Find a train ride in New England…
Ask any New England rail nerd to identify America’s first railroad and Massachusetts’ horse-hauled Granite Railroad falls from their lips. Never mind that the rest of the country widely acknowledges Baltimore’s B&O as the title-holder even though the Maryland contender was actually chartered several months later. Regardless; the Granite’s true claim to fame was its role in hauling the stone necessary to build Boston’s Bunker Hill Monument. Besides, New England has a firm grasp on another sexier rail first — it is home to America’s first subway, the old 1899 Boston Underground beneath the city’s Tremont Street — a stretch of today’s “T” Green Line subway trolley that you can still climb aboard.
In fact, New Englanders can rattle off a whole list of recognized national and international rail superlatives, each linked to a living historical site where scenic train rides are ready to experience.
Most charming are the streetcars — relics of a pre-automobile age when day-to-day travel meant riding an urban or interurban line to work, to school, to church, or to shop. At least half-a-dozen New England rail parks and train museums commemorate the time. Among them is the world’s oldest and largest museum of mass transit vehicles, Maine’s Seashore Trolley Museum. Down the coast, Connecticut’s Shore Line Trolley Museum operates the oldest streetcar museum in the United States, and still boards trolleys along its century-old interurban line.
New England’s northern peaks are dotted with mountain railroads. Famous for their engineering prowess and panoramic views, they draw tourists from as far away as Asia and Europe — especially in the fall, when the region’s incomparable fall colors emerge. A scenic train ride aboard Vermont’s Green Mountain Railroad is not to be missed. Most famous of all, however, is New Hampshire’s Mount Washington Cog Railway, which scales New England’s highest mountain and is the world’s oldest rack railway.
For tourists and rail fans with small fry in tow, no train spotting adventure in New England is complete with a pilgrimage to Massachusetts’ Edaville Family Amusement Park. Over half a century, the popular tourist attraction has morphed from a narrow gauge railroad loop encircling a Cape Cod cranberry plantation into the home of North America’s first and only Thomas Land — Thomas the Tank Engine’s home away from the Isle of Sodor in New England!
Find a train ride in New England…
Find a train ride in New England…
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Connecticut Trolley Museum
Connecticut Electric Railway Association
East Windsor Hill, Connecticut
This 17 acre (7 hectare) outdoor train museum contains over 70 pieces of rolling stock dating back to 1869. Vintage streetcars operate along its on-site track. Highlights include a guest operator program. Trains operate seasonally. Telephone: +1 (860) 627-6540.
Danbury Railway Museum
Danbury, Connecticut
Located within a 1903 downtown station and rail yard, the museum operates “Rail Yard Local” train rides and displays a collection of historic rolling stock. Highlights include cab rides and Connecticut’s only operating turntable. Trains operate seasonally. Telephone: +1 (203) 778-8337.
Essex Steam Train & Riverboat
Essex, Connecticut
This classic steam train rolls through the countryside, passing nature preserves and Colonial villages. The connecting Becky Thatcher riverboat cruise is a popular add-on. Highlights include Essex Clipper Dinner Train and Gillette Castle Connection. Trains operate seasonally. Telephone: +1 (800) 377-3987
Naugatuck Railroad
Railroad Museum of New England
Thomaston, Connecticut
NRR passengers relax in restored vintage 1920s coaches while crisscrossing the Naugatuck River on the railroad’s 20 mi (32 km) circuit through Mattatuck Forest. Highlights include historic equipment and artifacts and a guest engineer program. Trains operate seasonally. Telephone: +1 (860) 283-7245.
Shore Line Trolley Museum
Branford Electric Trolley
East Haven, Connecticut
A National Historic District; the museum operates the oldest continuously running suburban trolley line in the USA along a scenic 3 mi (5 km) line that’s been in service for over a century. Hands-on exhibits include nearly 100 trams, cable cars and trolleys including horsecars and double-deckers. Trains operate seasonally. Telephone: +1 (203) 467-6927.
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Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railway
Brooks, Maine
Piney woods, rolling fields, and creeks form the backdrop for this scenic train ride along a 6 mi (10 km) segment of railway rich in Downeast history. Highlights include train station listed on the National Register of Historic Places; open-air observation car, and railcycle rides. Trains operate seasonally. Telephone: +1 (207) 722-3899.
Boothbay Railway Village
Boothbay, Maine
A narrow-gauge coal-fired steam train shares billing with a livery of historic automobiles adding special authenticity and charm to this re-created New England village. The train rings a layout of 28 preservation structures set around a village green. Trains operate seasonally. Telephone: +1 (207) 633-4727.
Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. & Museum
Portland, Maine
Along a coastal remnant of Maine’s 19th-century narrow-gauge railroads, passengers view the islands and activities of busy Casco Bay. Highlights include Narrow Gauge Railway Collection, open-air gondola and guest engineer program. Trains operate seasonally. Telephone: +1 (207) 828-0814.
Seashore Trolley Museum
Kennebunkport, Maine
The world’s oldest, and largest electric railway museum runs classic streetcars up and down a 1.5 mi (2.5 km) demonstration track. Over 250 trolleys and other transit vehicles from the US, Canada, and other countries are preserved on site. Highlights include Be a Motorman and educational programs. Trains operate seasonally. Telephone: +1 (207) 967-2800.
WW&F Railway Museum
Alna, Maine
Take a scenic steam train ride along a restored woodland segment of the Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway’s original two-foot gauge railroad (circa 1894-1933). Highlights include working railyard and shops. Trains operate seasonally. Telephone: +1 (207) 882-4193.
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Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum Hoosac Valley Service
North Adams, Massachusetts
Amid the rustic beauty of the Berkshire Hills, the BSRM’s Hoosac Valley Service meanders along a historic and scenic line connecting North Adams Station with historic downtown Adams. Highlights include access to the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail and affiliated train museum at Lenox, Massachusetts. Trains operate seasonally. Telephone: +1 (413) 637-2210.
Cape Cod Central Railroad
Hyannis, Massachusetts
Sand dunes, marshlands and cranberry bogs skirt historic route between Hyannis and the Cape Cod Canal. Visitors choose among coastal and canal excursions as well as brunch, luncheon and dinner trains. Highlights include rail/Pairpoint glassblower demo/tour. Trains operate seasonally. Telephone: +1 (888) 797-7245.
Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum
Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts
The museum’s beautifully restored 1896 Trolley Car No. 10 shuttles visitors around its original rail yard. Highlights include historic equipment and artifacts, restored car barn and ‘Instant Motorman’ experience. Trains operate seasonally. Telephone: +1 (413) 625-9443.
Thomas Land
Edaville Family Theme Park
Carver, Massachusetts
North America’s only Thomas Land brings Thomas & Friends and the Isle of Sodor to life. Highlights include Thomas train ride, live Tidmouth Sheds show with Percy, Godon, Emily and James, and 11 themed rides including Cranky’s Crane Drop and Harold’s Liftoff. Park open April through New Year’s Day. Telephone: +1 (508) 866-8190.
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Cafe Lafayette Dinner Train
North Woodstock, New Hampshire
“The Restaurant with the constantly changing view” serves up gourmet five-course dinners along with stunning mountain and woodland vistas. Restored dining cars include a Pullman Planetarium dome car. Trains operate seasonally. Telephone:+1 (603) 745-3500.
Conway Scenic Railway
North Conway, New Hampshire
CSRR’s Notch Train travels through the heart of the White Mountains. A separate Valley Train explores the countryside with trips to Conway and Bartlett. Highlights include dining cars on both routes and the first-class Notch dome car. Trains operate seasonally. Telephone: +1 (800) 232-5251.
Hobo & Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad
Lincoln, Meredith, and Weirs Beach, New Hampshire
This pair of heritage railroads treats riders to Granite State lake views and mountain vistas. Climb aboard! The Winnipesaukee Scenic offers a memorable excursion along the coast of the railroad’s namesake lake. It’s sibling Hobo Railroad, chugs along the Pemigewasset River shore through White Mountains wilderness. Highlights include Turkey Dinner trains in October and Rail Bike Adventures. Trains operate seasonally. Telephone: +1 (603) 745-2135.
Mount Washington Cog Railway
Bretton Woods, New Hampshire
Eco-friendly biodiesel locomotives grip the world’s oldest mountain cog railway, taking passengers on a spellbinding thrill-ride to Mt. Washington’s mile-high summit. Historic coal-fired steam engine trains run at least once a day. Highlights include mountain-top observatory access. Trains operate seasonally. Telephone: +1 (603) 278-5404.
White Mountain Central Railroad
Lincoln, New Hampshire
Pulled by a rare gear-driven locomotive, the steam engine train’s woodland route takes it across a unique covered railroad bridge. The WMCRR is part of the Clark’s Trading Post theme park. Highlights include include Wolfman adventure, water slide, bear show, and blaster boats. Trains operate seasonally. Telephone: +1 (603) 745-8913.
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Newport & Narragansett Bay Railroad
Portsmouth Junction, Rhode Island
Grand Bellevue Dinner and Murder Mystery trains cruise along Aquidneck Island in sight of Narragansett Bay. Highlights include railbiking. Trains operate seasonally. Telephone: +1 (401) 295-1203.
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Green Mountain Railroad
Burlington and Chester, Vermont
A three-course gourmet dinner is accompanied sweeping views aboard the Champlain Valley Dinner Train. Highlights include Lounge 91 cocktail hour train and Connecticut River Valley fall foliage trips (depart Chester). Trains operate seasonally. Telephone: +1 (800) 707-3530.
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