For the first time in 57 years Bermuda?s Railway Trail might once again travel through the city of Hamilton, Bermuda?s Park Planner said yesterday.

Early in 1948, the last of the trains left Hamilton, but the Railway Trail Vision Project ? which is holding its final open house this morning at the Botanical Gardens Visitors Centre ? is hoping to recreate the old train route through its historic hub of Hamilton.

Bermuda?s Park Planner Drew Pettit said yesterday the Trail Vision Project was hoping to use interpretative signs to show visitors and younger locals where the old train stations stood.

?There could be a recommendation made to the Corporation of Hamilton,? Mr. Pettit said yesterday.

For 17 years trains rumbled down a tunnel near Par-la-Ville Road and turned onto Front Street.

Hugh Morris of the US based conservation group Rails to Trails said ?if walkers want to follow the old historical walking tour? they will be able to follow the proposed new walking trail.

?I gather the old stations no longer exist,? Mr. Morris said.

No signs remain today of the tunnel that took the Bermuda Railway under Par-la-Ville park, but Railway Trail purists will be able to follow the old Hamilton ? St. George?s line to Serpentine Road, the Tennis Stadium, Pond Hill and Prospect.

The addition of the Hamilton loop is part of the reconnection of the Paget and Devonshire trails.

?We have lost the old route,? Mr. Pettit said, ?But we will indicate where the old stations are... The route we have chosen always has sidewalks. It will go from Rural Hill to the Trimingham Hill roundabout, up Corkscrew Hill, down Montpelier and Frog Lane then Palmetto Road.?

He said there were numerous parks and buildings of interest along the new route, including the Arboretum and National Trust headquarters of Waterville.

At the open house, the public can choose between four different styles of sign.

?The interpretative signs will not only show visitors where they are, it will say what historical buildings they can see,? Mr. Pettit said. ?It will act as the backbone to a lot of other parts.?

He said the two largest potential projects would be combined vehicular and pedestrian bridges at Flatts Inlet and Coney Island to truly reconnect the trail.

However because of the huge scale and cost of these projects ? which would need assistance from Works & Engineering ? interpretative signs will direct walkers back to the trail in the meantime.

?If we had a bridge at Bailey?s Bay, that would connect Coney Island to Flatt?s,? he said.

Trail users have one more chance to see the Railway Trial open house at the Botanical Gardens this morning from 10 to 11 with presentations at 11 a.m. and 12.15 p.m.

?Fifty people were here last night,? Mr. Morris said. ?Some stayed the entire two hours.?

He said it was interesting to hear the feedback which will be included in the recommendations put forward.

But the comment sheets and questionnaires will be available at the Visitors Bureau?s of St. George?s and Hamilton, as well as the Botanical Gardens Visitor Centre until the end of February.

?One lady in yesterday was extremely familiar with a mile section of the trail she walks every day. She had a really detailed localised knowledge,? he said. ?She even knew what spots of that part had softer ground.?