Posted on 09/12/2025 3:13:21 PM PDT by packrat35
Railroad Scenic trip
Take the rail up Mt. Washington. Wife and I drove up the other side. Whew! Spooky.
It was 72 degrees in mid October and minus 10 on top.
Loved Conway. Since we weren’t on a schedule we hung around there more.
Is this different from the mt. Washington Cog railway? Been on that a few times. Great ride, great destination. Quite pricey
We stayed here a couple of years ago. A little spendy, but killer views of the mountains, plus a bit of history.
https://www.omnihotels.com/hotels/bretton-woods-mount-washington
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bretton_Woods_Conference
My wife and I got engaged in Maine back in Fall 1982. Our next stop was the Christmas Farm Inn in Jackson, just north of North Conway. My folks joined us and my then-fiancee was trying to find a way to tell my mom I had popped the question. My new fiancee kept holding her hand up, flashing the ring over and over until, FINALLY, mom saw the ring.
So, good memories of the N. Conway Scenic Railroad for me!
Yes, this is a passenger train that runs from North Conway, NH through Crawford Notch to the north end of the notch, then returns to North Conway.
We live 45 minutes north of Crawford Notch.
Last week we drove by the train as it was stopped at the north end.
If you aren't from here, IMHO, it's well worth the ride.
Since we drive or snowmobile through the area often, it isn't for us.
The Army Barracks store on NH route 16 in Conway.
We have taken the rail during Christmas - it was nice and short, nit sure if there is a longer ride option. In the fall would be nice. Tuckerman’s Inn serves a very nice steak and is quite well known for that as well as other dishes. The town is very busy and traffic is horrible, so try and stay off the main downtown road and take the road 2 blocks east (?) just across the railway - as that road runs parallel and will get you to all the places you want to go. I have family there so if you want more - just message
I've ridden many scenic railroads, but that one in North Conway is really good. Just ten days ago, we rode the "Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway" in the Lake District in England. It was a combined lake and rail tour. We started at Ambleside at the north end of Lake Windermere and took the leisurely boat ride down the lake, then caught the train at Lakeside. They were running the steam engine and the fireman was actually shoveling coal into the firebox!
My son and his family have taken this several times...they love it. A few weeks ago they also took the cog railway up Mt. Washington. Likewise, loved it.
Conway Mountaineer
Yes the Cog Railway and the Conway Scenic are different. At one time, the Mountain Division of the B&M had a spur that ran to the Cog Base Station, but that no longer exists.
Conway Scenic used to have steam, but no longer. If you are going to go there, don’t bother with the round trip from North Conway to Conway and back - if it’s leaf season, take the trip to Crawford Notch and back, but you will need to book in advance.
The Cog is a great trip - first rack railway in the world (before Switzerland), weather can be a problem but if it’s a claer day the views from the top are great.
My family spent a night in North Conway in the summer of ‘84 as part of a road trip from Texas to Canada. I was 9 and heading for the 5th grade. I remember how pretty everything was there. Unfortunately, I can’t speak to the rail trip, but I would imagine it would be great. Go for it!
Thank you
Thank you
Thank you
Great memories for you.
Thank you. I will let you know.
That sounds like fun.
“Conway Scenic used to have steam, but no longer.”
That’s sad. I was trying to remember if they had the steam engine when we rode in 1982, but don’t recall.
The Skunk Train in Willits / Fort Bragg, CA ran steam for decades, but discontinued. Then, this summer, they brought back the “Chiggen” steam locomotive for a few weekends.
The Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad near Yosemite National Park still runs a Heisler steam engine. I was lucky enough to get a ride in the cab of the steam locomotive back in 1974!
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