All Aboard this Guide to New England Scenic Rail Train Rides
Taking a New England Scenic Rail Train Ride while on vacation in the region is always a great way to view the beautiful countryside in a relaxing manner. Here are the most popular rides.
With the mass adoption of cars and air travel in the states a lot of the rural rail network in the country was closed. Sold off or left as abandoned both the lines and equipment overgrew with weeds or rusted. This included many of the beautiful locomotives and passenger cars built during the railroad’s heydays. Most of the line closings happened during the 1960’s but was insidious and drifted into the 1970’s and 1980’s.
While we loved the freedom from timetables the automobile gave us, over time we begun to realize we had forsaken a heritage and missed the unique experience that only a train can provide.
At one time New England had a vast railway network system but today only lines between major towns and cities are used daily by freight and passenger trains. The freight trains keep the lines viable and busy, and have preferential treatment on line use.
Realizing there was a void in the needs of vacationers visiting the region, individuals and communities with a love for the railroad era began to piece back the fabric of train travel in the region. Their vision and desire to bring back the joys of rail travel while seeing the scenic beauty of New England has created a legacy for generations to continue and for you to experience today. There are about seventeen different scenic rail train rides you can take in New England.
There may be more local rides you can take and I encourage you to comment and let me know of others that I can add to this list. I’ve left out special event trains or train rides in parks.
Many of the rides discussed here are seasonal and most run special fall foliage departures. A few cater for the holiday season with special Santa or Polar Express rides. These special seasonal rides are limited and fill up fast so be sure to book well in advance. I’ve provided all the links you need to get more details on directions, schedules and prices on each description.
Enjoy your ride along these pieces of New England history.
Connecticut Scenic Train Rides:
Essex Steam Train and Riverboat in Essex is a combination ride aboard a vintage steam train and a riverboat cruise along the Connecticut River valley. For 2 ½ hours of you can sample the rich transportation past of the region. Start your journey at the historic 1892 Essex station where your steam train will wind its way through the lush countryside to Deep River Landing.
At Deep Landing docks you’ll board the Becky Thatcher for a 75-minute cruise along the Connecticut River among the scenery and vistas of historic landmarks such as Gillette’s castle and Goodspeed Opera House. On return to the dock the Steam Train locomotive will speed you back – at 20mph – to Essex Station. Special seasonal runs are made during fall foliage, and reservations for the popular North Pole Express Santa Run can be made starting October.
Naugatuck Railroad is based in Thomaston close to Waterbury in scenic northwest Connecticut. The ride starts at the historic and restored Thomaston Station and is a 20-mile round trip taking approx. 1 hour and 15-minutes through the picturesque Naugatuck valley named after the river. You’ll ride in beautifully restored vintage 1920’s coaches.
In addition to the train ride the station also houses the Railroad Museum of New England with an extensive collection of New England rolling stock, including locomotives of all types, passenger cars, freight cars, and cabooses.
Maine Scenic Train Rides:
Maine Eastern Railroad operates the 57-miles between Brunswick and Rockland through Maine’s scenic mid-coast section in restored stainless steel railcars from the 1940’s and 50’s. It takes about 2 hours but unlike other scenic trains this stops at various points where you can get off and spend time and catch the next train to further up the line or just head back to your originating point.
Other stops on the line after heading out from Brunswick are Bath and Wiscasset before reaching Rockland. The train offers spectacular views of the famous Maine coast.
Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railway has restored track and equipment for a scenic ride from Brooks Station to Waldo – a round trip of about 1.5 hours. The trains operate on Saturdays starting May 29 through October 9, 2010. Trains depart from Brooks station at 11 am and 1 pm.
Massachusetts Scenic Train Rides:
Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum operates service between the towns of Lenox and Stockbridge during May through October. The Berkshires in western Massachusetts is a popular summer and fall vacation region because of its natural beauty, outdoor recreation activities and cultural entertainment. The scenic train rides offered are a 90-minute round trip to Stockbridge and 45-minute excursion to Lee. Diesel locomotives are used with vintage 1920’s restored passenger cars.
The Lenox station also houses railroading artifacts so arrive early before departure to check it out. No reservations required for tickets and you can pay the conductor onboard but seats fill up fast during tourist season.
Cape Cod Central Railroad runs scenic trains between Hyannis depot and Buzzards Bay. Offerings include narrated scenic train ride, luncheon and brunch specials and the popular Cape Cod Elegant Dinner Train. The narrated ride is a 2-hour round trip from Hyannis station to the banks of Cape Cod Canal – along the way you’ll view cranberry bogs, marshes and cape woodlands. In the fall the color from the cranberry bogs is spectacular.
For that something special the Elegant Dinner Train runs three evenings a week for a three hour trip and crosses the historic Cape Cod railroad bridge near the village of Buzzards Bay.
New Hampshire Scenic Train Rides:
The Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad runs between Meredith and Lakeport passing through Weirs Beach and always clinging along the Lake Winnipesaukee shoreline. Many people board the train at Weirs Beach – a popular entertainment spot on the lake – where it heads around Paugus Bay to its destination of Lakeport. The full round trip from Meredith lasts about 2-hours. The view of the lake and surrounding mountain ranges makes for an exciting and relaxing ride. The train has facilities and an ice cream and food service car.
Operated by the same company as the Winnipesaukee RR the Hobo Railroad journeys through the scenic White Mountains at Lincoln near famous Franconia Notch. The trip heads south from Lincoln station through Woodstock with views of the Pemigiwasset River – a popular playground for tubers and kayakers – as it heads for the Jack O’ Lantern Golf Resort. The refreshing mountain air and views of the river and peaks make this a memorable scenic ride. The round trip from the Lincoln station takes about 1-hour and twenty minutes.
Also in Lincoln, NH is the White Mountain Central Railroad. This is a short 2 ½ mile 30 minute trip entirely in the grounds of Clark’s Trading Post – a popular destination in the White Mountains. The passenger cars are pulled by a wood-burning steam locomotive and offer additional views of the Pemigiwasset River and a ride through an authentic railroad covered bridge. Clark’s Trading Post is also home to famous bear shows.
The Mount Washington Cog Railway is perhaps the best-known of all the scenic train rides in New England. Certainly, it’s difficult to beat the views you get as you ride to the top of the highest peak in the northeast along the steepest track in North America. You start the experience at the Marshfield Station not far from the Bretton Woods Resort area in Mount Washington Valley. The round trip to the summit takes about 3-hours and is wildly popular during tourist months – reservations are a must in summer and fall.
It’s not only the landscape views that excite but the fact you’re riding on a piece of history with only a few cog railways left in the world and on a mountain known to have the worst weather in the world. Be aware your stay at the summit will be brief.
The Conway Scenic Railroad has the most expansive scenic rail program in the northeast and all depart from the beautiful North Conway Station built in 1874. Choose from the Valley Train or the longer ride Notch Train. The Valley Train offers a round trip to Conway of 55-minutes or the Bartlett run of 21-miles and 1 ¾ hours. The Notch Train is perhaps the most spectacular ride in the White Mountains as it takes you out to Crawford Notch Station with staggering sites along the way – the ride is 5-hours round trip. New for 2010 is a Hattie Evans dining car on the Notch run
The Conway Scenic Railroad has a number of restored locomotives with the most beloved being the coal-fired steam locomotive #7470 which operates on special trips in the summer months and during the busy fall foliage period. The season for the railroad is April to December with the final rides being the Polar Express excursions during the holiday season.
Rhode Island Scenic Train Ride:
Old Colony and Newport Railway operates an 80-minute 10-mile ride out of their Newport depot located across from the Newport Bus Station. Billed as the ride with the million dollar view you’ll travel through the Newport RI Naval base and along the rocky shoreline of Narragansett Bay. You can ride in a vintage open platform coach or the first class parlor car with individual wicker chairs facing the bay. The schedule for the train is two departures on Sundays only at 11:45am and 1:45pm.
The Newport Dinner Train and Island Touring Train also leave from the same Newport depot as OCNRR scenic Train. The Newport Dinner Train involves elegant dining on a 22-mile 2 ½ ride through scenic Aquidneck Island – special events such as murder mystery rides are scheduled through the season. This dinner train has been featured on the Food Network for dining excellence.
The Island Touring Train offers a 90-minute train ride along the bay and a combination boat cruise aboard the Majestic at Bowens Wharf for a one hour narrated tour of historic Newport Harbor. The Newport Dinner Train also operates the Polar Express train during the holiday season.
Vermont Scenic Train Rides:
The Green Mountain Railroad operates three scenic trains in Vermont under its “Flyer” banner. These are the Green Mountain Flyer – White River Flyer – and Champlain Valley Flyer.
The Green Mountain Flyer operates from Bellow Falls to Chester Depot for a 2-hour round trip ride with a 30 minute layover in Chester Depot. The ride takes you along the scenic Connecticut and Williams Rivers passing covered bridges and waterfalls as well as traditional Vermont farmlands. Bellow Falls is located in southern Vermont close to NH border off Route 91.
The White River Flyer makes the 2-hour trip from Union Depot in White River Junction to Montshire Museum and then onto Thetford and back. The route follows the Connecticut River with scenic views into NH of the White Mountains. White River Junction is located in central Vermont just off Route 91.
The Champlain Flyer operates out of Burlington on Lake Champlain and heads south through the fertile Champlain Valley to Charlotte. On the return trip you stop at Shelburne Village and Museum and catch glimpses of the Adirondacks of NY and Mount Mansfield – the tallest mountain in Vermont.
I love trains and seeing scenic destinations so I can’t think of a better activity to do on vacation than taking one or more of these rides, which not only combines these activities but helps to make your vacation to the region memorable.
Please visit our website for more destinations and attractions to see and do on a New England Vacation here.
Another New England post by one of our writers is being prepared right now so be sure to visit again or just subscribe to our RSS Feed here and get notified automatically of events and news.
Cliff Calderwood
Publisher
New England Online Magazine
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Comment by George on 7 May 2010:
Great resource for us train lovers. It’s really a great way of seeing the scenery of a region.
Comment by Stephanie Seacord on 1 August 2010:
I thought I’d share this with you and others who might be interested in a trip on the Berkshire Scenic Railway.
Along the Housatonic – Herons, geese and wildflowers from the train
A walk round a quiet reservoir in Framingham, had just revealed a parade of ducklings, waterlilies, bushes laden with currants and wild watercress. And here I was the next day on a 1920s passenger train riding from Lenox to Stockbridge MA and having the same sort of experience passing at the same leisurely pace of my walk. The difference was covering 20 miles in the time I’d taken on my walk — and feeling the gentle rocking of the train and hearing the iconic ‘clickety clack” and lonesome whistle.
The Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum operating out of Lenox Station in Lenox MA was just named one of the “1000 Great Places to Visit in Massachusetts” by the commission chartered by the Massachusetts Division of Tourism. I’d read that all the work since 1984 to restore the train, Lenox Station (listed on the National Register of Historic Places) and the Railway Museum is done by volunteers. So, feeling like one of those windy-road trips to the Berkshires I arrived in plenty of time for 10:10 am departure from Lenox.
There are two 90-min roundtrips Lenox-Stockbridge each Sat, Sun and Federal holiday (note: the Scenic Railway trains only run on weekends ) thru Oct 31, 2010. You can leave the train at any of the stops in the morning and ride back to where you started on the afternoon train.
Comfortably situated by a partly-open window that offered a lovely breeze, I saw Canada geese, various ducks, starlings that burst from the trees as the train approach — and the elegant gliding landing of a great blue heron, winging in to fish the shallows of the Housatonic. Overhead the sun burned off the early summer morning mist bringing the view of October Mountain and Woods Pond into sharper focus.
Sharpening the focus from “wildflower” to specifics, you’ll see fuschia-colored pink raspberry, golden black-eyed susan, ivory Queen Anne’s lace and topaz-hued jewelweed growing along the tracks. With all those ‘jewels’ and ‘laces’ it was easy to imagine this train running the Housatonic route to bring the glitterati up from New York (and beyond) to the “cottages” of the Berkshires. Any maybe because the Stockbridge Library was about to host its annual “Shades of Stockbridge” vignettes introducing famous ghosts to visitors, it was easy to imagine Longfellow, Melville (he wrote Moby Dick here) and Hawthorne (who finished House at Seven Gables in his ‘little red farmhouse’ where Tanglewood now stands) waiting at the station. They often wrote how the views and tranquility lured them back to the Berkshires; though all of them complained they couldn’t get any work done because the setting was too relaxing!
Now the train passes remnants of the past industrial might of the Valley: abandoned paper mills, pipes to carry spring water and the “leftover” blocks of blue-veined marble used to build New York City Hall and the extension of the Capitol in Washington. The 1946 author of The Housatonic commented that the marble backbone of New England runs from Danbury up to Canada and Longfellow said the Valley had “marble enough to build a palace.” There’s the active limestone quarry and lime kiln to recall the days around the Civil War when iron furnaces and fires reducing local lumber to charcoal lit the night while the cinders from stacks of the old steam trains (for whom the track was laid in hope of industrial development) set the grass along the tracks alight.
And there’s the hiking trail to Bear Mountain – as the train approaches Stockbridge, you can see the path, the footbridge over the river and the strategically placed benches for absorbing the moment. In the Gilded Age of those turn-of-the-century “Cottagers,” philanthropist Mary Parsons created the Pleasant View Bird Sanctuary and W.C. Whitney (President Cleveland’s Secretary of the Navy) bought most of October Mountain and imported a private zoo. Now the conductor says they see bears in the spring and the occasional fox, deer and groundhog as well as a memorable collection of waterfowl and song birds. The original Housatonic tribe who participated in the mission school built in 1735 on the river plain at present-day Stockbridge might even recognize the place they knew then. Bring history and imagination to the trip and you’ll have a better appreciation for the commentary the conductor gives along the way as he points out the best views for photographs.
Whether this is the first time you’ve ever been on a train, you’re a train buff always looking for a new coach, loco or rail for your “life list” — or like me, you just “like trains” — a trip along the Housatonic with the Berkshire Scenic Railway is time and a modest dollar ($15 for adults, $12 for children 4-15, free for children under 4; lower price for the short trip from Lenox-Lee) very well invested. Berkshire Scenic Railway is handicap-accessible with wheelchair lifts at Lenox and Stockbridge Station.
Water is available on board. The ice cream truck meets the train in Stockbridge. And I recommend the steamed hot dogs at Lenox Station. ###
Comment by John on 4 January 2011:
Thank you for sharing this. I’ve always been interested in taking a a scenic train ride. To be honest, I didn’t realize that there were so many within my area.