Best tourist train in New England open in May?

[BalmyZephyr]

Hi all,
My husband and I want to splurge on a dome car trip for our 30th anniversary. Is Conway Scenic Railway Mountaineer any good? Bad reviews online but not sure they took the Mountaineer. What about Mt. Washington Cog? What else within 5 hour drive of Rhode Island? So many of these only run in summer, boo. Thanks in advance for any recommendations.

 

[BlackDiamond]

Consider the Cape Cod Dinner Train out of Hyannis MA that runs Saturday May 27 and June 3. There is one class premium class I think where you dine under the dome. Their regular excursions don't start until June.

 

[jiml]

The Cafe Lafayette dinner train in New Hampshire has a dome diner. The ride through the woods partially in the dark doesn't warrant a dome for the scenery but the dinner was decent and dome diners are always cool.

https://www.nhdinnertrain.com/

 

[BalmyZephyr]

The Cafe Lafayette dinner train in New Hampshire has a dome diner. The ride through the woods partially in the dark doesn't warrant a dome for the scenery but the dinner was decent and dome diners are always cool.

https://www.nhdinnertrain.com/

Thanks, did not know about this one. Seems like it wouldn't be dark. Sunset mid-May is around 8 PM, when the ride would be over.

 

[BalmyZephyr]

Consider the Cape Cod Dinner Train out of Hyannis MA that runs Saturday May 27 and June 3. There is one class premium class I think where you dine under the dome. Their regular excursions don't start until June.

Good to know about these two dates, thank you!

 

[crescent-zephyr]

I highly recommend the Essex Steam Train in Connecticut!

 

[BalmyZephyr]

I highly recommend the Essex Steam Train in Connecticut!

Thank you, I did ride that back in the 90s and don't remember it being that scenic, but I see they have train + riverboat, which I didn't do, and a dinner train, all starting in May, so this is a good option! Have you done the dinner train? This would be good because it is a closer drive for us than the Cape Cod.

 

[crescent-zephyr]

Thank you, I did ride that back in the 90s and don't remember it being that scenic, but I see they have train + riverboat, which I didn't do, and a dinner train, all starting in May, so this is a good option! Have you done the dinner train? This would be good because it is a closer drive for us than the Cape Cod.

I haven't done the dinner train - the dinner train is usually diesel and I like riding the steam trains but I've heard the dinner train is quite nice.

The scenery is always a bit subjective... I think the train in Essex is very nice and relaxing New England scenery as it travels along the river. I've been up there twice and both times I rode the open air car and it was so nice to feel the breeze.

 

[BalmyZephyr]

I haven't done the dinner train - the dinner train is usually diesel and I like riding the steam trains but I've heard the dinner train is quite nice.

The scenery is always a bit subjective... I think the train in Essex is very nice and relaxing New England scenery as it travels along the river. I've been up there twice and both times I rode the open air car and it was so nice to feel the breeze.

It's weird, I don't remember going along the river, it seemed to go into the woods. But, at the time I wrote a travel article about it for the Philadelphia Daily News, for my column "Get Outta Town." I need to find that. Hard copy in a box somewhere.
However, we just made a reservation for a Sunday dinner train for our anniversary and chose our food: Prime rib for me, wild mushroom ravioli for John. Regardless of scenery, it's perfect. I like vintage diesel trains too. And, the Sunday dinners are at 4 PM so we can drive home while it's still light out. Can't wait! Thank you!

 

[Mystic River Dragon]

Thank you, I did ride that back in the 90s and don't remember it being that scenic, but I see they have train + riverboat, which I didn't do, and a dinner train, all starting in May, so this is a good option! Have you done the dinner train? This would be good because it is a closer drive for us than the Cape Cod.

I did the Essex Steam Train and Riverboat combo with my cousins—a while back now, maybe 10 or 15 years ago, but can’t imagine it’s changed much.

The train seemed more like a convenient way to get people to/from the boat than an attraction itself—a nice peaceful but short ride through some woods I think. The riverboat is an hour and a quarter ride on the Connecticut River. The brochure says that “the visual serenity of the river is on full display,” which means you’ll either be extremely bored or completely relaxed and recharged, depending on how you feel about looking out at a serene river.

They do go by Gillette Castle and some opera house, so you do eventually get to see something besides the river.

I loved it, but I love rivers.

If you decide on the train/boat combo or the dinner train, let us know what you think of it.

 

[BalmyZephyr]

I did the Essex Steam Train and Riverboat combo with my cousins—a while back now, maybe 10 or 15 years ago, but can’t imagine it’s changed much.

The train seemed more like a convenient way to get people to/from the boat than an attraction itself—a nice peaceful but short ride through some woods I think. The riverboat is an hour and a quarter ride on the Connecticut River. The brochure says that “the visual serenity of the river is on full display,” which means you’ll either be extremely bored or completely relaxed and recharged, depending on how you feel about looking out at a serene river.

They do go by Gillette Castle and some opera house, so you do eventually get to see something besides the river.

I loved it, but I love rivers.

If you decide on the train/boat combo or the dinner train, let us know what you think of it.

Yes the short ride through the woods is what I remember.
I love rivers too (just published a book on one) but for a 30th anniversary we need a special dinner.
In my 1990s travel article I included Gillette Castle, but I drove up there after thr steam train ride. Might have taken a car ferry over? Really need to find that article.

 

[Mystic River Dragon]

Yes the short ride through the woods is what I remember.
I love rivers too (just published a book on one) but for a 30th anniversary we need a special dinner.
In my 1990s travel article I included Gillette Castle, but I drove up there after thr steam train ride. Might have taken a car ferry over? Really need to find that article.

You are much more familiar with the area than I am—I just went where my cousins took me, including some needless stops at “antique” (junk) shops on the way down and back. Yes, the dinner does sound like a better option since you’ve done a lot in that area already.

What river did you write about? I don’t know if the moderators will let you post the title, but I’d love to know.

 

[BalmyZephyr]

The Schuylkill in Eastern PA.
Moderators, feel free to remove if not allowed. (I don't make any profit off this - it was so expensive to produce.)
My photography book is called Inland: The Abandoned Canals of the Schuylkill Navigation. It includes an essay by a transportation expert about the trains that followed the canal route, and competed for the Anthracite market. My current book project is about the Schuylkill Gap, more trains! Just back from 9 hours with Reading Blue Mountain & Northern on Budd RDCs from Port Clinton to Schuylkill Haven, Pottsville, Port Carbon, Minersville and Tremont. Slowest train ever.

 

[Mystic River Dragon]

The Schuylkill in Eastern PA.
Moderators, feel free to remove if not allowed. (I don't make any profit off this - it was so expensive to produce.)
My photography book is called Inland: The Abandoned Canals of the Schuylkill Navigation. It includes an essay by a transportation expert about the trains that followed the canal route, and competed for the Anthracite market. My current book project is about the Schuylkill Gap, more trains! Just back from 9 hours with Reading Blue Mountain & Northern on Budd RDCs from Port Clinton to Schuylkill Haven, Pottsville, Port Carbon, Minersville and Tremont. Slowest train ever.

Wonderful—thanks! I’ve copied the title so I can find it.

Meanwhile, back to your topic here—lots of choices—hope you enjoy whichever you decide on.

 

[BalmyZephyr]

Thanks! We wish there were a Breakfast Train! Gotta do an Amtrak sleeper for that, I guess. Cheers.

 

[BlackDiamond]

One memorable thing I remember about the Essex steam train was riding in the "Great Republic" a former New Haven RR parlor car.
Sorry for the fuzzy picture but it gives you an idea of the interior.
The name "Great Republic" is named after a clipper ship by the way.

 

[Bob Dylan]

One memorable thing I remember about the Essex steam train was riding in the "Great Republic" a former New Haven RR parlor car.
Sorry for the fuzzy picture but it gives you an idea of the interior.
The name "Great Republic" is named after a clipper ship by the way.
View attachment 32123

I have very fond Memories of the New Haven Parlor Cars from my Navy Days @ New London when I rode the Train to New York City on most Non Duty Weekends.

 

[Peter Sexton]

And AMTRAK 2 + 1 Business Class was not bad. Now one has to put up with 2 + 2.

The commuter train Danbury to Grand Central in the 70s were running some of the parlor cars. They were filthy and stunk, but definitely roomy.

 

[Brian Battuello]

I've done the Essex Steam Train and Riverboat combo and loved it. I'd have to dig to find pictures, but I have two YouTube movies at hand.

First, while we were on the boat, a different Essex steam train went by running backwards. Note the conductor in the caboose "cab":



And for reasons I can't comprehend, the consist on our return train was a steam engine running backward, followed by a caboose, followed by coaches. By a stroke of luck, the conductor asked if we would like to ride in the caboose. Probably because I had a cute kid with me (my son Eric):



Highly recommended.

 

[Brian Battuello]

Now that I think about it, the train in the first movie was the same train we rode back on. For some reason, it came into the dock area with the caboose leading and the engine pushing. Then they ran the engine around the train and attached it to the caboose (running backward) for the return trip. Seems like it would have been a lot easier to just build a Y or a loop somewhere.

 

[Mystic River Dragon]

Now that I think about it, the train in the first movie was the same train we rode back on. For some reason, it came into the dock area with the caboose leading and the engine pushing. Then they ran the engine around the train and attached it to the caboose (running backward) for the return trip. Seems like it would have been a lot easier to just build a Y or a loop somewhere.

Maybe they need something exciting to do with their time in between dropping off and picking up the tourists living it up on the riverboat!

 

[Rasputin]

I am not sure what the status is of the Mount Washington Cog but it certainly was a great trip when I took it years ago. I don't know how much steam they are running. Be advised to dress warm and take a winter coat regardless of the season.

 

[Brian Battuello]

The Cog is doing just fine and highly worth it.

 

[BlackDiamond]

I am not sure what the status is of the Mount Washington Cog but it certainly was a great trip when I took it years ago. I don't know how much steam they are running. Be advised to dress warm and take a winter coat regardless of the season.

I believe they still run steam for the first trip of the day but all other trips are Diesel powered. I have not been on it since they dieselized.

 

[BalmyZephyr]

I just saw the YouTubes and comments from April, didn't get the alerts (or missed them). Thank you!! We are going on our anniversary Essex Dinner Train on Sunday. Getting excited. Prime Rib, mmm. Oh yeah also the train. I will report back.