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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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Family Activities - Outdoor Adventures - Amusement Parks

Excursion Trains in New England - Green Mountain Railroad in Vermont

Winter Journey - Mt. Washington Cog Railway - Bretton Woods, NH

Mount Washington Cog Railway

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

Take a train trip 4,000 feet up Mt. Washington on this historic cog railway

Powerful biodiesel locomotives ensure that the Mount Washington Cog Railway is open for business all winter long. Shorter excursions, from the Marshfield Base Station to the newly redesigned and expanded Waumbek Station, are held seven days a week, all winter long at reduced fares. Park free at the base station and stroll through the Cog Railway Museum, where you’ll learn about this historic railway, the first mountain-climbing cog railway in the world and the second steepest with an average grade of 25 percent. Board the train for a one-hour round trip to Waumbek (elevation, 4,000 feet), where you’ll enjoy panoramic mountain vistas from the station’s alpine meadow setting, along with warming huts, complimentary hot refreshments and a blazing fire pit.

Conway Scenic Railroad

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

Four fun excursions offer a variety of scenic rambles and rides along heritage railroad lines

At Conway Scenic Railroad, they have just one question: What’s your pleasure? Is it a ramble to Sawyer River, crossing over bridges with picturesque river views? Is it a supremely scenic journey through the Mt. Washington Valley over rugged Crawford Notch, perhaps in vintage seats under a glass-topped dome? Maybe it’s a short 55-minute round trip from the Victorian station at North Conway to Conway in vintage passenger cars from the 1920s. Or, in January and February, perhaps it’s the Snow Train to Attitash to get in a little skiing or skating. Customers rave about the beautiful scenery and informative commentary – and the pleasure of feeling you are traveling back in time. You can buy light snacks and beverages at the station to bring onboard.

Railroad Museum of New England

242 East Main Street Thomaston, CT, 06787 Phone: 860-283-7245

Treat yourself to a themed or scenic tour aboard a vintage steam or diesel train

Excursions aboard the vintage trains at the Railroad Museum of New England are a true treat. In the winter, take the daytime Santa Express or evening Northern Lights Limited to meet with Santa and sing with elves. In the spring, there’s the Easter Bunny Express; in the fall, the Autumn Colors Limited follows the river past the bright colors of Litchfield Hills. Summer means visiting and dining in Torrington via the Torrington Twilight Express. Other excursions include visiting Fascia’s Chocolate Company as part of the Chocolate Decadence Tour, picking pumpkins as part of the Pumpkin Patch train; and spirit-sipping trips. In December, the North by Northwest Express includes a screening of the Hitchcock movie and a trip aboard the famous 20th Century Limited train featured in the film.

Scenic RailRiders

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

Pedal along scenic riverside tracks in a custom-made bike for adventurers of all ages

When you take a trip with with Scenic RailRiders along their exclusive tracks from Concord to Boscawen, N.H., you are the train! Comfortably seated in a two- or four-person custom-made Rail-Bike, you’ll pedal along 6.4 miles of tracks at a leisurely pace, admiring the riverside scenery, woods and farmland. There are places to rest along the way and admire the scenery, and two guides provide historical information. No steering is needed; the bikes roll easily along the abandoned tracks. There are seatbelts, handle bars to rest your hands on and redundant disc brakes for additional safety. Kids of all ages are welcome. If they can’t reach the pedals (by age 5, most kids can), they will sit back and enjoy the ride while Mom and Dad pedal!

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.

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.

Excursion Trains in New England

Quick Links :

Mount Washington Cog Railway

Conway Scenic Railroad

Railroad Museum of New England

Scenic RailRiders

Essex Steam Train & Riverboat

Cafe Lafayette Dinner Train

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