Iron Horse Trail In Centerville

Park & Ride Locations - Currently you can park near the South end of the trail at Iron Horse Park. Take East Whipp Road to Millshire Dr. and turn South. The park is in about 100 yards on the right.

Map - I don't have a formal map of the trail yet. Please see Google Maps. I have the map centered so that at the bottom you can see what is marked "Iron Horse Park" You can clearly see the trail to the West of the park as a green line. Zoom in and follow it North across East Whipp Road and East Rahn Road until its current end and the South end of Hempstead Station Road. The trail begins again at State Farm Park and runs North to the Creekside Recreation Trail.

Trail Distances - The entire Southern leg of the Iron Horse Trail from E. Stroop and Wilmington Pike (in Kettering) down to the end of Hempstead Station Road (border with Centerville) and then joining the formal trail to I-675 in Centerville is 3.48 miles.

Route of the Trail - The trail currently starts at the corner of E. Stoop Road and Wilmington Pike runs West to Hempstead Station Road. The trail follows Hempstead Station Road South, crosses East David Road and runs to the Southern end of Hempstead Station Road in Kettering. It crosses into Centerville there and follows the old CL&N railbed East and then South. The trail first crosses East Rahn Road, then crosses East Whipp Road turning Southwest to end at I-675 South of Iron Horse Park in Centerville at I-675.

Centerville Construction Plans - As a part of their long range planning the Centerville-Washington Park District plans to extend the Iron Horse Trail South under I-675 to Alex-Bell Road. The trail would then cross Alex-Bell Road and where the trail leaves the rail bed, add new trail through a field to the end of Zengel Drive at Pleasant Hill Park and the Swim Club.

Kettering Construction Plans - Plans are to cross the intersection at E. Stroop Road at Wilmington Pike and return to the old railbed on Wilmington Pike just North of the Library where Parliament Place ends at Wilmington Pike. From there the trail will continue Northeast along the East side of Valleywood Drive, crossing Cemetery Lane until it crosses East Dorothy Lane into Delco Park. The trail will use and improve the existing sidewalk in Delco Park and continue North and East until it crosses Woodman Drive. From there will be three blocks of trail along Aragon Ave until it reaches Galewood Street. From there it is one block to the existing trail in State Farm Park that connects to the West end of the Creekside Recreation Trail. for an additional trail length of 2.07 miles. That would make the entire trail when complete about 11 miles from the Creekside Trail to I-675.

Images of New Trail - I have taken a lot of photos to show you the new trail in Centerville North of Hempstead Road. I will also show you the old railbed that the City of Kettering is hoping to acquire. That will take the trail North from E. Stroop Road at Wilmington Pike to Delco Park. Finally I show photos of the rail-bed that runs Northwest from the location of the old Hempstead Station into downtown Dayton. This rail-bed is on MVRPC's plans to be developed.

History of the railbed - (If not interested in History Skip This Section) - As mentioned above the route of the new trail is on the old (CL&N) railroad. A friend loaned me a copy of "Narrow Gauge in Ohio: The Cincinnati, Lebanon and Northern Railway" - (Hardcover) by John W. Hauck, which is available from Amazon.com. The railbed ran North into Centerville up to "Pasadena Station" on Hempstead Station Drive. From "Pasadena Station" the railroad went both to the North into what is now Kettering but also Northwest into Oakwood and downtown Dayton. In Mr. Hauck's book are photos of the "Brown Street Station" showing both NCR and the University of Dayton tower to the South. (Photos reproduced with permission). See also the Wikipedia article Cincinnati, Lebanon & Northern (CL&N) narrow gauge railroad that once existed in the area.

This first photo from the book shows the original Pasadena Station which is now on the border between Kettering and Centerville. The caption says: " ...located just North of Hempstead on the Dayton extension between Devon Avenue and Dorothy Lane. Constructed about 1912 the station building still stands." Alas. The building was destroyed only a few years ago.	Click on photo for larger image p278 - Hauck

Click on photo for larger image p199 - Hauck	The next two photos from Mr. Hauck's book show the Brown Street Station in Dayton. This is the line that went North and West from Pasadena Station through Oakwood into Dayton. In this picture we are looking East. You can see the Brown Street Station in the foreground and the University of Dayton tower to the left of the picture (East).

This second image of the Brown Street Station is looking West towards NCR. You can see one of the larger buildings in the center background. Plans are being made by Five Rivers MetroParks and the City of Dayton, with the help of the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission to build on the abandoned spur that runs from Stroop Road in Kettering, Northeast through Oakwood to Irving Avenue just Southeast of the University of Dayton (UD). This will continue the Iron Horse Trail into Dayton. There perhaps it can with the existing Stewart Street Bikeway which connects to the Great Miami River Recreation Trail.	Click on photo for larger image p199 - Hauck

Click on photo for larger image	At left, I have provided a photo from Yahoo Maps that shows the park in the center of the photo and East Whipp Road at the top of the image.

Trail South to I-675 from Iron Horse Park - The trail was extended South from Iron Horse Park .4 miles to I-675 making the trail 3.48 miles from Kettering South into Centerville.

This photo was taken between I-675 and the park. The trail starts at Iron Horse Park and runs North from there. The original plan was to also build the trail South from the Park to end at I-675. Funding constraints made this plan impossible. This photo was taken between I-675 and the park. The park district paved the trail from Iron Horse Park to I-675 in 2009.	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	In this photo we are starting close to the Southern end of the new trail in Iron Horse Park. This is where the staging area is located. I took my bicycle off my car rack here. You can see the bumper of my car at left in the image.

This is the first photo of the trail looking North from the staging area (and restrooms) of Iron Horse Park. I took these photos in late October 2008 so there are many leaves on the trail.	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	Here we are looking South from East Whipp Road, the trail's first road crossing as it runs North into Kettering. The Park's Department reused the existing "Iron Horse Trail" sign that you see at the right of the photo

In this photo we are standing on the South side of East Whipp Road looking North. (Do I have you confused yet?) The young lady is riding South on the trail. I saw and spoke to about 10 trail users the day I photographed it. I asked each of them: "Do you like your new trail?" And almost all of them said: "I love my new trail!"	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	Here we have a view looking South at the East Whipp Road crossing. The trail developers have wisely added a crossing island to make it easier for cyclists to cross the road.

Here we are looking North from East Whipp Road along the trail. The trail is being used but is not yet completed in these photos.	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	At right is a typical trail user that I encountered. This women is walking her dog.. They both look to be having a good time. As you can see the developers were able to retain as much of the foliage and trees as possible to keep the new trail's rural aspect.

The next major intersection that the trail crosses is East Rahn Road. The trail runs parallel to and is just West of Scarsdale Drive. Here we are looking from the trail North across East Rahn Road l	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	I took this photo from the same place as the one just above. The photo is looking South from the trail's intersection at East Rahn Road. You can see my Raleigh at the left of the photo.

We have ridden North of East Rahn Road and are entering a industrial complex at the South end of Kettering. This photo was taken looking South back along the trail. The building looks to be a warehouse. AT right is the Eastern boundary of Kettering Industrial Park.	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	Here I have turned around and am facing North. This is where the trail turns left (West) and runs into the South end of Hempstead Station Road.

This photo shows the trail looking West. In the distance is a women with a blue coat pushing a baby carriage. She is almost to the end of the trail	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	In this photo we have reached the end of the formal trail in Centerville and we are now in Kettering at the Southern (dead end) of Hempstead Station Road. This is the beginning of the trail looking East.

Just North of the Southern end of Hempstead Station Road is Kettering Corporate Center at the turn around in the road. From this vantage point the trail is on the left of the picture, running due East. You can see the green Bike Route sign at the right of the photo.	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	Here we are looking North on Hempstead Station Road. The formal trail is to the left (East) of the picture. The road has been recently re-paved and there are both *Share The Road* signs and Bike Route signs on the right side of the road. On the left of the road there is also a red Wrong Way sign that advises Ride With Traffic. There are no markings on the pavement.

Here we see Hempstead Station Road crossing East David Road. You can see the end of the new pavement. Across the street at the left of the picture you can see the 10' wide sidewalk that is the formal trail. There is a cyclist in the left of the picture who has just crossed David Road running South.	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	Here we have crossed East David Road and are following the new trail (sidewalk) North. This little bridge crosses over a small stream just opposite the Circuit Pak company.

The trail continues North on the West side of Hempstead Station Road until it gets to the corner of East Stroop Road, which you see here. The Bike Route sign says to cross Hempstead Station Road and continue on the South side of E. Stroop Road.	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	We have followed the new trail (10' sidewalk) along E. Stroop Road to its current terminus; the corner of E. Stroop Road and Wilmington Pike. The photo is looking North across the intersection. Out of the picture is the library. The trail will cross this intersection and follow Wilmington Pike North to the old railbed that the City of Kettering is attempting to acquire. The pictures from here North show the old railbed.

This photo was taken from Google Earth. It shows the intersection of E. Stroop Road with Wilmington Pike at the bottom. Just above (North) of it is a red A . This is where Parliament Place runs North from Wilmington Pike. The old railbed is alongside Bollings Vista Kawasaki and continues to the North.	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	Here we see a couple of Kawasaki's next to Bollings. The railbed starts here at the gravel at the bottom of the photo.

About 100 yards North of Wilmington Pike is Glaser Park (See #5) in the city of Kettering. We are looking West from a dead-end street. The old railbed is on the far side of the park at the tree line.	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	In this photo we are at the West side of Glaser Park looking North. The parking lot and playground you saw in the previous photo are out of site on the right side of the photo.

Going North on Valleywood Drive from Wilmington Pike we cross Cemetery Lane. On Cemetery Lane is the Bulah Cemetery which is to the left (and out of the photo ). We are looking South down the old railbed. Valleywood Drive (not in image) is to the right. I am told that this land is owned by CSX and will be purchased by the City of Kettering.	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	In this photo we are at the same location as the picture above. I have turned around and now are facing North. This is a photo of the railbed looking North towards East Dorothy Lane. The road you can (almost) see in the far background is Woodman Center Drive which will cross Dorothy and run directly into Delco Park. The trail may use a sidewalk alongside Woodman Center Drive.

In this photo we drove North to East Dorothy Lane and drove South on Woodman Center Drive. The photo is looking North right next to a sign which reads City of Kettering - Yard Debris Drop - Off Center. If you were to look South from this photo you'd see the Bulah Cemetery to left and the railbed in front of you going alongside the cemetery.	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	The Google Earth image at left shows you Valleywood Drive and Cemetery Lane which runs East to West and ends in a square in the middle of the photo. That is the outline of the Bulah Cemetery. North of it is the right-of-way for the trail that will connect to Delco Park.

Trail Northwest from Kettering to University of Dayton in downtown Dayton
Iron Horse Trail to downtown Dayton via Oakwood - (Update March 2010) The proposed link from Kettering to downtown Dayton has received an additional $2 million from MVRPC for construction planned to be built in 2012. The trail will run from Kettering Northwest along the old railbed to the Southeast corner of the University of Dayton. The City of Dayton will build from U.D. Southeast to Jane Newcome Park. From there the City of Kettering will employ the railbed and city streets to bring the trail South to it�s current end at Stroup and Wilmington Pike. Plans are being made to secure funding to build the trail Northwest from E. Stroop Road at Hempstead Station Road to end at Irving Road at the Southeast corner of the University of Dayton. The University of Dayton is planning a trail through its campus which will connect to the Stewart Street Bikeway which connects the campus to the Great Miami River Recreation Trail.

Click on photo for larger image	These next two photos show historic topographic maps from the United States Geological Survey. These old maps were scanned and put into a website called MapTech. This image is Waynesville 15NW from 1915. (Click on Northwest 1915) or to be taken directly to the map; Click Here. I've cut out area of Hempstead Station Road with E. Stroop Road North of it. The neighborhood that I have colored is the area North of Stroop. The image shows the two rail-beds; one going North into Kettering and Beavercreek and the other going Northwest to Oakwood and downtown Dayton.

This image is a current Google Earth image of the same area. You can see E. Stroop Road (running East and West) and Hempstead Station Road running just West of Meijers. The colored area is the same as the 1915 map above. You can see the tree line just East of Claybourne Road and West of Roslyn Avenue (shown but not named.) Just South of Stroop at where Hempstead Station dead ends there is a large building. This is the Cassano's Pizza warehouse. The rail-bed going Northwest looks to behind it following the parking lot line.	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	Here we see the railbed Northwest of E. Stroop Road on its way to downtown Dayton, We are on the corner of Berwin Ave. at Claybourne Road. We are looking South from Berwin Ave. at the old railbed. You are looking at the backyards of houses that front on Roslyn Avenue.

I took this photo from almost the same location as the photo above. This playground is on the corner of Claybourne Road at Berwin Avenue. The trail, if it is ever built will go right alongside this playground.	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image p278 - Hauck	Finally I thought I'd put in a picture of the vanished Pasadena Station which is now on the border between Kettering and Centerville. There were two stations, one at Hempstead Station Road and the other North and West of it. The caption on the photo says: " ...located just North of Hempstead on the Dayton extension between Devon Avenue and Dorothy Lane." Constructed about 1912 the station building was torn down recently. If you look at the historical map above just outside the red circle are most of the letters of "Pasadena', the location of the old station.

Trail Description	Surface
Route	Map
Park & Ride Locations	Restrooms
Centerville Construction Plans	Trail Review (With Photos)
Kettering Construction Plans	Trail Distances
Centerville-Washington Park District Plans	History of the Railbed
Iron Horse Trail to downtown Dayton via Oakwood (Planned for 2012)