Fall Foliage Tours By Train In NH
Changing Leaves in Autumn Thrill Railroad Fans in New Hampshire
Sep 25, 2008
Drives along back country roads can provide some of the best foliage viewing but the driver really needs a break and the kids and adults all enjoy a change of pace, especially a ride on a train, something most have never had a chance to do. There are five operating railroads in the Granite State, each with a different program to bring excitement to harvest season.
Lakes Region: Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad
The Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad lives up to its name. Operating between Meredith and Weirs Beach on Lake Winnipesaukee, it has one and two-hour trips that follow the shore of the state’s largest lake. Along with its regular runs, they also schedule longer runs during the foliage season. In October there are 6 weekend trips for a 4-hour round trip to Livermore Falls in Campton along the Pemmigewasset Valley, crossing rivers and with rapids and waterfalls as backdrop for brilliant foliage and the trip includes a lunch in the restored Plymouth railroad station.
Lincoln: Hobo Railroad
Just off I-93, on Route 3 in Lincoln, the Hobo Railroad has shorter runs that appeal particularly to smaller children,whose attention span can be strained by a longer trip. With a long history as part of a logging railroad, the road bed runs along the East Branch River and the Pemmigewasset to the Jack-O-Lantern Resort before returning to its base station. The trip is about an hour and a half.
Café LaFayette Dinner Train
Almost adjacent is the siding where the Café LaFayette Dinner Train departs at 5 PM. Even though it operates over the same route as the Hobo, this is a different experience. Much of this ride is during nightfall and the woods along the way are lighted, providing the riding diners a unique view of the forests in fall. This highlights the colors of the birches and maples, making them a constantly changing kaleidoscope outside the windows. While most dinner trains bring in catered meals, Cafe Lafayette has its own kitchen, preparing excellent meals to order, with three choices of entrees and appetizers. Ask to see the kitchen after the ride.
Mount Washington Valley: Conway Scenic Railroad
On the other side of the state the Conway Scenic Railroad is found on Route 16 in North Conway. Use the outstandingly beautiful Kancamagus Highway (Route 112) to get there from North Woodstock and Lincoln. It has two different runs, one from North Conway along the valley floor through colorful farmlands and forests to the village of Conway, and another from North Conway west through stunning Crawford Notch. On the latter, the train climbs past sheer cliffs and bluffs, crossing deep ravines and cascading brooks, with a heart-stopping ride over the Frankenstein Trestle. A constantly changing series of views open up toward the gateway of the notch. This is New Hampshire’s definitive notch, and the best place to see its craggy, rugged landscape.
Mount Washington Cog Railroad
The fifth of the trains is the oldest, the Mount Washington Cog Railroad, which has been climbing the tallest peak in the northeast since 1869. Using a gear and cog system to control ascent and descent, at some points the uphill end of the rail car is 13 feet higher than the rear! When the train clears the fir and hemlock forest the expansive views cover the whole of the Presidential Range all the way to the 6288’ summit of the mountain. Be sure to bring warm outer gear, It can be very cold and windy on the top even when it’s warm below.
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