Take a step back in time when you book your ticket to ride one of northern New Hampshire's historic or vintage trains. Each excursion offers a different experience, but each will transport you to an era when train travel was as common as automobile travel is today.  

For several weeks during September and October, enjoy the added bonus of traveling through an extraordinary landscape of mountains, lakes, and rivers, and hillsides that dazzle the eye with the amazing reds, oranges, yellows, and golds of autumn's foliage.  

Time spent visiting northern New Hampshire by train during its magnificent foliage season is a day to be savored and remembered. 

Travel NH by Train This Fall

The Mount Washington Cog Railway - Mount Washington, NH

Address: 3168 Base Station Road, Mount Washington, NH 03589

The historic Mount Washington Cog Railway was built in 1869 by men returning from the Civil War. The first mountain climbing cog railway in the world has undergone numerous improvements since, but the thrill remains of climbing the three-mile-long raised track to the 6,288-foot summit of Mount Washington, these days in a comfortable coach powered by a biodiesel engine.  

The geared "cog and rack mechanism" of the Cog is similar to a bicycle's sprocket and chain. Fun fact: the engine pushes the coach to the summit. On the return trip, the engine backs down the mountain with the coach, controlled by the brakeman, following. 

During the journey, the brakemen provide lively commentary about the many points of interest and the incredible history of the railway. You'll pass through three climate zones on your trip to the summit, where on especially clear days it's possible to see all the way to the Atlantic Ocean, as well as into five states and southern Quebec.  

The three-hour round-trip includes an hour-long layover at the summit, where passengers are free to explore. Peek into the Tip Top House museum, which used to provide accommodations for the mountain's earliest tourists. Visit the Sherman Adams Visitor Center with its rooftop observation deck for magnificent views of distant mountain peaks; the Visitor Center includes an interactive weather exhibit at the Mount Washington Observatory, a cafeteria, gift shops, and even a Post Office! Tip: Wear sturdy shoes for walking around on the very rocky summit, and dress in layers. It can be sunny and warm on the valley floor at Marshfield Base Station as you set out, but chilly, foggy, raining, or snowing on the summit. 

Trains run daily through October 19; it's best to purchase your ticket online to ensure seating. The Marshfield Base Station (which includes a free museum, a gift shop, and a food court), where you board the trains, is accessed via Base Station Road off Route 302 in Bretton Woods.

Conway Scenic Railroad - North Conway, NH

Address: 38 Norcross Circle, North Conway, NH 03860

The Conway Scenic Railroad promises "an old-fashioned railroading experience" in vintage passenger cars with trains departing from its charming Victorian train station in North Conway Village. And as the railroad's name implies, each excursion offers incredibly scenic views of the landscape the trains pass through. 

The Valley Train Excursion is billed as "a classic rural train ride" where passengers enjoy the thrill of an old-fashioned, 11-mile train trip through the lovely Mount Washington Valley landscape. Families traveling with young children will appreciate the 55-minute round trip, giving both adults and kids a taste of a bygone era of train travel in a short amount of time. A snack bar is on board to fuel hungry passengers during the excursion.  

The Valley Train Excursion runs daily through September and October (except October 25 and 26), and on select dates in November. Seating options include Premium, First Class, and Coach. 

The Mountaineer takes train travel up a notch on the railroad's most scenic excursion! Board the post-WWII train with 1950s-era passenger cars for a 4- to 5.5-hour excursion through the Mount Washington Valley and westward through craggy Crawford Notch and over the Frankenstein Trestle to Crawford Station in Bretton Woods. Expect magnificent mountain views and colorful foliage as you take in the sights from your seat in Coach, First Class, or "premier class travel in deluxe upper dome seating." Box lunches can be ordered in advance to enhance your train travel experience.

Granite State Railway - Lincoln, NH

Address: 64 Railroad St., Lincoln, NH 03251

Granite State Railway operates the Granite State Railway train in Lincoln in the White Mountains and the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad with excursions leaving from Meredith and Weirs Beach in the Lakes Region. You can also rent four-person rail bikes from the Laconia Rail Station for a different rail experience.  

The vintage coaches at the Lincoln Station hearken back to a time when life was slower-paced and train travel was commonplace. During the one-hour round trip, passengers enjoy a peaceful excursion along the Pemigewasset River and through wooded settings where the fall foliage is generally at peak in late September through Columbus Day. The train operates on weekends and other select dates in September and October. 

• The Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad operates on "a historic rail system once home to the renowned Boston, Concord & Montreal line dating back to 1848." The rail experience blends nostalgia with scenic beauty as the trains travel along the western shore of sparkling Lake Winnipesaukee. 
• Meredith Excursions: 2- to 2.5-hour excursions. Coach and First Class tickets. Weekends and select dates in September and through October 19. 
• Weirs Beach Excursions: 1- to 1.5-hour excursions. Coach and First Class tickets. Weekends through October 19. 
• Fall Foliage Special: The Fall Foliage Special operates from the Meredith station beginning at 11 a.m. on Thursday through Sunday, September 20 – October 19. The 4-hour round trip travels northward with a hot buffet lunch stop at the Common Man Restaurant & Spa in Plymouth. The return trip includes a stop in Ashland for a tour of the restored Boston, Concord & Montreal Railroad Station before returning to the Meredith station.  
• Turkey Dinner Train: What could be better than a scenic train journey that also includes a full turkey dinner catered by the famous Hart's Turkey Farm? The 2-hour dinner train departs Meredith Station at 4:30 p.m. for a southern excursion along the western shore of Lake Winnipesauke, through Weirs Beach and Paugus Bay toward Lakeport. Expect spectacular scenery along with a hearty meal. Friday and Saturday, September 19 – October 18. 
• Alouette: Granite State Scenic's newest excursion takes passengers on a 4.5-hour journey from Meredith Station to Plymouth, where passengers have 2 hours to explore downtown Plymouth for shopping and dining. Viewpoints during the trip include Lake Waukewan, the Ashland high trestle, Bonnie Brae Deer Farm, and Glove Hollow Christmas Tree Farm. September through October 19, weekends and select dates.
• Rail Bike Tours are available beginning at the Laconia Rail Station. The four-person rail bikes are a fantastic way to explore a rail line that dates back to 1848 up close and personal as you pedal along the shores of Lake Winnisquam and enjoy the outstanding scenery. 

White Mountain Central Railroad - Lincoln, NH

Address: 110 Daniel Webster Highway, Lincoln, NH 03251

Located at Clark's Bears in Lincoln, the White Mountain Central Railroad operates a 1943 GE diesel locomotive to take its passengers through a 1904 covered bridge across the Pemigewasset River in a 25-minute, two-and-a-half-mile excursion. A highlight of the trip is an encounter with the Wolfman, a rascally longtime resident of the woods whose hijinks keep the passengers amused. 

The railroad is part of the Clark's Bears theme park. Admission to the park includes the train ride, a trained bear show, haunted mansion, museums, kids' climbing tower, and many additional attractions. Clark's is open weekends in September through October 13 (Columbus Day weekend) before closing for the season.

Eileen Alexander, a New Hampshire native, made a short detour through North Carolina before returning to the Granite State. She has a yen for old homes with character, colorful flower gardens, and expansive mountain views. 

See this article and more in the fall edition of Journey Home, Badger Peabody & Smith Realty's magazine focusing on New Hampshire real estate and local living.