Fall foliage train rides & events
Growing up in New England and spending my college years in western New York, I was accustomed to the seasonal joys of autumn. For me the scent of autumn air will carry me back in time, while the soft rich sunlight on bright days and the misty mornings of dull days accentuate the effects of changing foliage. It’s a wonderful time to enjoy the change of seasons, while photographing and traveling by train.
As the marketing manager for New Hampshire’s Conway Scenic Railroad, I’ve learned that autumn sells itself, and that I don’t need to push advertising in October to fill the trains. I often have to field requests from visitors wanting to know, “When is the best day/week for leaf peeping?” That’s the million dollar question; there are many variables that can affect when and how brightly the leaves will reach their peak, and how long they will last once they turn. Watching the leaves turn in autumn, I’d often see a change from day to day. On one October morning a hillside may be just beginning to make its colorful transition, then the next afternoon it may seem as if a wave of orange and red had passed over. Generally speaking, the regions in the far North turn first, with northern Maine and the White Mountains having brilliant color by the end of September and approach their peak during the first week of October. The Berkshires of Massachusetts would reach their peak right after Columbus Day. The Hudson Valley and areas of the Poconos in eastern Pennsylvania tend to peak later in October, as do the regions of Virginia and West Virginia.
Since the autumn season is one of the busiest times for many excursion railroads, I’d suggest booking early to avoid disappointment. If you don’t mind missing the super-popular autumn peak foliage, some of the best times are in the middle-weeks of September, when the weather is fine and there is just a hint of autumn color, or after the peak when trains can be less crowded while rusty hues still cling to some trees. Many heritage railroads offer themed autumn excursions, such as ‘Pumpkin Patch’ events for children and spookier trips for more mature riders, such as Connecticut Trolley Museum’s Rails to the Darkside.
Some rides and events to consider:
1) Pennsylvania has numerous tourist railroads to choose from. Reading & Northern’s Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway runs 45-minute Autumn Leaf Trains from Sept. 30 to Nov. 5. Drive to Jim Thorpe, Pa., for a trip up the sinuous gorge. Tickets are first come, first serve. The railroad typically offers open cars and domes on this run. Also, for the serious railroad enthusiast, it is one of the few tourist trains where you might pass a freight during the course of your trip. R&N also has announced several autumn runs with its popular former Reading 4-8-4 Northern No. 2102 on October 1, 14 and 21. See: https://www.rbmnrr-passenger.com/fall-foliage-reading/.
2) Celebrate the anniversary of a classic tourist train. Not far from Jim Thorpe is the Wanamaker, Kempton & Southern, which operates a charming 3.5-mile portion of the old Reading Company Schuylkill & Lehigh Branch between its namesakes. This is a real throwback to the tourist railroads of the 1960s. On Sept. 9 and 10, WK&S is celebrating its 60th anniversary which will include a guest steam locomotive and special runs, including a Sunset Train with photo stops and mixed-train consist. See: https://kemptontrain.com/60th-anniversary-celebration/
3) Foliage season isn’t exclusive to the Northeast. Consider a trip north of Lake Superior! Duluth, Minnesota’s North Short Scenic Railroad runs its Two Harbors Fall Colors Tour on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from mid-September to mid-October. For children book The Great Pumpkin Train, an autumn classic that runs from Oct. 19 to 22. Adult riders looking for a spooky thrill may consider the Terror Train on October 28. See: https://duluthtrains.com/event/fallcolors/.
4) Head north of the border to Ontario for a 114-mile round trip on the Agawa Canyon Tour Train. But you better book soon: its One-Day Scenic Rail Adventure enjoys its peak season from Sept. 17 to Oct. 10, and trains are already selling out. See: https://agawatrain.com/one-day-scenic-rail-adventure/.
5) If a tourist railroad isn’t on your agenda, autumn can be a wonderful time to enjoy a comfortable long-distance ride on Amtrak. To see some the best scenery accentuated with autumn foliage I’d recommend a trip on the Boston Section of the Lake Shore Limited, especially during the middle weeks of October. This ride is especially enjoyable west of Springfield, Mass., on the famous climb over Washington Hill — North America’s significant mainline mountain grade. Looking for foliage a little earlier in the season? Take a trip on the Vermonter north of Springfield and ride all the way to St. Albans, Vt. Late season Amtrak travelers should consider any of the Empire Corridor trains north from New York City. Remember, the Ethan Allen now runs from New York City all the way to Burlington, Vt., via Rutland, while the Adirondack connects New York with Montreal via the shores of Lake Champlain. Further south, book the tri-weekly Cardinal to experience autumn along the Chesapeake & Ohio in Virginia and through West Virginia’s New River Gorge. How about some early season foliage in the West? Try a jaunt in late September on the California Zephyr between Denver and Grand Junction, Colo., and catch the yellow-orange hues of aspens under clear blue skies. See: https://www.amtrak.com/regions/northeast.html
Once upon a time, Amtrak did fall foliage trips out of NYP. We did one, and really enjoyed it. And then they went away. Maybe it was too popular for the airline bosses who run most of Amtrak.
I went on the 2017 Amtrak fall foliage run out of NYP which went up the West Shore to Albany and then back down the Hudson. It was great fun and rare mileage.
Now shortage of equipment and crews with sold out regular trains, has likely shelved any extra Amtrak moves.