new hampshire train tour

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• Visitor's Guide
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If you’re looking to sit back and enjoy breathtaking views, take a ride on one of New Hampshire’s many scenic and historic trains. Jump aboard a national engineering landmark and enjoy a panoramic view of the White Mountains, or take a ride around the state’s largest lake! If you’re having a family day, there are train rides for the kids, too! Your little ones can take an enchanting trip on the Journey to the North Pole and Santa Express trains which bring holiday magic to life. Whether you’re a railroad buff looking for an authentic experience, or you’re looking for family-friendly fun, be sure to check out these New Hampshire tourist train operators for pricing, details, and reservations.

• Cafe Lafayette Dinner Train , North Woodstock
• Conway Scenic Railroad , North Conway
• Hobo Railroad , Lincoln
• Mount Washington Cog Railway , Bretton Woods
• White Mountain Central Railroad , Lincoln
• Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad , Meredith or Weirs Beach

More Ways to Explore

Kid friendly attractions, scenic drives.

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Let's Take A Train Ride in the White Mountains

Trains in the White Mountains might sound like an engineering marvel, and guess what? They are! Here, you can find them rumbling across a bridge tucked against the side of rocky cliffs, or steadily climbing up the Northeast's highest peak, one cog at a time.

If you're visiting the White Mountains and wondering "what can I do besides driving to see the sights?", our scenic railroads and train rides  are it. Hop aboard the likes of the Conway Scenic Railroad , Mount Washington Cog Railway , or Hobo Railroad , and you'll find yourself transported back to a time when hardy pioneers carved out their livelihoods from the legendary valleys and peaks that make up our region. 

Gather your family up for a scenic train trip for the record books - these are the best trains in New Hampshire, and we're ready to brag! 

CONWAY SCENIC RAILROAD (North Conway, NH)

Your historic train tour begins in the center of North Conway , at the Conway Scenic Railroad 's circa 1874 train station. This Victorian-style hub has a gift shop and plenty of snapshot worthy corners to wile away the minutes before you catch your train ride of choice. 

Your options for adventure include the Conway Valley Train (a classic, 11-mile train ride through woods and fields that runs at 55 minutes round trip), the Sawyer River Train (a 21-mile, 2 hour and 10 minutes roundtrip complete with bridges and river views), and the iconic Mountaineer Train. This last ride is a once in a lifetime kind of experience.  It includes 1950's-era passenger cars, the option to book a scenic upper dome dining cars (pick this if you want the absolute  best  views), and 4 to 5.5 hours round trip to bask in the sights of the rugged and iconic stretches of  Crawford Notch . There's also plenty of narration along the way regarding the region's rich history. 

HOBO RAILROAD (Lincoln, NH)

All aboard the Hobo Railroad ! This fun option can trace its roots back to the 1880s, when the Pemigewasset Valley Railroad was built, connecting the frontier towns of  Lincoln and Woodstock  to the more southerly town of Plymouth, NH. The line was revived in 1986 by Edward and Brenda Clark, and today, passengers enjoy a pleasant 15-mile, 80-minute excursion that hugs the banks of the Pemigewasset River.

We particularly love the option of bringing your own picnic lunch along for the ride, and the outrageously colorful trees that surround the Hobo Railroad's tracks come fall. 

CLARK'S BEARS (Lincoln, NH)

Have you ever heard of the White Mountain Central Railroad? This small yet mighty railroad is found within Clark's Bears , and several times a day, visitors are invited to board Clark's steam train for a rip-roaringly fun 2.5-mile train ride into Wolfman's territory. Who is the Wolfman, you ask? You'll have to find out with a visit to Clark's. If you're bringing the kids, just keep in mind there will be some shenanigans and some good-natured, rousing shouting during your train trip. There will also be a scenic 1904 covered bridge that spans the Pemigewasset River, and many memories in the making. 

To ride the White Mountain Central Railroad, guests must purchase an entry ticket to Clark's Bears . 

MOUNT WASHINGTON COG RAILWAY (Marshfield Station, NH)

On July 3, 1869, a curiously tilted locomotive named Old Peppersass made history when it reached the summit of Mount Washington , the tallest peak in the Northeast. That day, the Mount Washington Cog Railway (or the Cog, as it is affectionately called) became the first mountain-climbing railroad to use a toothed cogwheel to engage a rack placed between the trails. 

Over the course of its 147 years, the Cog has brought millions of visitors and train aficionados from around the world to the rooftop of New Hampshire. If you like the sounds of standing at 6,288' feet, spotting distant hikers tackling the Presidential Range, and exploring the Mount Washington Observatory (located within  Mount Washington State Park ), book your tickets for this ever-popular option today. 

Excursions run daily  and  year-round, and include the option of a classic steam engine or innovative bio-diesel locomotives. 

Trip length dependent on weather conditions. Visit TheCog.com for more information and to purchase your tickets online ahead of time. 

CAFE LAFAYETTE DINNER TRAIN (North Woodstock, NH

Following the tracks of the  Hobo Railroad , the Cafe Lafayette Dinner Train is an elegant way to enjoy dinner and an adventure all in one! Indulge in a leisurely five-course meal as you spend two hours traveling along the Pemigewasset River, and if you're feeling daring, we'd say "dress up, but make it vintage!".

Other Ways to Ride the Rails 

Would you rather explore railroad tracks under your own steam? Look into booking a tour with  Rail Bike Adventures in Laconia, NH or Scenic Rail Riders in Concord, NH. Both options offer scenic pedaling aboard multi-passenger rail bikes, and are open May through October.  

Are you all aboard for a train adventure in the White Mountains? Book your lodging and check out our other Attractions while you're in the area, and remember to chug along over to our Trip Ideas too!

Caitlin Farrar

Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee

Great North Woods

Merrimack Valley

White Mountains

Amtrak offer two train routes through eastern and middle new hampshire, durham – university of new hampshire (dhm) amtrak station.

3 Depot Road Durham, NH, 03824 Phone: 800-872-7245

Exeter (EXR) Amtrak Station

60 Lincoln Street Exeter, NH, 03833 Phone: 1-800-872-7245

Dover (DOV) Amtrak Station

33 Chestnut Street Dover, NH, 03820 Phone: 1-800-872-7245

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• New Hampshire

New Hampshire Fall Foliage Train Rides (2024) : A Complete Guide

Last revised: December 31, 2023

By:  Adam Burns

New Hampshire is located in the heart of New England and home to the beautiful White Mountains, location of Mount Washington.  This mountain is the highest peak in the Northeastern United States at 6,288 feet.

Each September and October, thousands of tourists flock to New Hampshire, and throughout New England, eager to view the fabulous fall colors.  Aside from the central Appalachian states of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Virginia, New England is the best location in the nation to view the foliage of autumn.

There are currently three locations in New Hampshire offering train rides during the fall season, the Hobo Railroad, Winnipesaukee Railroad, and Conway Scenic Railway.

While all three provide fine experiences, the Conway Scenic is particularly noteworthy.  They maintain a section of the old Maine Central that runs through the heart of the White Mountains running north from Conway. 

The view afforded during these trips any time of the year are spectacular, but especially breathtaking during the fall.  They also maintain a fleet of passenger cars, which are handsomely restored.  In addition, some are fully climate-controlled and include dome cars.   This is one of the finest excursions in the nation and very much worth a visit!

For anyone with an interest in New England's rail history, New Hampshire was a fascinating state; there were very scenic lines hugging river banks and snaking through the White Mountains, built by names like the Maine Central and Boston & Maine.

These rail lines are now maintained by heritage railroads that operate excursions for the public.  In addition, one could find many local branches serving individual customers along highways, within city streets and back alleys, and small industrial spurs where the tracks barely seemed to fit between buildings closely hugging the right-of-way.

It was a quite sight that was not necessarily unique in New England but much more common than in other parts of the country.  

Conway Scenic Railway

(North Conway) :   One of New England's top heritage railroads also hosts one of the top fall foliage trips. 

Located in the heart of the White Mountains the scenes and vibrant colors along the Conway Scenic are unquestionably worth the ticket price!  Today, it operates sections of the old Boston & Maine's Conway Branch and Maine Central's Mountain Division. 

The former takes you south along the Saco River where guests can view distance mountains and nearby farms during the 7 miles to Conway.  The latter is much more impressive from a visual standpoint. 

The Mountain Division was well known for its spectacular scenery, long before a heritage railroad was born; during the Maine Central era the railroad regularly hosted fall foliage excursions through this region. 

Departing north from the North Conway depot the train stays long the Saco River until climbing out of the valley several miles out of town.  At this point you are fully immersed in mountains until you reach Crawford Notch State Park, the highlight of the trip.  Trains operate as far as Fabyan Station before turning back.

Hobo Railroad

(Lincoln):   This tourist line is based in Lincoln and hosts trains along the Pemigewasset River.  During select dates in October you can ride their  Fall Foliage Specials between Lincoln and Woodstock for beautiful scenes of autumn in this part of New England. 

They also operate dinner trains celebrating the fall season.  The Hobo Railroad began hosting excursions in 1986 over 7 miles of a former Boston & Maine branch (freight service was, and still is, provided by the Plymouth & Lincoln Railroad). 

Your trip departs south along the Pemigewasset River as you are surrounded by the beautiful White Mountains in every direction.  The entire journey offers a wonderful experience to see New England's stunning fall colors by train. 

Winnipesaukee Railroad

(Meredith/Weir Beach) :   Owned by the same group as the Hobo Railroad this operation is based in Meredith.  Like its counterpart, the Winnipesaukee Railroad also hosts Fall Foliage Specials during September and October. 

They have two stations; one in Meredith and another in Weirs Beach (both of which are situated along Lake Winnipesaukee).  The entire line runs from Meredith to Lakeport (8.3 miles) over the same ex-B&M branch operated by the Hobo Railroad. 

The scenery along this stretch is somewhat different as the tracks stay near the water almost the entire way.  However, there is still plenty plenty of foliage and fall colors to see during your journey, making this ride arguably as scenic as the Hobo Railroad.

SteamLocomotive.com

Wes Barris's SteamLocomotive.com is simply the best web resource on the study of steam locomotives. 

It is difficult to truly articulate just how much material can be found at this website. 

It is quite staggering and a must visit!

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Hobo & Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad

Lincoln | meredith | weirs beach | laconia, new hampshire, enjoy old fashioned train rides and rail bike tours, welcome to the hobo railroad, winnipesaukee scenic railroad and rail bike adventures during the spring, summer & fall we offer old-fashioned train rides along the western shore of lake winnipesaukee or along the pemigewasset river as well as rail bike tours along lake winnisquam., stay up to date with our e-newsletter, pick your excursion, learn more & make your reservations, hobo railroad, winnipesaukee scenic rr, fall foliage trains, santa express trains, pumpkin express trains, rail bike adventures, testimonials, click on the icons below to visit our marketing partners.

• Lincoln, NH
• Meredith, NH
• Weirs Beach, NH
• Laconia, NH
• Patriot Rail

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Covid 19 Update

Regrettably, due to rising COVID-19 numbers in the State of New Hampshire, and out of an abundance of caution, the Hobo and Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad has made the hard decision to cancel our remaining train rides for the 2020 season. All passengers who have purchased tickets will be contacted over the course of the next several days and will have the option of a full refund, or credit toward future excursions. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, and we look forward to seeing you in 2021.

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We wish you a pleasant tour your Best of Times Travel team

Join Best of Times Travel for one of New Hampshire’s “must do” activities….THE TURKEY TRAIN. Featuring Foliage Train Ride, Harts Turkey Farm Luncheon, Mystery Stop, & Sightseeing

New Hampshire’s Turkey Train

September 25, 26, 30 and October 1, 2, 3, 4, 2024. Additional Group Dates Available Upon Request.

Meredith, NH

ONLY $159pp – Includes Motorcoach Transportation (from Most Boston/Worcester Pick-up Locations), Lunch, Tax, Gratuity, Touring as described & Best of Times Travel Tour Director.

Call 1-800-343-8999 For Additional Information

Enjoy a nh tradition at the peak of the foliage season on the turkey train..

Join us as we travel to central New Hampshire and Lake Winnepesaukee on board our deluxe motorcoach for a day of fun and the wonderful sights of Fall Foliage. Enjoy what millions of travelers come to New Hampshire for each year, the changing of the season and the magnificent fall foliage that can only be seen in New Hampshire. We arrive in Meredith, NH on the shores of Lake Winnepesaukee for the Turkey Train. ALL ABOARD the dining car to enjoy our Turkey luncheon provided by Hart’s Turkey Farm. Our meal includes Roast Turkey, whipped potatoes, butternut squash, beverage, and a delicious sundae to top it all off. Take in the foliage as the train rides along the shores of the Lake and through wooded areas to take in the fall foliage. During our adventurous day out we will make a Mystery Stop that is sure to “sweeten your day.” We will depart after our train ride with great memories of this fun day out!

Our Program Includes Mystery Stop, Train Ride, Harts Turkey Farm Luncheon on Train, & Best of Times Tour Host with Gratuity Included

Group Discounts Available.

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• will resume in Summer 2024

Conway Valley Train

Quick Details

• Calendar Availability: Daily
• Hour Glass Duration: 55 minutes
• Info Miles: 11 miles roundtrip

Travel Back in Time on this Heritage Rail Train Excursion!

Travel back in time on this heritage rail excursion! The Conway Valley Train is our classic rural train ride. This 11-mile, 55-minute round-trip journey is ideal if you’re traveling with young children.

At Conway Scenic Railroad, you’ll have the opportunity to watch our locomotive run around the train in preparation for the return trip to North Conway.

All rail excursions depart from our 1874-built Victorian North Conway train station in North Conway Village.

No outside food is allowed on the train. There is a cash only snack bar onboard.

Please Note: CONWAY SCENIC RAILROAD NEITHER OFFERS NOR ACCEPTS COUPONS OF ANY KIND—THANKS!

Related Train Excursions

• most scenic
• will resume in May
• Info 50 - 60 miles roundtrip
• Hour Glass 4 - 5.5 hours (depending on trip)

Mountaineer

Our Mountaineer consists of 1950s-era streamlined passenger cars to recreate the experience of a post-World War II transcontinental streamlined train. Choose from a variety of different experiences! Book your Crawford Notch train online today.

• will resume in late may
• Info 21 miles roundtrip
• Hour Glass 2 hours 10 minutes
• Calendar Daily

Sawyer River Excursion

Travel back in time on this heritage Sawyer rail excursion! You’ll enjoy riding along this historic rail route in vintage passenger cars from our 1874 train station in North Conway Village to Sawyer River and back again. Book online today!

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Should I spend more days in New Conway, NH, or Woodstock, VT - New England Forum

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Should I spend more days in New Conway, NH, or Woodstock, VT

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I have 5 free days in New Hampshire and Vermont. Should I spent 3 days in New Conway, and 2 days in Woodstock, VT? Or should I spent 3 days in Woodstock, VT and 2 days in New Conway, NH? Please advise.

3 replies to this topic

Just north of Woodstock, Vermont is the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, Vermont’s only National Park, where you can tour of the historic Billings Mansion and grounds, and hike 20-miles of nature trails including the 5-mile trail to the top of Mt Tom. The adjacent Billings Farm and Museum shows how life was in the 19th century. In Woodstock, you’ll be able to see the famous Woodstock Middle Covered Bridge, located right in the village.

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New York City shakes as 4.8 magnitude earthquake hits US north-east

US Geological survey reported the quake centered in New Jersey, and was felt across the eastern seaboard

• ‘Like a speed bump’: US man on getting vasectomy during earthquake
• New Yorkers react to rare earthquake: ‘Definitely weird’

An earthquake shook the densely populated New York City metropolitan area on Friday morning, the US Geological Survey said, with residents reporting they felt rumbling across the eastern seaboard in what is a relatively rare event for the region. The government agency reported a quake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.8, with a preliminary location for the epicenter given as near Lebanon, New Jersey , and later as near Tewksbury and Whitehouse Station, all three of which are in Hunterdon county roughly in a 10-mile radius.

People reported feeling the quake in the states of Connecticut and Massachusetts, with the Weather Channel reporting that it was noticeable in Boston and residents in Philadelphia reporting they felt it, too. Tremors lasting for several seconds were felt more than 200 miles away near the New Hampshire border.

Over a dozen aftershocks were reported in the ensuing hours in the region, including a 4.0-magnitude quake early on Friday evening, according to the USGS.

The fire department of New York said on Friday there were no initial reports of damage or injury. But city dwellers were shocked and a little shaken up by the unexpected event, during which people sitting at desks or at home in high rises felt their whole building shake mildly for several seconds.

Camille Lewis was at a cafe in New York City when she felt the shaking.

“I haven’t been in an earthquake in New York and honestly I was scared that something was happening. I’m glad that the building I was in held up and honestly, I’m just glad that everybody is safe,” she said.

Lewis went on: “I was like, ‘Do I need to get under a table?’ Everybody was looking around, wondering what was going on. It lasted for a while. Definitely weird.”

The movement then passed but people were left jittery about aftershocks and busily checking in with friends and family, including children at school, briefly putting a high load on to cellphone networks, the city authorities reported.

The New York police department’s deputy commissioner of operations, Kaz Daughtry, said in a statement: “While we do not have any reports of major impacts at this time, we’re still assessing the impact.”

The UN security council was meeting at its headquarters in New York to discuss the situation in Gaza when the earthquake hit, shaking the building.

“New Yorkers should go about their normal day,” said the mayor, Eric Adams, but the governor, Kathy Hochul, said in a press conference that the quake was felt as far away as Baltimore, Maryland. “This is one of the largest earthquakes on the east coast to occur in the last century,” she said.

“Everyone should continue to take this seriously” in case of aftershocks, she added.

Planes were grounded at New York’s JFK and New Jersey’s Newark international airports and arriving flights were delayed. East coast train services were slowed but not canceled and New York City public transit continued running.

Hochul’s office reminded residents that “while highly unusual” the earthquake was not an isolated event as New York sits on geological fault lines. The tremor was felt to varying degrees across New England and south in Pennsylvania and Maryland, including in Baltimore, where Joe Biden was expected on Friday afternoon to tour the damage of the major bridge that collapsed there, blocking the port, 10 days ago.

Among those taking Friday’s earthquake in their stride was Roisin Brady, 36, an English teacher at a Manhattan private school. She said her students were going to write poetry about the earthquake.

Brady and her students had already planned to use the upcoming solar eclipse as material for their poetry unit. But the latest earthquake is another rare phenomenon for her middle school pupils to write about.

Brady was in her bedroom of her fourth-floor Brooklyn apartment when the earthquake happened, working remotely on student reports. Her boyfriend was in the kitchen, shouting to Brady about the glassware that was vibrating.

She noticed the clothes in the couple’s wardrobe were shaking. She then realized that the buildings across the street were shaking, too.

“It was just so surreal,” said Brady, of Glasgow, Scotland. “To see my boyfriend’s clothes all hanging out, and then swinging was just such a surreal experience,” she added.

The shaking stirred memories of the 23 August 2011, earthquake that jolted tens of millions of people from Georgia to Canada. Registering magnitude 5.8, it was the strongest quake to hit the east coast since the second world war. The epicenter was in Virginia.

That earthquake left cracks in the Washington Monument, spurred the evacuation of the White House and Capitol and rattled New Yorkers three weeks before the 10th anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks.

Meanwhile on Friday, the official social media account of the Empire State Building reassured its fans:

I AM FINE — Empire State Building (@EmpireStateBldg) April 5, 2024

James Pittinger, the mayor of Lebanon, New Jersey, near the quake’s epicenter, said there were no reports of injuries or significant damage but that people were unnerved. “I was sitting in my home office when things started to fall off the walls and shelves,” Pittinger said. “It was a crazy experience.”

Earthquakes in the eastern US are felt across a far broader area because the bedrock is much older and harder, transferring seismic energy more easily, according to the USGS. The rocks in the western US are younger and contain more faults that absorb earthquake energy.

Reuters contributed reporting

• Earthquakes

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