Scenic Railroads of New Hampshire

New Hampshire's railroads were built to haul timber, granite and summer visitors into the mountains and to the lakes. Many of those lines are gone, but enough survive as excursion railroads that you can still see some of the state's best scenery from a coach window. Early June is a good time to plan: the leaves are fully out, the rivers are still running high from spring, and most of the seasonal trains have started their summer schedules.

This guide to scenic train rides in NH covers the main options, from a steep climb up the highest peak in the Northeast to an easy lakeside ride in Meredith. Schedules, fares and departure times change from year to year, so confirm the details on each railroad's own website before you go.

The Mount Washington Cog Railway

No list of New Hampshire trains starts anywhere else. The Mount Washington Cog Railway was the world's first mountain-climbing cog railway. Instead of relying on friction between wheel and rail, it uses the Marsh rack system: a toothed gear under the locomotive engages a rack laid between the rails, which lets the train climb grades no ordinary railroad could manage.

The numbers explain why the ride is famous. The line is about three miles long, with an average grade of over 25 percent and a maximum of 37 percent. It starts at about 2,700 feet and climbs to the summit of Mount Washington at 6,288 feet. The railroad carried its first paying passengers on August 14, 1868, and reached the summit in July 1869. President Ulysses S. Grant rode it in 1869, and the line has long carried the nickname "Railway to the Moon."

Today the railway runs both steam and biodiesel locomotives. A steam ascent takes about 65 minutes; the biodiesel trains can make the climb in as little as 36. Either way, the views open up quickly once you are above treeline on a clear day.

The base area is worth time on its own. The railway's Marshfield Base Station is on Base Station Road, about six miles east of Route 302, near Bretton Woods. The Mount Washington Cog Base Trails start from here, and the railway notes that the base gives access to trailheads for popular hiking routes alongside the tracks. If you are a hiker, check conditions carefully: weather on Mount Washington can change fast at any time of year.

Crawford Notch by rail: Conway Scenic Railroad

The Conway Scenic Railroad is based in North Conway, in the Mount Washington Valley. It was founded in 1974, and its North Conway station has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1979.

The railroad runs two kinds of trips. The Valley Train is a one-hour, 11-mile round trip designed as an easy family outing, a good choice for young children or first-time riders. The Mountaineer is the big one: a 4 to 4.5 hour round trip of roughly 50 to 60 miles that climbs through Crawford Notch to Fabyan, running from May through November.

Crawford Notch is the reason to take the Mountaineer. The notch is a major pass through the White Mountains, with a high point of about 1,900 feet near Crawford Depot. US 302 runs through it, and the train gives you a slower, unhurried look at the same landscape. Crawford Depot, near the AMC Highland Center, is a stop on the route.

Lincoln: the Granite State Scenic Railway

The Granite State Scenic Railroad runs excursions out of the Lincoln depot in the western White Mountains. The operation grew from the Plymouth and Lincoln Railroad, which formed in 1987, and it now holds passenger rights on 54 miles of state-owned track running from Lochmere to Lincoln. Patriot Rail took ownership in 2023, and the operation was renamed the Granite State Scenic Railway in April 2024.

From Lincoln, the trains run about seven miles to Woodstock. It is a relaxed ride, and it pairs well with a day in Lincoln and North Woodstock. The railroad also offers rail bikes in Lincoln: four-person electric-assist bikes that roll along the rails, a different way to see the same valley at your own pace.

Meredith: trains along Lake Winnipesaukee

The same company runs the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad in the Lakes Region. Trains leave from Meredith, at 154 Main Street, and run along the shore of Lake Winnipesaukee through Weirs Beach. It is one of the gentlest and most scenic rides in the state, with open water views for much of the route, and it is an easy add-on to a lakes vacation.

The railroad also runs rail bikes in Laconia along Lake Winnisquam, Winnipesaukee's smaller neighbor, if you would rather pedal than ride.

Meredith has its own railroad history. The town was connected by rail in 1849. Meredith is also a town that keeps its history close. The Meredith Historical Society runs a Main Street Museum and publishes material on the history of the town and village, a good stop before or after a ride if you want to understand how the lake towns grew.

Lincoln: a steam ride at Clark's

Clark's Trading Post, which changed its name to Clark's Bears in 2019, sits on US 3 in Lincoln and has been a White Mountains family stop for generations. It is best known for its trained bears, but train fans come for the White Mountain Central Railroad, a 30-minute, 2.5-mile steam train ride that first ran on July 30, 1958.

The ride crosses the Pemigewasset River on a 1904 Howe truss covered bridge, and the railroad's equipment includes a 1920 Climax steam locomotive. Along the way, riders meet the Wolfman, a long-running costumed character who keeps the trip lively for children. Clark's also has several museums on site. It opens seasonally starting Memorial Day weekend, so by early June it is up and running.

Planning a rail trip

A few practical points make any of these trips better:

• Book ahead for the most popular rides, especially the Cog Railway and the Mountaineer, which are popular on busy weekends.
• Bring layers. The summit of Mount Washington is far colder and windier than the base, even in June, and open-air cars on any train can feel cool.
• Match the ride to your group. The Valley Train, the Lincoln to Woodstock trip, the Meredith lakeside ride and the Clark's steam train are all short and easy with children. The Cog and the Mountaineer are longer, bigger days.
• Combine rides by region. Lincoln has both the Granite State Scenic trains and Clark's. Crawford Notch, Bretton Woods and the Cog base sit close together on the north side of the notch.

Above all, check the railroad's website for the current season's operating days. Several of these trains run seasonally, and schedules can change.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most famous train ride in New Hampshire?

The Mount Washington Cog Railway, the world's first mountain-climbing cog railway, which climbs to the 6,288-foot summit of Mount Washington.

Which NH train ride is best for young children?

Short rides work best. Conway Scenic's one-hour Valley Train, the Lincoln to Woodstock trip, the Meredith lakeside train and the 30-minute steam ride at Clark's are all good choices.

Can you take a train through Crawford Notch?

Yes. Conway Scenic Railroad's Mountaineer runs through Crawford Notch to Fabyan, a round trip of about four to four and a half hours, from May through November.

What are rail bikes?

Pedal-powered vehicles that ride on railroad tracks. The Granite State Scenic Railway offers them in Lincoln and in Laconia along Lake Winnisquam.

Sources

• Mount Washington Cog Railway, Wikipedia (first cog railway, Marsh rack, grades, 1868 and 1869 dates, Grant, nickname): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Washington_Cog_Railway
• The Cog Railway (trip times, base station and trails): https://thecog.com
• Conway Scenic Railroad: https://www.conwayscenic.com
• Conway Scenic Railroad, Wikipedia (founding, National Register): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conway_Scenic_Railroad
• Crawford Notch, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crawford_Notch
• Granite State Scenic Railway: https://gsscenic.com
• Plymouth and Lincoln Railroad, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plymouth_%26_Lincoln_Railroad
• Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipesaukee_Scenic_Railroad
• Meredith, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (1849 railroad): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meredith,_New_Hampshire
• Meredith Historical Society: https://meredithhistoricalsocietynh.org
• Clark's Bears: https://clarksbears.com
• Clark's Trading Post, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clark%27s_Trading_Post