Doube’s Trestle Bridge – The Kawartha Trail’s Hidden Secret, Just Outside of Peterborough
Just west of Peterborough you will find a magnificent old trestle bridge gliding over the marshland underneath. Railways run best at grade, and what grade they do climb is minimal, hence the need for this type of structure. What I did not expect was this massive structure outside of the deep Coulee’s of the great plains of the west, what I forgot is that Ontario does how its own glacial formed Drumlin’s. Anyhow, all this to say that it is an impressive structure!
Table of Contents
The Kawartha Trail
This 50 kilometre section of pedestrian trail, part of the Trans Canada Trail, links Lindsay and Peterborough via an old rail bed.
Where to Park
The bridge is located a few kilometres from the main roadways. As such you will have to be strategic with how you access the site. Where you find the red marker on the map below is the best place to park.
As per the zoom in below, the best place to park is on Orange Couner’s Road just before it intersects with the old rail bed near the intersection of Cottingham Road.
Exploring Doube’s Trestle Bridge
Once park you will walk a few kilometers in before hitting the bridge itself.
From the trail you will have great views of the nearby farmland!
he structure was constructed in 1883, one of several bridges on this stretch of Grand Trunk Railway mainline, but originally constructed by Midland Railway. This stretch was considered to be the “missing link” between Lindsay and Peterborough. The line saw may changes though its lifespan, including a 1921 take over by Canadian National Railways while last trains ran on the bridge in 1978, where it lay abandoned for a number of years. Today its old rails have been covered in a cyclist / pedestrian friendly smooth surface.
The structure crosses over the marshy woodlands of Buttermilk Creek, the most challenging section of the line. The original trestle was made of wood and 1,500 feet (457 meters) long with a height of over 70 feet (21 meters).
The bridge was later rebuilt in steel, to save on materials, embankments were built and the span shortened 572 feet long, with a total of nine spans. Its name derives from that of the local land owner. You will find some information signposts along the bridge’s span.
Conclusion
Honestly, its a bridge but it is impressive. Come enjoy the views of nature and spend some time on the trail!
