Cable Car, Wilderness Trail – During the mid-1900s, the Wilderness Trail in New Hampshire's Pemigewasset Wilderness began on the southern side of trestle No. 17, along the East Branch & Lincoln Railroad, near logging Camp 17. The Cedar Brook Branch of the railroad also began at this location. With the exception of the Cedar Brook Branch operation, which ended in 1946, the railroad track along the Upper East Branch of the railroad, above trestle No. 17, was removed by 1940.
For the most part, the Wilderness Trail follows the old railroad bed right-of-way from trestle No. 17 to Stillwater Junction. At the first crossing of the East Branch of the Pemigewasset River, above logging Camp 18, a cable car was used during the 1940s to cross the river. Pictured here are likely remnants of the cable car.
The Wilderness Trail would eventually be rerouted to avoid this crossing of the East Branch of the Pemigewasset River. And in 1984, this area became part of the federally designated Pemigewasset Wilderness (45,000 acres).
Also in the general area of the cable car is an old spring that drains into the East Branch of the Pemigewasset River. This spring may have been used by the East Branch & Lincoln Railroad's logging Camp 18, which is in the area. The piping, pictured above, for the spring was still visible in 2017, and a bunch of the pipe was scattered along the river.
Interesting links:
Trestle No. 17
Lincoln Woods Trail
East Branch & Lincoln Railroad Book
Happy image making..
© Erin Paul Donovan. All rights reserved | Historic Information Disclaimer | White Mountains History
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Owner of ScenicNH Photography LLC
Erin Paul is a professional photographer, writer, and author who specializes in environmental conservation and historic preservation photography mainly in the New Hampshire White Mountains. His work is published worldwide, and publication credits include: Appalachian Mountain Club, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Backpacker Magazine, and The Wilderness Society.
ScenicNH Photography LLC
Specializing in environmental conservation and historic preservation photography mainly in the White Mountains region of New Hampshire, Erin Paul’s photography and writing focuses on the history of the White Mountains, and telling the story of abandoned places and forgotten historical sites.