Northeast tourist railroads you must visit include premium museums, scenic lines in different gauges, and everything in between. From Trains Magazine’s Tourist Trains Guidebook, here’s our list of tourist railroads, museums, and displays to experience across the region.
Northeast Tourist Railroads and Museums
Connecticut
Essex Steam Train and Riverboat – 1 Railroad Avenue, Essex
Where else can you enjoy a train ride and riverboat cruise all in one package? Departing from the historic seaport village in Essex, steam-powered excursions take passengers on a round trip by rail to Deep River and Haddam. For the full package itself, connections are then made to a replica three-deck, Mississippi-style riverboat for scenic views along the Connecticut River.
Railroad Museum of New England – 242 East Main Street, Thomaston
The history of New England railroading is represented at this museum in Thomaston with an extensive collection. Adjacent to the displays is the 1881 brick station, also home to the Naugatuck Railroad that operates excursions along the former New Haven Railroad to Waterville. Scenic highlights include two trestles over the Naugatuck River and the Thomaston Dam.
Delaware
Wilmington & Western Railroad – 2201 Newport Gap Pike, Wilmington
The Wilmington & Western is not only one of the oldest tourist railroads in the country but out of all the Northeast tourist railroads, it’s the only one in Delaware. The railroad offers unique excursions to different destinations as trains traverse the scenic Red Clay Valley. Just as unique is the motive power, which usually ranges from a 0-6-0 steam locomotive to an original 1929 Pennsylvania Railroad “doodlebug” railcar.
District of Columbia
Smithsonian National Museum of American History – 1300 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.
U.S. railroading from before 1876 to 2000 is showcased on a premier stage at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History’s “America on the Move” exhibition. The collection includes Southern Railway 4-6-2 No. 1401, the narrow gauge 4-4-0 Jupiter, and a 19th-century streetcar. However, the centerpiece of the museum is the John Bull, one of the oldest surviving steam locomotives in North America.
Maine
Seashore Trolley Museum – 195 Log Cabin Road, Kennebunkport
Founded in 1939, the Seashore Trolley Museum holds the title of being the first electric railway museum in the world. It’s also considered the largest with more than 250 pieces of equipment, mainly streetcars, with origins reaching an international scale. The 2-mile streetcar rides are included in the admission. Better yet, take the opportunity to operate a trolley as part of the museum’s “Be a Motorman” program.
Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum – 97 Cross Road, Alna
Like the narrow-gauged railroads in the Colorado Rockies, the 2-foot gauge can be synonymous with the railroad lore of Maine. Its preservation in the Pine Tree State is as authentic as gets at the Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum. Rebuilt on the original right-of-way, 3 miles of track are used for steam-powered excursions from Alna’s Sheepscot Station to Trout Brook.
Maryland
B&O Railroad Museum – 901 West Pratt Street, Baltimore
Baltimore is often celebrated as the birthplace of railroading in the U.S. That story, along with the history of the country’s oldest railroad – the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad – is told at the downtown B&O Railroad Museum. The campus’ dome-covered roundhouse and turntable headlines the overall visit as it exhibits the largest North American collection of steam locomotives from the 19th Century.
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Massachusetts
Cape Cod Central Railroad – 252 Main Street, Hyannis
Departing from either Hyannis, Buzzards Bay or North Falmouth, diesel-powered excursions operate over the former New Haven Railroad. Scenic highlights include cranberry bogs, sand dunes, forests, and marshes before reaching the famous Cape Cod Canal. A mixture of luncheon, Sunday brunch, and dinner trains are also offered, and can include premium seating in a full-length dome.
New Hampshire
Conway Scenic Railroad – 38 Norcross Cir, North Conway
Departing from a restored, 1874 Victorian-style station, tourist excursions range from the 55-minute Conway Valley Train to the 4-hour Mountaineer that traverses the Mount Washington Valley to Crawford Notch. A mixture of streamlined passenger cars and open-window coaches are usually pulled by either vintage diesels or the 0-6-0 steam locomotive No. 7470. Be sure to check the railroad’s website for the updated schedule and accommodations.
Mount Washington Cog Railway – 3168 Base Station Road, Mount Washington
The first successful cog — a standard railroad with flanged wheels, but with the addition of a gear engaging a toothed “rack” rail in the center of the tracks — was right in Mount Washington, beginning operations in 1869. What is now known as the Mount Washington Cog Railway continues to climb the highest peak in the Northeast for tourists to take in the famous vistas – weather pending of course. Historic steam and modern, biodiesel locomotives are used for the steep ascent.
New Jersey
Black River & Western Railroad – 80 Stangl Road, Flemington; 101 John Ringo Road, Ringoes
Under the nonprofit Black River Railroad Historical Trust, the Black River & Western Railroad operates a section of the former Pennsylvania Railroad’s Flemington Branch between Flemington and Ringoes. Standard summer excursions, along with themed events, make up the overall schedule. Of course, it’s always a special treat when ex-Great Western Railway 2-8-0 No. 60 is leading the train.
New York
Adirondack Railroad – 321 Main Street, Utica
The Adirondack Railroad operates 69 miles of the former New York Central through the scenic, namesake mountains to Thendara, Otter Lake, and Big Moose. Extended excursion packages are offered to enhance the experience of the Adirondacks, including transportation by the tourist railroad to canoe, kayak, and railbike. For the full rail adventure, catch the Adirondack Railroad by way of Amtrak as both services share Utica’s 1914 Union Station.
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Pennsylvania
Strasburg Rail Road – 301 Gap Road, Ronks
When it comes to Northeast tourist railroads, especially in Pennsylvania, the Strasburg Rail Road is one of the most sought-after on a worldwide level. For good reason, too: It’s the oldest continuously operating rail line in the United States with an authentic steam-era setting. Historic locomotives haul an impressive fleet of wooden passenger cars along the 9-mile, 45-minute round trip through the Amish farmland. Special events also take place year-round with extra offerings.
See more Pennsylvania tourist railroads you must visit.
Rhode Island
Grand Bellevue Rail Dining Experience – 1 Alexander Road, Portsmouth
Elegant dinner trains and murder mystery experiences aboard restored 1940s Budd dining cars headline the Grand Bellevue Rail Dining Experience. Operating on the Newport & Narragansett Bay Railroad, the excursions traverse the scenic shoreline of the Narragansett Bay with spectacular views of the Mount Hope Bridge, and Aquidneck Island. If mother nature is on your side, sunsets enhance the backdrop and help cap off the day while out on the rails.
Vermont
Vermont Rail System Passenger Services – 1 Railway Lane, Burlington
Dinner trains operate out of Burlington from June through October by the Vermont Rail System, a privately held company that operates multiple short lines. The premier excursion is the Vermont Railway’s Champlain Valley Dinner Train to Middlebury, with a three-course meal prepared on board. Vermont Rail System operates additional chartered trains throughout the state for the benefit of organizations and charities. Occasionally, these trips are offered to the public.
Other Northeast railroad sites to consider
During your visit to the Northeast region, consider also visiting these railroad sites:
Connecticut
- Connecticut Antique Machinery Association – Kent
- Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum – Willimantic
- Connecticut Trolley Museum – East Windsor
- Danbury Railway Museum – Danbury
- Shore Line Trolley Museum – East Haven
- SoNo Switch Tower Museum – Norwalk
Maine
- Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad – Unity
- Cole Land Transportation Museum – Bangor
- Downeast Scenic Railroad – Hancock
- Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad & Museum – Portland
- Railway Village Museum – Boothbay
Maryland
- Baltimore Streetcar Museum – Baltimore
- National Capital Trolley Museum – Coleville
- Walkersville Southern Railroad – Walkersville
- Western Maryland Scenic Railroad – Cumberland
Massachusetts
- Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum – Lenox and Adams
- Chatham Railroad Museum – Chatham
- Edaville Family Theme Park – Carver
- Lowell National Historical Society – Lowell
- Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum – Shelburne Falls
New Hampshire
- Ashland Railroad Station Museum – Ashland
- Café Lafayette Dinner Train – North Woodstock
- Gorham Historical Society Museum – Gorham
- Hobo & Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroads – Lincoln and Meredith
- Potter Place Railroad Station – Andover
- Sandown Depot Museum – Sandown
- White Mountain Central Railroad – Mount Washington
New Jersey
- Cape May Seashore Lines – Tuckahoe
- Delaware River Railroad Excursions – Phillipsburg
- Maywood Station Museum – Maywood
- United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey – Boonton
- Whippany Railway Museum – Whippany
New York
- Arcade & Attica Railroad – Arcade
- Catskill Mountain Railroad – Kingston
- Medina Railroad Museum – Medina
Pennsylvania
- Colebrookdale Railroad — Boyertown
- East Broad Top Railroad — Rockhill Furnace
- Electric City Trolley Museum — Scranton
- Everett Railroad — Hollidaysburg
- Horseshoe Curve National Historic Landmark — Altoona
- Lake Shore Railway Historical Society — North East
- Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway — Jim Thorpe
- Middletown & Hummelstown Railroad — Middletown
- New Hope Railroad — New Hope
- Northern Central Railway — New Freedom
- Oil Creek and Titusville Railroad — Titusville
- Pennsylvania Trolley Museum — Washington
- Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania — Strasburg
- Railroaders Memorial Museum — Altoona
- Reading & Northern Passenger Department — Reading
- Rockhill Trolley Museum — Rockhill
- Steamtown National Historic Site — Scranton
- The Stourbridge Line — Honesdale
- Wanamaker Kempton & Southern Railroad — Kempton
- West Chester Railroad — West Chester
