MCRT: New Braintree
Photo credit: John Phelan
About MCRT New Braintree
New Braintree was originally known for dairy products. By the end of the 19th century, over 40 dairy farms were within 5 miles of the Mass Central RR depot, and the town produced over 200,000 pounds of cheese annually. New Braintree still has strong agricultural roots – with several farms, orchards and vineyards.
The MCRT runs along the Ware River, crossing three times between Hardwick and New Braintree, for a total of over 2 miles of corridor in New Braintree. Two historic railroad bridges still span the river, including a lattice truss bridge and pony truss bridge, that visitors cross along the way. The New Braintree depot on the Mass Central RR is memorialized by a plaque on a stone adjacent to the parking area off Hardwick Rd. The New Braintree section of the MCRT is developed and managed by the East Quabbin Land Trust. 


Visiting the MCRT in New Braintree
Access Points:
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1741 Hardwick Road, New Braintree/MCRT intersection (10 parking spaces available)
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Maple Street, Wheelwright (Hardwick) – on-street parking
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There will soon be access to the MCRT corridor north of Wheelwright in New Braintree at the site of the former airport on McEvoy Rd
Additional Resources
​Suggested Itinerary:
This route includes Hardwick sections - New Braintree starts at mile 4.6.
RideWithGPS Route - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53521492
Trail Guide (West to East)
Mile
3.6 mi - Creamery Road trailhead (Hardwick) with parking on grass field across the street.
4.65 mi – Historic Lattice Truss bridge crossing the Ware River (entering New Braintree). To your right is a very scenic section of the Ware River – eagles, otter, deer and foxes are often spotted here.
5.2 mi – Hardwick Road crossing, with parking at site of former New Braintree train station. Once a busy depot where milk from over 40 area dairy farms was shipped to Boston. Old Furnace General Store is 0.2 mi West on Hardwick Rd.
5.8 mi – historic Pony Truss bridge crossing of the Ware River (entering Hardwick).
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6.3 mi – On street parking at Maple Street, Wheelwright (Hardwick). The village of Wheelwright includes the site of a former paper mill, turned into a tissue product manufacturer. Unfortunately, many of the buildings burned in a 2001 fire, leaving the brick ruins still visible
Head 700 feet to the east for the site of a future bridge crossing over the Ware River back into New Braintree. This section of the MCRT is the former Tanner-Hiller Airport, in New Braintree. Look to the left – you’ll see a dam that is scheduled for removal, to improve water quality and fish access to the upper Ware River.
Current MCRT Projects in New Braintree
The East Quabbin Land Trust is working with the MA Division of Fisheries and Wildlife to develop the 2.2 mile section of MCRT north of Wheelwright in New Braintree continuing east into Barre.
EQLT is applying for permitting for a new Ware River bridge in Wheelwright (Hardwick to New Braintree)
A Brief History of the MCRT in New Braintree
The railroad in this corridor last operated to Wheelwright in the late 1970s. The East Quabbin Land Trust acquired 3+ miles of former railroad corridor in 2007 in Hardwick and New Braintree, and spent the following decade building the MCRT and repairing four historic bridges. The East Quabbin Land Trust recently acquired the former Tanner- Hiller Airport and adjacent Airport Rd, which includes 2.2 miles of MCRT corridor; the southern mile of this section is in New Braintree.
For more information on the MCRT in New Braintree
The East Quabbin Land Trust has successfully acquired and developed the MCRT in New Braintree, and is leading the effort to complete the missing sections in the town. Learn more about their work at eqlt.org. Donations are welcome – visit https://eqlt.org/support/
Volunteers are encouraged to sign up at https://eqlt.org/about-us/volunteers/ - there are many great opportunities to help complete and maintain the MCRT.
Explore Other Communities Along the MCRT
Geographical west to east
Northampton Hadley Amherst Palmer Belchertown Ware Hardwick New Braintree Barre Oakham Rutland Holden West Boylston Sterling Clinton Berlin Bolton Hudson Stow Sudbury Wayland Weston Waltham Belmont Somerville Cambridge Boston
For each MCRT town, we’ll connect you with maps, resources, suggested routes and trail status.