New Hampshire’s Conway Scenic Railroad is Celebrating 50 Years of Scenic Train Rides

I remember my first time riding on the Conway Scenic Railroad. I loved watching trains, and the house I grew up in in South Paris, Maine, had tracks I could see right out a window at the end of the street. I'd often walk down to the crossing to watch them switch cars out of the Paris Manufacturing Company, and one time, the engineer offered me a ride. It was a quick back and forth, but a moment I'll never forget.

I still think back to that day when I rode the Conway Scenic Railroad. I go there at least once a year, and have so many fond memories.

2024 marks 50 years since the Conway Scenic Railroad opened for train excursions on August 4, 1974. At that time, they only could operate on the abandoned B&M rail line between North Conway and Conway. 20 years later, Guilford Transporation (which had acquired the Maine Central Railroad) also abandoned its rail lines, opening day trips on the Mountain Division through Crawford Notch to the former Maine Central railroad station in Carrol, New Hampshire.

There's so much history here, and when you ride the Conway Scenic, you feel like you're going back in time to the days when trains were the primary mode of transportation.

Conway Scenic isn't going to let a 50th anniversary go by without a celebration! On August 3-4, Conway Scenic is pulling out all the stops by offering Valley Rains to Conway, where you can ride the 5.5 miles of track where the Conway Scenic began, or any of their longer excursions. Or both!

There will be all kinds of demonstrations of railroad equipment. The amazing North Conway Model Railroad Club's layout will be on display, and there will be other fun activities for the whole family. It's going to be a special weekend, and I can't wait for it.

You can purchase your tickets right now at conwayscenic.com. I'll see you there!

Here's a little bonus video I took of the Conway Scenic crossing Route 302 in Intervale, New Hampshire, headed back to the North Conway Station on the Mountain Division.