Segment # 11: Railroad, PA, to the Mason Dixon Line and back, 6 miles.
It stayed blissfully (for Amos) cloudy and cool with some spotty sun for 5/6ths of this 6 mile out-and-back until the last mile returning when the sun shone full bore. Amos does not like heat and his shiny black coat was soon soaking up the glorious sun and forcing him to walk way off to the side in as much dappled shade as the early spring forest canopy would offer him. But he did it! We finished our 2025 Walk with Spring back at the truck, parked in the rail trail parking lot in Railroad. Fifty miles (25 miles x two) of out-and-back hikes from John Rudy County Park 25 miles south to the Mason Dixon Line, and this 8 year-old hound was right proud of himself.
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| Good job, ole' boy. |
The Mason Dixon Line is the boundary between Pennsylvania and Maryland, the demarcation between northern states and southern states, a political border that was vitally important during the American Civil War (1860-1864) - which it feels on some days that we are still fighting. Even so, the MDL marks the boundary for Freedom Seekers who came in their thousands from Maryland to Pennsylvania, hoping to establish themselves as free people in the Northern States or Canada. It always sends a little shiver to stand on this line and imagine the feeling of crossing into freedom here.
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| New Freedom Station |
The New Freedom Rail Station, unlike older stations below the MDL, was not built to have segregated waiting areas or ticket counters, a practice that stayed in vogue until the 1960s. Arriving at New Freedom Station, there were no more car inspections to separate black and white riders or exclude riders from dining. But the town was named not for its MDL heritage, instead, in was named for its founder and family, French Huguenot Conrad W. Free of the of the De Ferree family who fled France and religious persecution in the 18th century.
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| South Branch, Codorus Creek |
We continued to walk next to the South Branch of the Codorus Creek which flows north to the Susquehanna River. It's been next to us almost the whole way south, but now it is a yard or two wide and just a little stream. Its headwaters gather just over the Maryland Line in a long valley of wetland seeps and springs.
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| Making a new friend |
On our walk down from the town of Railroad, PA, to the Mason Dixon Line we met two guys sitting on a park bench along the trail at a little scrap metal sculpture garden. Amos wanted to go visit so I asked if he could come over. One of the men suddenly teared up and opened his arms to Amos. "I'm without a dog for the first time in my life," he cried. The other man smiled and nodded as Amos curled himself around his new friend. "Where did you find such a beautiful hound?" he asked. I told him about the
American Black and Tan Coonhound Rescue and said how sorry I was. "I'm gonna check this out," he said, as Amos offered his ample rump to both men for a scratchy scratch.
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| Wild mustard on the old rails |
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| Our last outcrop - wavy! |
Spring is here in all its glory, even though northern parts of Pennsylvania are still getting snowy days, the south-central region is in full bloom and bud burst. Even so, spring has been a bit of a tease in these parts with some stretches of cold, wet weather and persistent cooler temps. Everything smells wonderful. Amos loved the smells coming from the Hound Dog Bakery!
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Amos got a nice sample biscuit here - yummy!
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| Ma & Pa Engine 84 |
South of New Freedom, a mile or so before reaching the Mason Dixon Line is a cool forest where we sat for snack ( a peanut butter bone from Hound Dog Bakery) and water. Not too many people on the trail today because it was Monday morning but a few daily walkers were out and stopped to chat about the trail, the weather, and to say hello to Amos. It was nice to see the canopy developing overhead. Soon this stretch will be shady under summer sun.
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| Railroad cut through forest |
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| Mile 0! |
At Mile 0 we snapped a picture of a smiling hound and posed by the Mason Dixon Line Kiosk for an official "on the line" celebration. Another snack and another long sip of water before heading back through New Freedom and Railroad and planning for our next hike. Thanks for coming with us in this Walk with Spring 2025 post series!
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| Amos' nose is in Maryland! |
Notes:
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