CONCORD, N.H. — Ownership of the Flying Yankee trainset was officially transferred from the state of New Hampshire to the Flying Yankee Association preservation group today (July 24), and the train could be moved to the Conway Scenic Railroad as soon as next week.
The sale of the 1935 Budd streamliner, nearly identical to Burlington’s Pioneer Zephyr, was approved at today’s meeting of New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu and the state’s executive council, the Flying Yankee Association announced.
“It is truly an exciting time to be a Flying Yankee fan,” Brian LaPlant, the association’s president, said in a press release. “This beautiful train can now be properly protected, preserved, restored, and one day returned to the rails as a reminder of New England’s historic railroading past.”
The association said it will move the train from its current location in Lincoln, N.H., to Conway in the near future, then work to construct a museum in Conway “to protect the train from the elements long-term and allow the group to begin the restoration process. This construction will be done in partnership with the Conway Scenic Railroad, along with their assistance during the restoration process and with the eventual operation of the train post-restoration.”
The Conway Daily Sun reports the move could happen next week, but details of the train’s move have yet to be finalized. The Flying Yankee Association is working with the Granite State Scenic Railway (where the train currently resides), the Conway Scenic, and New Hampshire State Police on the process.
New Hampshire’s Department of Transportation, which has owned the train since 1996, selected the Flying Yankee Association to purchase the trainset in April following a process that began in fall 2023 [see “Flying Yankee Association selected by New Hampshire …,” Trains News Wire, April 8, 2024]. More information on the association is available on its website.
