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Excursion Trains in New England

Excursion trains provide a round-trip sightseeing experience. Explore New England’s mountains, fall foliage, river valleys and wildlife from the comfort of an old-time train with full amenities. Seasonal train excursions celebrate fall foliage, Halloween, and the holidays. These family-friendly trips through scenic, historic routes offer a variety of seating and dining options, special events for kids, and a vintage journey through nature’s beauty.

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Excursion Trains in New England - Green Mountain Railroad in Vermont

Cog Railway

Off Route 302 Bretton Woods, NH, 03589 Phone: 603-278-5404 Toll-Free: 800-922-8825

You’ll learn a little history and take some amazing pictures when you travel this cog railroad

When you hear the deep hum of a biodiesel engine or see a blast of smoke from a steam engine, you’ll know your trip up Mt. Washington aboard the historic Cog Railway is about to begin. Knowledgeable and entertaining engineers and brakemen and brakewomen will answer questions as you chug up the Northeast’s highest peak, passing through forests, by wildlife and ravines and through three climate zones until you reach the summit. Included in the thrilling ride is Jacob’s Ladder, the steepest railroad trestle in the world. A museum at the base station and a visitor center at the summit provide history about the 152-year-old railway, the first mountain-climbing cog railway in the world, as well as an interactive weather exhibit. Trains run from late April through November.

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Essex Steam Train & Riverboat

One Railroad Avenue Essex, CT, 06426 Phone: 860-767-0103 Toll-Free: 800-377-3987

Make tracks into the past and enjoy scenic vistas aboard vintage steam train

Travel along tracks to a time when railroads were the preferred way to get from place to place when you board the cars of the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat. Sit back in your comfortable window seats in a vintage coach and enjoy a narrated eco-excursion along the unspoiled Connecticut River Valley. The steam locomotive pulls coaches through quintessential New England towns, and near the tidal wetlands of Pratt Cove and Chester Creek, where you might see herons, egrets, swans and, in February and March, bald eagles. Take the round trip back to historic Essex Station or, at Deep River Landing, board the Becky Thatcher, a Mississippi-style riverboat, for a Connecticut River cruise. Ask about the Essex Clipper Dinner Train for a unique fine-dining excursion. Please check our website for current train & riverboat schedules.

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Granite State Scenic Railway

64 Railroad Street Lincoln, NH, 03251 Phone: 603-745-2135

Explore picturesque White Mountain region from your seat aboard a scenic railway train

Here’s a great way to explore New Hampshire’s beautiful White Mountains region: See it by train! And not just any train: the vintage train cars of the Granite State Scenic Railway have been taking visitors on an 80-minute round trip along the banks of the Pemigewasset River for 37 years along tracks that date to the late 1800s. As the train rumbles through the woods, you can see kayakers, swimmers and fishermen enjoying the river in the spring and summer. In the autumn, the region’s well-known foliage season brings spectacular colors, and on Oct. 26, there are special trains to the New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival. Then Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive after Thanksgiving to meet and greet passengers aboard the Santa Express on weekends through mid-December.

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Cafe Lafayette Dinner Train

3 Crossing at Riverplace North Woodstock, NH, 03262 Phone: 603-745-3500

Escape from ordinary excursions when you travel aboard this elegant dinner train

Escape from ordinary excursions and reserve a seat on board the Cafe Lafayette Dinner Train, one of the nation’s premier dinner trains. In your 1950s restored vintage rail car, perhaps the one with the dome, you’ll relax in elegant surroundings, including ornate woodworking, stained glass and brass. You’ll be served an equally elegant five-course meal, from a seasonally inspired menu, and enjoy special cocktail selections from a full bar. The train travels 20 miles through the lovely Pemigewasset River Valley. You’ll rumble through woods, over three trestle bridges, the Jack-O-Lantern Golf Course and a Christmas tree farm before returning to the train station in North Woodstock. The dinner train runs May through October and is available for private dining and special events.

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Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad

154 Main Street Meredith, NH, 03253 Phone: 603-279-5253

Scenic railroad offers passengers stunning views of Lake Winnipesaukee

You’ll have a unique lakefront view when you book a one- or two-hour round-trip excursion aboard the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad. The rail system was once home to the famous Boston, Concord & Montreal line that dates back to 1848, and today’s passengers will feel they have traveled back to those more relaxing times as they enjoy panoramic views of New Hampshire’s largest lake and the magnificent homes along its shores. The two-hour trip leaves from the Meredith, NH station; the one-hour trip from the satellite ticket booth on Weirs Beach, NH’s historic boardwalk. Feel free to bring your own picnic lunch for the trip. The railroad also offers Fall Foliage Specials, four-hour trips that include a buffet lunch in Plymouth, NH and a guided tour of the restored railroad station in Ashland, NH.

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Scenic RailRiders

188 Sewalls Falls Road Concord, NH, 03301 Phone: 603-931-1700

Traveling the rails on custom-built “bikes” is like a scenic train trip without the noise of a train

You could think of Scenic Railriders as a scenic, exciting excursion along train tracks — without the noisy train! In a custom-built two- or four-seat Rail-Bike, you’ll leisurely pedal along a beautiful stretch of abandoned railroad tracks in Concord, NH taking in the scenery and tranquil river views. You’ll pedal past farmland, through woods and over bridges along the Merrimack River. A guide will pass on some historical facts about the area as you coast along from Concord to Boscawen, NH and back: a 6.2-mile trip that takes about an hour and 45 minutes. The trip is perfect for all ages: Kids 5 and over can usually reach the pedals, and car seats, child seats and booster seats can be buckled right onto the Rail-Bike seats.

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Granite State Rail Bikes

15 Veterans Square Laconia, NH, 03246 Phone: 904-870-4273

Enjoy the beauty of the Lakes Region while traveling on train tracks — without being on a train!

At Granite State Rail Bikes, you can travel train tracks — without the train! Custom-made, four-seat rail bikes let you pedal easily along the tracks that follow the shores of Lake Winnisquam. Led by experienced tour guides, the trip starts at the 1892 Laconia, NH Railroad Station and goes through Belmont Woods, over the trestle bridge crossing Winnipesaukee River and Durkee Brook before reaching Winnisquam’s western shore. The beauty of the Lakes Region is on full display as you pedal along a rail line that dates back to 1848. Bring a snack to enjoy when you rest along the shore while your guides spin the rail bikes around to head back to home base. The terrain is mainly flat, and riders are spread out, so you can go at your own pace.

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Conway Scenic Railroad

38 Norcross Circle North Conway, NH, 03860 Phone: 603-356-5251 Toll-Free: 800-232-5251

Excursion trains on scenic railroad provide passengers with the feeling of relaxed railroad travel

Passengers on board the Conway Scenic Railroad’s excursion trains will feel what it was like to travel from town to town by rail. Board a vintage passenger car at the 1874 station in North Conway Village, NH and take a two-hour ride to Sawyer River, crossing over bridges with spectacular views. Or, in a train especially popular with small kids because of its 55-minute journey, travel to Conway, NH and back, admiring the Mt. Washington Valley scenery as you glide along the tracks, pulled by a diesel engine. In winter, the Snow Train takes passengers to Attitash, NH where, if you wish, you can get off to ski or enjoy the resort across the street. Trains have snack bars; the river train also offers pre-ordered lunches.

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