Panhandle Trail

The Panhandle Train begins its 29 mile trek in Walkers Mill, navigates through beautiful landscaped Rennerdale and Gregg Station and continues on its way to its final destination in Weirton, West Virginia.

The Collier Township portion of the trail is one of the most pristine and tranquil stretches of walking and biking trail along the entire corridor of the Panhandle Trail. The trail runs partially along Robinson Run and is known for having many species of natural hardwood trees and wildflowers.

Naming the Panhandle Trail

The Panhandle Trail is named for the railroad. The Pennsylvania Railroad promoted the “Panhandle Route” for its lines west of Pittsburgh going through Columbus to Cincinnati, St. Louis and Chicago. Because the section between Collier and Burgettstown as rail-banked first, the Harmon Creek Trail was established by Dave Cline, Larry Droppleman, and others in Weirton through the Weirton Park Board. They had named the trail after the creek that it paralleled in the area of their interest and control. When Allegheny County was looking for partners to develop the trail, an appropriate name was needed for the entire 29-mile length.

In a phone conversation, Dave Cline said he was Larry were thinking of a name for the full length, such as the Pittsburgh and Weirton or P&W Trail, similar to the bus line that had gone out of business. I suggested using the Panhandle Trail to continue the railroad heritage and appeal to the people from West Virginia who had started first. He agreed. A short time later, I learned that a Panhandle Trail was established on another section of former Panhandle Railroad Route from Newark, Ohio to ten miles eastward.