Tomifobia Nature Trail
About the trail
The Tomifobia Nature Trail is a 19-km rail-trail located in the Tomifobia River valley, between Rte. 141 in Ayer’s Cliff, and Rte. 247 in Beebe (Stanstead), Quebec. It lies in the heart of the Eastern Townships’ natural and architectural heritage. Sentiers Massawippi, a non-profit membership organization and a registered charity established in 1990, created the Tomifobia Nature Trail on an abandoned railway right-of-way, in 1993. Using grants and donations from members and others, and much volunteer labour, Sentiers Massawippi works to maintain this beautiful linear park for safe hiking, cycling and cross-country skiing, as well as nature conservation, education, and the preservation of our heritage. Although the trail is free to use, we encourage all users to become members of Sentiers Massawippi or to consider making a tax deductible donation. Memberships and donations help maintain the quality of the trail.
While always mindful of our duty to preserve and protect the natural environment, we have created several scenic picnic areas, and erected small shelters near the ends of the trail. We have also placed toilet facilities at km 12 (summertime), in addition to refurbishing the historic monument at km 13.4 that commemorates an 1895 accident on the Massawippi Valley Railroad. Visit our Access & Points of Interest page for a list of other things to see on the trail.
The Tomifobia Nature Trail links up with the Route Verte at Magog via Rte. 141 (highway) in Ayer’s Cliff and Chemin Benoit, and with the trail to Newport, Vermont, via Beebe and customs.
Trail History
The Massawippi Valley Railway
The Massawippi Valley Railway, linking Newport, Vermont and Lennoxville, Quebec, was opened on July 1st 1870. In addition to carrying forest and agricultural products to market, the railway was instrumental in the development of the copper mining and granite quarrying industries in the region. The railway also provided a link for passengers travelling between the United States and Canada and stimulated summer recreation on Lake Massawippi.
From 1870 to 1919 the railway was operated by the Connecticut & Passumpsic Rivers Railroad. In 1919, the railway was leased by the Boston & Maine Railroad and in 1926 it came under the control of the Quebec Central Railway. The line was abandoned by the Canadian Pacific Railway, parent company of the Quebec Central, in 1990. The portion of the railway right-of-way from Ayer’s Cliff to Beebe was converted into the Tomifobia Nature Trail by Sentiers Massawippi in 1993.
A Fatal Accident
At 10:30 p.m. on April 8th 1895, the southbound Boston & Maine Railroad passenger train from Sherbrooke to Newport, pulled by locomotive No. 427, struck a large boulder that had fallen onto the tracks sometime after the northbound train had passed earlier in the day. Both the engineer, Felix J. Rooney, and the fireman, Louis A. Emerson, were trapped in the cab after the locomotive was derailed and the tender fell on top of it. They were freed by passengers (none of whom were hurt) but they had been both badly scalded by escaping steam. They were taken to Newport where they both died in the early hours of April 9th.
A Memorial Site
A memorial stone provided by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, along with the original boulder that caused the accident, remain at the site, located at km 13.4 of the Tomifobia Nature Trail.
Flora and Fauna
Species to discover!
The Tomifobia Nature Trail has an abundance of wildlife and flora to be discovered. Birdwatchers in particular flock to the trail to observe the 140+ species of birds found along the trail!
The trail is also home to three species of turtles, the snapping turtle, the painted turtle, and the woodland turtle. The turtles inhabit the banks of the Tomifobia River and ponds, and can sometimes be seen on the trail.
DANGER ! If you see a turtle, leave them in peace and do not try to touch them. They are incredibly fast and will bite if bothered. The jaws are very powerful and can easily cut a finger.
Deer, raccoons, foxes, grass snakes, field mice are some of the more common visitors to the trail. The quieter you are, the more you will see!
An extensive list of the flora and fauna found on the trail has been compiled in a separate PDF document, see button below.
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