1960s by hy-rail vehicles (pickup trucks with small railroad wheels). Motorcars were manufactured by several companies such as Fairmont Railway Motors, Fairbanks-Morse, Railcar Canada and many others. Fairmont is the most common motorcar seen today. CVRTC members enjoy all facets of this hobby, from helping each other find cars to lending a hand in restoring the cars.
