Scenic Train Rides in New Hampshire

Find Your Perfect Train Ride in New Hampshire Today

The Railroad Nation

The Conway Scenic Railway is considered one of the premier scenic train excursions in the East. New Hampshire also offers some of the finest in dining and scenic train rides that the whole family can enjoy together all year long. The Cafe’ Lafayette Dinner Train offers breath taking views along the Pemigewasset River during the fall while you enjoy a five-course dinner served aboard restored Pullman cars.
Climb to the top of Mount Washington on the Mount Washington Cog Railway or enjoy all that the Granite State has to offer in the beauty of her forests and rivers aboard the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railway.  The Hobo Railroad operates a unique and nostalgic railroading experiences including a hobo lunch from May though October.

Did you know?

New Hampshire’s first chartered railroad was the Nashua & Lowell Railroad with the first track completed in 1835. New Hampshire has 23 steam locomotives in various conditions. For operational steam locomotives, the Canadian National Railroad 0-6-0 No.7470 on the Conway Scenic Railway will be running steam train rides through 2015. Mt. Washington Cog Railway owns several 0-2-2-0 cog engines. Climax geared locomotive power is used on the White Mountain Central Railroad.


Andover

Andover Historical Society

Operated by the Andover Historical Society, the Potter Place Railroad Station was built in 1874 and contains an authentic “station master’s office,” rooms for other exhibitions and a gift shop. Displays include a Northern Railroad caboose. The station is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Ashland

Ashland Railroad Station Museum

The Ashland Historical Society’s newest museum was opened in 1999. The building was originally built circa 1869 as a passenger station by the Boston, Concord & Montreal Railroad. That railroad merged with the Concord Railroad in 1890 to form the Concord & Montreal Railroad. In 1891, the new railroad moved the station onto a new foundation and remodeled it to its present appearance. The Ashland Railroad Station Museum is one of the best preserved late 19th century railroad stations in New Hampshire and houses a growing collection of railroad artifacts, pictures, and documents. The local scenic railroad occasionally stops at the Ashland station during their popular excursions.

Bretton Woods

Mount Washington Cog Railway

Take a 3 hour scenic train ride to the top of Mount Washington at an average grade of 25 percent with a maximum of 37.41 percent at “Jacob’s Ladder”. As you climb to the 6,288 foot summit aboard the Mount Washington Cog Railway, you can take in the spectacular views of 4 states, Canada and the Atlantic Ocean on a clear day. Opened in 1869, the world’s first cog railway operates Ski trains from November until April. The Mount Washington Cog Railway runs four diesels and one steam engine. You can also visit the Sherman Adams Observation Center. A museum, gift shop and a restaurant are available at the base. Directions

Gorham

Gorham Historical Society & Railroad Museum

The Gorham Rail Station Museum is housed in a former Grand Trunk Railroad Station. A 1911 Baldwin steam locomotive, as well as a 1947 F-7 diesel engine, are on display plus railroad box cars with working models of the railroad between Gorham & Berlin NH. This 1907 building was used as railway station until 1968.

Lincoln

White Mountain Central Railroad

The White Mountain Central Railroad is part of a popular family-owned Trading Post amusement park that started out as a roadside attraction in 1928. The 30 minute train rides travel through an authentic 1904 covered bridge across the Pemigewasset River. Featured attraction at the park is the Bear Show. Directions

Hobo Railroad

The Hobo Railroad offers something for the whole family to enjoy together. Take a train ride into a bygone era when train travel was at its peak. It’s a timeless trip through a natural, woodsy setting along the river, just minutes away from Franconia Notch. As you travel along in vintage rail cars, you can relax, wave to the tubers and kayakers, watch as young boys swing out over a long rope attached to Swimming Hole Bridge for a cool splash. You can also get a Famous Hobo Picnic Lunch. Also look for Fall Foliage Trains and Santa Trains in season.

Meredith

Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad

Operated by the Hobo Railroad, and once part of the Boston & Maine Railroad, the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad provides you with a very enjoyable scenic 7 mile train ride along the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee. The one and two hour scenic train rides, as well as all day runs, include lunch trips and dinner trains. Additional themed trains include murder mystery and fall foliage runs. A special Fireworks Train runs on the 4th of July. Caboose rides and food services are also available.

North Conway

Conway Scenic Railroad

The Conway Scenic Railroad operates two valley train rides including a 55 minute, 11 mile round trip to Conway and a 21 mile r/t to Bartlett. Set in the Mount Washington Valley, these incredible runs include some of the finest scenery New Hampshire has to offer. On the third train, the Notch Train, you’ll enjoy some of the finest natural scenery in the East as you travel through spectacular Crawford Notch – past sheer bluffs, steep ravines, cascading brooks and streams, panoramic mountain vistas, and across the famed Frankenstein Trestle and Willey Brook Bridge – en route to Crawford Depot or Fabyan Station. One of the premier scenic train excursion rides in the East, the Crawford Notch excursion allows you the opportunity to relive a legend written in the annals of railroad history, when the first train traveled through Crawford Notch over 130 years ago. Live commentary includes history and folklore of the railroad and area, as well as points of interest.Coal-fired, steam locomotive CN #7470 (0-6-0) runs steam excursions. Check schedule for run dates.
Update: CN #7470 is currently under going a Federal mandated 1472 Day Inspection and will hopefully return to service by the end of 2016 or early 2017.

North Woodstock

Cafe’ Lafayette Dinner Train

Relive the elegance of fine dining aboard the Cafe’ Lafayette Dinner Train. Enjoy a 5 course dinner aboard a beautifully restore 1924 Pullman dining car or a refurbished 1950’s domed dining car. As you travel the twenty mile round trip over a 100 year old spur of the old Boston & Maine Railroad relax and enjoy the beauty of the fields and forests as you follow the Pemegewasset River in the heart of the White Mountain Region.