The Conway Scenic Railroad offers a variety of old-fashioned railroad trips that depart from a restored 1874 Victorian train station located in the New England village of North Conway. Many trains feature diesel locomotives pulling 1950s-era streamlined passenger cars, while others have open-window coaches that are pulled by a historic steam or diesel locomotive.
Choices
Several times daily on the Conway Scenic Railroad, the Conway Valley Train offers an 11-mile, 55-minute round trip over an ex-Boston & Maine branch line. For a longer ride, the Sawyer River Excursion makes a 2-hour, 10-minute round trip to Sawyer River. The railroad’s premier train, the Mountaineer, recreates a 1950s streamlined train traversing Mount Washington Valley to Crawford Notch over the fabled Maine Central Mountain Division, climbing 1,623 feet during the trip from North Conway to Crawford. Mountaineer excursions to Crawford take 4 hours and cover 50 miles, while the longer ride to Fabyans is a 60-mile, 5.5-hour round trip. Coach and first-class accommodations are offered on many trains.
When to go
The Conway Valley Train operates from April to December, while the Mountaineer runs from mid-June through October. Autumn foliage and snow trains are offered, along with other specials throughout the year.
Good to know
The railroad exhibits several historic steam and diesel locomotives at North Conway. There is also a wooden roundhouse and turntable that is used to maintain the fleet of working locomotives.
Worth doing
Crawford Notch State Park, in the nearby Harts Location, has 5,775 wooded acres with numerous waterfalls, hiking trails, and wildlife viewing areas, along with spectacular mountain scenery.
Don’t miss
North Conway is a tourist destination nestled in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, which offers year-round recreation including skiing, golf, and hiking. There are dozens of hotels, shops and restaurants, and attractions including the Mount Washington Observatory Weather Discovery Center and the Cranmore Mountain Resort.
Getting there
The railroad is located along Route 302 in North Conway, about a 3-hour drive from Boston. From Boston, take Interstate 95 to Route 16, which runs to North Conway.
Location: 38 Norcross Cir, North Conway, NH
Phone: 603-356-5251
Website: conwayscenic.com
E-mail: info@conwayscenic.com
