Jefferson County Trails Council Header photo

Pasture just west of Whitham Woods -
Construction of the Loop Trail on the railroad bed
Scroll down for more photos.   Updated 04/14/10

Links to More Pages:
Construction of the Quad West Section.
Trail route of the Quad East Section.

Construction along Hwy 34 (07-16-10)
Construction through Whitham Woods (03-24-10)

Return to the Northwestern Trail webpage.

04/13/10  The section of the Loop Trail under construction in the pasture next to Whitham Woods.  (jfr)
The section of the Loop Trail under construction in the pasture next to Whitham Woods.

04/13/10  The tunnel will let cattle cross to the other side of the pasture.  (jfr)
The tunnel will let cattle cross to the other side of the pasture.

04/13/10  The old railroad bed has to be raised to accommodate the tunnel.  (jfr)
The old railroad bed has to be raised to accommodate the tunnel.

04/08/10  Before the tunnel was installed.  (rb)
Before the tunnel was installed.

04/08/10  The cattle-pass tunnel components are ready to be moooved into place.  (rb)
The cattle-pass tunnel components are ready to be moooved into place.

04/11/10  The dirt will cover up the tunnel.  (rb)
he dirt will cover up the tunnel.

04/11/10  Ron Blair tries out the tunnel.  (rb)
Ron Blair tries out the tunnel.

Nov 2009  This is the southwestern border of Whitham Woods.  Ahead is the cow pasture.  (jfr)
This is the southwestern border of Whitham Woods.  Ahead is a cow pasture.

April 11, 2010  The north end of the pasture looking southeast on old railroad bed.   (rb).
The north end of the pasture looking southeast on old railroad bed.

04/11/10  Looking south towards Hwy 34.   Note pond.   (rb).
Looking south towards Hwy 34.

04/11/10  Heading south to the pasture on the new trail, you can see small details of the cattle pass in background.   (rb).
Heading south to the pasture on the new trail, you can see small details of the cattle pass in background.

03/24/10  Skiers have been using the un-finished trail on the old CB & Q railroad bed.  (jfr)
Skiers have been using the un-finished trail.   03/24/10

Whitham Woods in the yellow lines.   Pasture area in the lower left.   (More at the JCCB Whitham Woods webpage)
Map of Whitham Woods. Whitham Woods in the yellow lines. Pasture area in the lower left.

11/08/09  Looking north from Business Hwy 34. The Loop Trail will follow this old railroad roadbed into Whitham Woods.  (jfr)
Looking north from Business Hwy 34. The Loop Trail will follow this old railroad roadbed into Whitham Woods.

11/08/09  This is currently being used as a cow pasture.  The cows will be kept off the trail during construction which will start soon.  (jfr)
This is currently being used as a cow pasture.  The cows will be kept off the trail.  Construction will start soon.

11/08/09  Follow the surveyor's stakes straight back to the woods.  No trains have run here since 1901.  (jfr)
Follow the surveyor's stakes straight back to the woods.  No trains have run here since 1901.

12/05/09  Work has started on the railroad bed.  (jfr)
Work has started on the railroad bed.   12/05/09

11/08/2009  In Whitham Woods see the old railroad bridge abutments. (jfr)
Now we come to the old railroad bridge abutments.

11/08/09  The bridge was built about 1858, and was abandoned in 1901 when the tracks moved north. (jfr)
The bridge was built about 1858, and was abandoned in 1901 when the tracks moved north.

11/08/09  Many of the abutment stones have fallen into the creek. (jfr)
Many of the abutment stones have fallen into the creek.

11/08/09  West of Whitham Woods - the new bridge on Business Hwy 34, just south of the pasture.  (jfr)
West of Whitham Woods - the new bridge on Business Hwy 34, just south of the pasture.

11/08/09  Looking down at the trail and Mitchell Creek from the Hwy 34 bridge.  (jfr)
Looking down at the trail and Mitchell Creek from the Hwy 34 bridge.

11/08/09  Looking south at the 6-mile-long DOT section of the Loop Trail, from the highway.  (jfr)
Looking south at the 6-mile long DOT section of the Loop Trail, from the bridge.

Photos by Jeff Fitz-Randolph (jfr) and Ron Blair (rb)

Links to More Pages:
Construction of the Quad West Section.
Trail route of the Quad East Section.

Construction along Hwy 34 (07-16-10)
Construction through Whitham Woods (03-24-10)

Return to the Northwestern Trail webpage.


Jefferson County Trails Council
Our e-mail address is:
e-mail address
Our mailing address is:
Jefferson County Trails Council
P.O. Box 2375
Fairfield, IA 52556