Conway Scenic Railroad

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ My girlfriend and I took a weekend road trip and getaway to northern New Hampshire and decided to ride the Conway Scenic Railroad—and we absolutely loved it. The train itself was incredibly nostalgic. From the interior décor to the overall feel, it really captures the charm and history of classic rail travel. The views throughout the ride were beautiful, and we actually preferred the winter ride. With the foliage gone, you get much clearer sightlines of the rivers, canyons, and mountains in the distance. In the summer, I imagine a lot of that would be hidden behind the tree line. We also enjoyed the box lunch and snacks during the ride (note: the box lunch is an additional purchase and not included with the ticket), which was a nice touch and made the experience even more relaxing. Afterward, we spent time walking around town, exploring the shops, and just enjoying the atmosphere—it’s a really charming area. Overall, this was a highlight of our trip and something we’d absolutely recommend to anyone visiting the area, especially if you’re looking for a unique and scenic experience to share with someone special 🚂❤️

My husband and I recently spent a few days in North Conway on a romantic getaway and I definitely made sure we took a ride on the train while we was there. We took the shorter of the 2 trips in the essence of time we had for the day. For being a short trip it was charming. The train was absolutely beautiful and the views of the mountains never disappoints. The next time we are in the area we will definitely take the longer trip too❤️

This is a historic railroad located in the White Mountains and it was built in 1874. The station is in North Conway. We took a 55 minute round trip ride on this train during our visit. It's such a fun activity to do if you have kids, love history, and/or love trains. The employees were friendly, the seats were comfy, and the views were amazing. We went in May so the train was pretty empty; they gave us the option of riding in first class, free of charge. Score! They also told us stories and facts through the intercom. I highly recommend a visit!

I had higher expectations but it was still a nice relaxing ride. 70% of the time was spent riding through a wall of trees and towns. When you enter the train, for best views sit on left side. Once it did open up, the views were great. Definitely consider a fall ride during peak for the best color.

We were so excited to take the scenic railroad train ride. Cut out a scenic drive in the national park to make the trip. The train car was really cool and built in 1923 very detailed features and use to be a passenger train from new Jersey to Manhattan. The ride was smooth and relaxing with the sun coming through all the windows. The scenic views were sub par from construction zones, neighborhoods, junky back yards, businesses, a corn field and one nice view of a mountain range with soccer goals all in front of it. Very disappointed from what was described on the website to what was actually delivered. Maybe the 4hr trip is better but the 1hr was just a train ride without the scenic views. I will say everyone was nice and polite and the car was exceptionally clean. Adding pictures of the #view of your doing the 1hr to save your time.

We had a really enjoyable experience. We travelled in Dome class which does give you better views. The trees along the track obscure much of the views so you really have to enjoy the journey itself. It is quite an expensive activity so you really have to like riding a train. I feel like they could have made the experience more valuable with a complimentary drink and snack. There is a snack bar on board but queues are long. Overall we are glad we did the journey but I wouldn’t repeat it

We took a 1-hour ride to celebrate our anniversary and had a lovely time! We bought first-class tickets and had the car entirely to ourselves (on an August Sunday). The views were lovely, the seats and car were comfortable (and the A/C had no trouble keeping up with the August heat), and we had a delightful time. For the first half of the trip there was a pre-recorded narration of the sights coming up (in a soothing Mr. Rogers–style voice — we felt like he liked us just the way we are!), which helped me get in position for photos. The second half of the trip (coming back along the same track) had no narration. Probably not good for small children with limited attention spans, but a delightful, relaxing experience for adults who like scenery and history. One thing to watch out for: We did not allow for the dense traffic we experienced on our way to the station, and we ended up being the last people aboard and had to scramble to get our boarding passes. In general, traffic in the area during the summer was a lot thicker and slower than I expected. (Since we were the only people in the first-class car, though, it didn’t matter that we were the last ones aboard.) There were a few fun historical exhibits in the station; it's worth taking the time before or after your ride to check those out.

Riding the Conway Scenic Railroad was a truly unforgettable experience like stepping back in time while gliding through some of New Hampshire’s most breathtaking landscapes. The vintage train cars were beautifully restored, and the ride itself was smooth, peaceful, and full of charm. As we traveled through lush forests and over scenic bridges, the fall colors were absolutely stunning, making every moment feel like a moving postcard. The staff were incredibly friendly and shared fascinating local history throughout the journey, adding depth to the views outside the window. Whether you're a train enthusiast or just looking for a relaxing and scenic escape, this ride is a perfect blend of nostalgia, nature, and New England charm.

I'm a railfan so I admit I am pretty biased. A bad train ride (which this certainly is not) is still better than nearly anything else. We came from New York to ride the train because of its historical connections to the Maine Central and Boston and Maine and I was not disappointed. We rode the 1-hour train ride and I paid extra to upgrade to the reserved seating dome. We had a great time and the trip length was just right for our kid. For those wanting a longer ride, there is one available through some really majestic scenery. They have lots of wonderful trains on display, and anyone familiar with New England railroading will get a kick out of their restored F-units, "Bluebird" Geep, and other such things. A model railroad club is located on premises and sometimes open (check first). The gift shop was nice. I have a couple of negatives though regarding the trip: (1) the diesel engine was painted for the NYC railroad which isn't really appropriate for a railroad in Maine (non-railfans can ignore that point altogether); (2) our dome leaked some water through the upper glass when the track started out rocking back and forth, though it stopped over time; (3) parking is a bit dicey if there are other events going on; (4) the taped narration was at times really loud and at other times really hard to hear. Since I didn't want to listen to it I was okay with it; (5) the temperature of the dome fluctuated from very warm to very cool when the A/C kicked on and off. All in all, I had a great time. If I wasn't a railfan, some of my negatives would have probably knocked a star off of my review.

An $84.00 Scenic Train Ride... Through Backyards and Chaos" One of the adventures I was looking forward to the most on our trip was the scenic train ride on the Conway Scenic Railroad through the White Mountains of New Hampshire. It's advertised as: "The 11-mile 55-minute round-trip Valley Train recreates the classic mid-twentieth century experience of traveling from town to town by train. Enjoy the sights and sounds of a traditional small-town train as it ambles its way along the Conway Branch. Valley Trains run several times a day from May to November, boarding at our one-of-a-kind 1874-built Victorian North Conway train station at Norcross Circle in North Conway Village. The train features a snack bar. Please refrain from bringing outside food on the train." Back in August I reserved two window seats in the dome car that would allow Julia and me to each have a window seat and face each other. I even contacted the booking agent prior to the reservation to make sure that I understood the seating arrangements, and she replied that I was correct that if I reserved seats B1 and B4 it would be what I wanted. What she or the website doesn't tell you that your dream train trip will consist of standing in confusing lines, wandering around a chaotic parking situation, and then taking a "scenic" ride past the backsides of mobile homes and dumpsters. And you get to pay good money for this "adventure." We arrived 45 minutes early (because we're those people who actually read instructions and try to overachieve) only to find parking basically didn't exist. After a nice brisk walk from what felt like another ZIP code, we discovered that even though we had printed reservations, we still needed "boarding passes" -- available only from a mysterious Will Call window hidden behind 200 people in a line evidently waiting for the same thing. (Note the sign for the Will Call Window in the picture and imagine 200 to 300 people standing in front of it.) No one working there seemed to know where it was, including the people working there. After getting sent inside to a ticket window, outside to another ticket window, and back into the ticket window again, I finally found a clerk who told me I was finally at the right window. She asked for my name -- twice -- before finding my tickets in a second box like she was uncovering buried treasure. As we were getting ready to board after a delay of 15 or so minutes, they tell us that the dining car we were scheduled to be on has been put out of service and if we want, we can get over-priced drinks and snacks from the train station to take with us. Boarding was another adventure. One small plastic step stool, set on a slant, to reach up about 15 inches to the steps for hundreds of people to climb up into the train. Very OSHA chic. We then climbed the steps to the dome car, only to realize our carefully chosen window seats (B1 and B4) had magically transformed into H1 and H2 -- a window and an aisle. The train steward shows up, asks if everyone found their seats OK and turns around and leaves without waiting for an answer. So, I decide that I'll discuss the change in our seats when we get back to the station and settle in to enjoy our scenic train ride. When I asked later, the response was basically, "Yeah, we can change your seats anytime we feel like it." And the view? Spectacular -- if you've ever wanted to see the backyards of trashy run-down trailers, the rear ends of local businesses, and a school soccer field. We also crossed a bridge (exciting!) and saw some scraggly trees and a cornfield that had already been harvested. After about five miles, the train stopped at a rundown train depot, the conductor switched ends, and back we went on the exact same track. The best part? There isn't one. So, if you're looking for a scenic journey through disappointment, disorganization, and the occasional chain-link fence, this train ride is for you. Everyone else: save your sanity and take a drive instead. You'll see more, spend less, and probably find better snacks.

We were able to take the 1 hour ride out of North Conway. We enjoyed the train ride...

I am going to say this is about a 3.75 stars for us, so I am rounding up to a 4. My main issue was the cost, I think for the first class seating (there is AC in the summer for those wondering, not the standard seats), we did not do the dome seating, it was close to $150 for two of us on the Sawyer River 2.5 hour ride. I understand the cost of upkeep and running the trains is not cheap so we sucked it up because this was an experience. Not all train rides run everyday. I had called ahead of time to ask if the dome was worth it, she said if this is a bucket list item for you, do it. From videos we watched online, it seems to be worth the money to do in the fall- we went in June when everything was very GREEN and that's all you saw. We decided to buy tickets day of at the window since we were driving and were afraid what delays we could encounter. They let you select your seats, but i mean we had no idea what was good and what wasn't since this was our first time. And they all seemed to be pretty good. It was a Thursday so the train cars were not packed, most couples and families each had their own table to themselves in the train car. I imagine in the fall it gets PACKED. I would suggest booking online in those cases It was neat because they narrated the ride as we went, gave us some background- the seats were very comfy and clean. They did have snacks for purchase and I believe you could purchase lunch vouchers ahead of time, we did not and just planned to eat after the train ride. Overall, it was cool and I'd consider doing it again down the road, but it is for sure a touristy thing. I don't know that we had any locals on our train other than people working it.

The most disappointing part of our vacation. For a family of 3 (2 adults, 1 child) in the premium section (dome windows) it was $156.388 You are told to be there 30 minutes early, but when you arrive you have to wait for 20+ minutes in the gift shop. With a child this is not ideal. They could put some benches inside the ticket area or something... It drives 5 miles down the road, stops for 10 minutes while they move the engine from one side pf the train to the other, then drive back to the station. The trip says it will be an hour and 20 minutes, it took 50 minutes. The guide only points things out going one way, the way back is in silence. And if you sit on the wrong side of the train (most things are on the right side) you don't get to see it on the way back. Our son even asked to lay down on the way back to the station because it was boring. Overall we were really disappointed, later we heard another couple chatting at the hotel who was discussing an awesome train tour they did, apparently the Mt Washington COG railway is less expensive (would be $142 for us) and was really awesome. Lesson learned....read the reviews first! - they also should change the same and cross out scenic...the photo here is the only view we got...and maybe a quick glimpse of the Saco. We luckily missed the waste treatment view....

CUSTOMER SERVICE IS NON-EXISTENT!!! Prior to booking, called 6 times over the course of a week, leaving detailed messages. ***No one returned my call or bothered to email.*** At 11:00p.m. the night before I received an email indicating that they changed/moved our seats. The seats we booked were booked for Medical Reasons - the ones we were moved to did not accommodate our needs. Talking to the man at the window the next day - ***he didn't care***. Then he spoke to the female attendant, telling her that we wanted to cancel our booking because we didn't like our seats. (Really?!?) I had to speak over the crowd to tell her that it wasn't because we didn't like the seats, it was because ***the seats they moved us to didn't meet our needs*** (whereas the ones we originally booked did). ***She didn't seem to care either***. Then they had the nerve to not refund the entire price - under the guise that I canceled, so it's my fault, and I have to pay their processing fees. ***They took no ownership of the situation!!!*** And, while their policy may say they reserve the right to move seats, the seats they move you to should at least be comparable and meet your needs!!!!! What a rip-off! The place is a joke, and doesn't care about its patrons. They assume they can do what they want since there isn't a local competitor. It's unfortunate they don't have integrity and do what's right. I do *not* recommend this company.

Important to NOT BUY box lunch, you will spend the first two hours on the trip in line. They also move the seats around from your booking, so be prepared to make sure the tickets you pick up match your confirmation! Not very organized and get there early for parking...

Make sure if you purchase 1st class that you do not let them switch your car and make your train ride a horrible experience!!!!! They just do that to us and everyone else who bought 1st class on October 11, 2025!!!!! Too much disappointment to even mention all of it.

The Conway Scenic Railroad has everything going for it: a great location in northern New Hampshire, right on the edge of the gorgeous White Mountains, and some of there most beautiful scenery imaginable. And, if you happen to be a rail fan, it's got some really nice engines and cars for touring. A lot to like, and we did like a lot of it -- but not all. Here's what we experienced the other day, and hope it provides some guidance for others who night be interested: We took the near-five-hour trip into the White Mountains, up to Crawford Notch. Lovely. We rode in the spiffy dome car, a pricey trip ($185 per) we felt would be extra fun. The views all around are good, although with the sun out the reflections could make some viewing difficult. The seating is ok; this isn't luxury seating; basically a table in the middle of each section of two sofa seats accommodating two persons on each. Not a bunch of leg room, and you hope your across-the-table neighbors are easy-going folks. Our dome car had AC (not all cars do), and it did get chilly. The problem for us arose with the narrator. He's a gentleman who tells travelers over the public address system what they're seeing on both sides of the train. And he never stops. Never. For four and a half hours, he drones on and on, almost no breaks, often repeating the same stories, coming and going. It moves from being amusing to being annoying and finally wanting to strangle the narrator (not seriously, please). It frankly nearly ruined the trip for us; the company urgently needs to trim the narration at least in half. You can buy a box sandwich lunch for the trip; the box is waiting when you board the train at the station. It's a decent sandwich with some extra goodies, priced at $20. There are clean restrooms in the cars, and there are conductors if you need assistance. Note: the dome car is not handicapped accessible though most other cars are. The Conway rail station is nice, with a small gift shop and museum and some very nice staffers eager to help you with any concerns. We'd suggest getting tickets in advance online to avoid showing up to find the train full. There are several shorter daily excursions if you don't want the long one we rode. maybe we should have done that. Still, it was a generally good experience, and we'll try to remember the good parts.

We bought the best seats possible in the domed section of the train so we could see all around. The seats were comfortable but the windows were dirty, making it difficult to take pictures or appreciate the gorgeous scenery that we paid premium prices to see. The staff were all very welcoming and friendly, however this 1 detail would have made SO much difference to the experience! I hope they read their reviews.

I purchased 2 tickets online for the Conway Scenic Railroad for the first class fall foliage train ride about a month in advance. We drove up for 4 hours to get to our hotel the night before the train ride, which was scheduled for 1:30 pm on Sunday, 10/12. I received an email the night before, 10/11 at 7:18 pm, saying the first class car had some problem, and needed to be pulled from the train. We were told we could still go, but in coach class. It was mobbed, and I didn't want coach class. I wanted to be comfortable in first class. I went there to try and get my money refunded, but they told me I could only get a credit. I have no intentions of driving up there again for another 4 hours, to possibly have the same thing happen. I honestly feel, that since this was canceled by Conway Scenic Railroad, that I should get a full refund. They told me there is no way this is possible. This is completely inappropriate business practice, and I'm hoping you will help me get the refund. I've tried calling, but they don't have voicemail, so I can't leave a message. I've also sent numerous emails, and have not heard back.

We visited in July weather was rainy but nice . Paid for VIP for a group of 10. View were nice. We decided to leave our rail car and walk thru . We were not impressed. We paid 100 for ten beers. the PA system wasn't working so you could not hear about the area . I would not pay for VIP however I would not sit in the other seats on the train Time for a little TLC . This would be so nice if the upgraded the inside of the rail cars

This mountaineer train ride to Crawford notch was less than exciting. Two hours up and 2 hours back was way to long to be sitting. Foliage was past peak and not much to see. Price was expensive at 200 a person but better than sitting below and seeing nothing but rocks and tree roots. Narrator held mic too close so the feedback was horrific giving us all a headache. Monotone and less than enthusiastic reader. Windows in dome were filthy and difficult to see out of. Food was deplorable. Cheese was full of mold. This was on my bucket list so check but waste of half a day. Drive up the mountain yourself is my recommendation!

If you make a reservation and have to cancel due to unforeseen circumstances they will honor your ticket for a year, BS ! I tried to make reservations 3 months later and they kept blowing me off or trying multiple times redirect me. FT, $80 down the tube. Never again!

We did the hour long scenic train ride and we had a good time. We didn't get the dome tickets but the second level one with the seats facing out. The chairs were comfortable and you can see lots of scenery. I liked that you switched seats with the other side so you can see everything. They do have a snack shake on the train but we didn't get anything. Overall a little pricey but a fun one time thing!

Absolute garbage. Just did it this past weekend and did not live up to the expectations AT ALL. Had I known, I would of spent that money and used that valuable time Elsewhere! The narrator during the ride makes you want to sleep! He should be narrating National Geographic and not a Snow train ride history. It was definitely not worth it. Even the kids were bored after the first 5 Mins. Nothing spectacular. Very underwhelming. I'm usually the one to give the benefit on the doubt, but this definitely WASN'T IT!

We booked first class on the Mountaineer to enjoy the peak foliage 1:30-5:30 pm 10-9-25 and were put in green seats facing the people across from us and we were sitting in REVERSE one way (vertigo issues) and our views were horrible - small windows dirty glares I was closing my eyes most of it going in reverse could barely see - legs all scrunched up as facing others - then returning back we were forward but still extremely limited views as we were on the wrong side of train - windows dirty too SMALL - children crying noisy couldn't hear narrator at times arrived Crawford notch and just enough time to exit train and use restroom they said 3:45 pm departure yet 3:35 saying we had to board !! Rushing out of restroom no time for photos -- more to write but just an overall bad experience sad - I see YouTube videos with these red seats all facing forward with larger windows !! One more thing we were told to be out there ready to board at 12:50 pm and at 1:30 finally boarded - cold windy breathing in fumes from engines ugh - watching people board front trains and were in the back trains and our seats should have have never been considered first class !

Ugh...I should have read reviews Before my trip and I could have saved myself $110. Weeks took the Sawyer River 2 hour ride in coach. There's truly nothing to see except scrubby trees along the tracks. There were only a couple places where you got a view of the mountains. The narrator was so boring. He took the time to point out things like the town elementary school building, the such & such ski resort and so & so's back yard. Very little history was narrated. I know I wasn't the only one bored because I counted at least 3 other folks in my car who were napping on the return trip. Please don't waste your time or money! If you want scenic vistas, drive the Kanc. It's much more beautiful and it's FREE!

To be honest in the beginning there wasn't much to see as far as scenery goes. But as we approached the top we could see over the side and how high we were. The views of the mountains were special. Narration was good and first class seats were comfy. We went today (July 15) but I recommend taking this ride in the fall.

Took the hour long "scenic" train. spent a little more for the premium dome car which was $40 per seat. I want my money back. There is no scenery. You go about 5 miles behind commercial buildings which is about all you see. Perhaps a corn field and one river. The train then stops and travels the same exact tracks in reverse back to the station. Sad sad sad.. rent a bike, go for a walk, or hop on a motorcycle and you'll see much better landscapes and views. This is such a garbage tourist attraction. Maybe if you have a young kid that's amazed at trains, but aside from that it's a complete waste.

Great for groups! If you don't mind a leisurely ride & learn more about northern NH along the way, this is a trip for you! You are welcome to move about the train. I believe their is a drink & snack car but I stayed seated the entire ride. I love the train station itself with the gift shop & items of memorabilia to purchase. Very quaint. It's a tad expensive, but worthwhile to do at least once.

We took the Sawyer River Premium ride today and all we saw was Trees, trees, and more trees. Total waste of time and money for the laughable 360*degree view up top. Do not bother. The announcer was boring. No excitement or laughs at all.

This ranks in the category of... Been there done that and it's checked off my list. The trains are reasonably enjoyable to ride. It's only an 8 mile trip from Conway to Attitash ski area. There's a cute bar with good food at the end of the trip if you want to spend a little time in the area. There's also a hiking trail along the Saco River once you arrive. You can find it on AllTrails. The cars were relatively nostalgic. I was very disappointed and dissed that the car with the glass dome was dirty AF. I don't think they've cleaned that in 10 years. I am not sure why they don't spend at least one day a week cleaning the glass. It was significantly embarrassing , not to mention the dirt that was around the inside of the windows. If the idea is to see the views, how can you see them? You're looking through frosted glass practically. The narrator did a very good job as we went up to the ski area on the history. That was interesting overall. Definitely not worth the money. Except for the nostalgic end of it. I did love the railroad cars and first class and coach.

You can get better views driving around and looking at nature. It was to expensive for that it was 40$ is not worth the 1 hour of the "scenic" railroad. It was not very scenic at all it was mainly only for kids. It's not for adults and it's overpriced!

Such a fun ride on the Conway rails. If you are in the area this is a cute trip to sit back and relax and enjoy the breeze and the views. We chose the three hour ride and opted for an upgraded seat. Well worth it. If you're inclined to do so you can order lunch and eat on the train. The ride is just under 3 hours and they have lots of options of the times to choose. Just know they don't allow you to bring in food or drinks but I saw folks with water. I will say make a reservation early. This was booked up fast and very busy. They have a narrator for most of the ride which is helpful and educational. They also have you switch sides on the up and back part of the trip so you can enjoy all the views. This was a fun, stop which I enjoyed.

Please do not waste your money on the trip between N. Conway and Conway. It is 1 hour @ 5mph costing you $39.00 per ticket you will never get back. They should be ashamed of themsekves because there is nothing scenic about the back of hotels, schools or junkyards. Not kid friendly unless your kids love bordom. THIS IS A RIPOFF.....DO NOT BOOK.

We decided to go to New Hampshire to see the foliage this year. We thought that a train ride would be a great way to see Fall in all its beauty. We were able to see the mountains, trees, streams, and fields. It was definitely a highlight of our trip! They have different length trips available, and they are quite affordable. The train was spacious and comfortable. This is definitely a must for visiting the area! Fun for kids and adults alike!

We are from out of town, drove 2+ hrs to get to N. Conway & booked night in hotel for this... what a waste of $120 for 2 people. snow train is a tourist trap (I imagine all their rides are much the same wasted time), ride out 30 min & back... you'll see a trailer park, people's backyards, trash piles, fields & streams, water treatment facilities... trees, trees, more trees & shrubs. Save your money/skip it. I was so disappointed & could never suggest this as an activity for anyone. disappointing is a huge understatement! Train was dirty & the employees lacked.

This trip was about setting expectations. Realized by going so late in the season due to schedule conflicts much of the 'color' would be gone, but was excited for the train ride itself. The depot opens at 9:00 am. Yes, their website says 8:30 am and Yelp says 8:00 am but it's really 9. Head over early and get your ticket at will call before the crowds overwhelm the staff working the window. The ticket giver woman recommended a nice hiking trail we took before the trip which was awesome before sitting for many hours on the train. Going early also ensures a good parking spot. There are shops and restaurants nearby so walk around a bit before boarding. We popped across the street to the Stairway Cafe and had a great breakfast although there are many other choices as well. I didn't read the site close enough to see you could order 'food' in advance but our seatmates did and I'm glad we had breakfast. Was just a cheese meat lettuce sandwich on what looked like a hamburger bun with a bag of chips and a bag of cookies. So much trash and the sound of all those bags rustling and being opened at once drowned out the narrator a couple of times. They have a 'strict' rule about no outside food allowed however the 'snack bar' only offers the most unhealthy choices of food. Nary a piece of fruit or even a granola bar. They did have chili available on the day we rode but it sold out quickly. If you are going to confiscate food then consider adding something better than sugar, carbs, salt and soda. The train ride was interesting. We bought a ticket for the dome and so if you are claustrophobic this is a good option. We rode on the Leslie Ann. The entire coach could use a deep cleaning. Even the clear table tops were covered in the handprints of previous riders. At $175 a ticket at least a squirt of Windex between passengers would be appreciated. The narrator did a great job although our seatmates and we were chuckling at the numerous mentions of those who had lost their lives along the track line. The other issue for us was noise. Our dome car was ridiculously loud often to the point of not being able to hear the announcer. It was as if everyone became quite bored with the scenery and just struck up their own conversation each increasing in volume as everyone chimed in. They do make an announcement at the beginning about keeping voices low and conversation to a minimum but this admonition is worth repeating a few times. The route goes to Crawford and takes about 2 hours one way. Sometimes we were going maybe 15 mph and others a bit faster. Over bridges it was slow going expectedly. Because the trees had lost their leaves you could clearly see the hills and mountains as well as the Saco River in several places. Once in Crawford the engine moves from the front to the back and you go back the way you came. So if your across the aisle friends are not offering to switch seats (which really is an absurd thing to ask when you've paid that much for your seat) then you will see the EXACT SAME SCENERY going back and you did going. Midway through the return trip we made our way through the cars to find a restroom. Admittedly walking between the cars was a bit exciting even though there were windows and not open air. It was loud and exhilarating. Each train car was progressively darker and also quieter. Most folks were stretched out across the rows in silent slumber. We did find two open seats on the opposite side of the train to catch that scenery on the way back. If you want folks to have an "equal opportunity experience" then require everyone to disembark at Crawford and print on their ticket the opposite side seat to which they should return. It's the same boarding process as getting on which took 15 minutes max. We stopped for a little over 30. We may do this again but definitely not the dome. The windows needed to be cleaned and power washed keeping in mind the only way to photograph the experience is through the windows which do not open. As business owners, one can look at one, two or three star reviews and with an eye roll say 'you can't please all the people all the time' however a $3 bottle of Ajax could make a world of difference up in the top tier of ticket experiences. Same with a couple bags of fruit or some healthier kinds of chips.

Two weeks ago we took a trip to NH and decided to take the Conway Premium Class - Upper Dome train ride. This is the upgrade section of train that has a glass dome roof and AC. 76$ for two with taxes. We drove though white mountain but missed all the look out points as we had to get to train station. My excitement soon turned to disappoint. The description of ride did not clearly describe the route. It essentially went in a straight line we saw the HS, library, creek and back to train station we went. It was so disheartening. Don't do it!!

Super disappointed that the 2 hr rides have been discontinued. Until now, I would take the 2 hr ride 2 and sometimes 3 times during the "train Season.

BEWARE!!!!!! Do not bother with this!!! Don't waste your time and hard earned money!!!!! Unfortunately both me and my Wife came here today and there was absolutely no private parking all of it was public and you can already guess that there were no parking spots to be found. Any open parking spots were only two hours long and our train ride was going to be 4 to 5 hours long. I strongly suggest you do not come here in the fall. I'm not sure how it is in the winter or the summer or the spring but ultimately, we couldn't find a parking spot and wasted a lot of money. Don't make the same mistake as I did. Judging by the negative reviews maybe I dodged a bullet anyways.

The views on the hour-long train ride were not even as nice as the views from the highway on my drive up here. The train crept along at 5 miles an hour. I bought and ate some snacks to keep myself awake. It cost $30/person. They should have paid me for taking the ride instead.

Like someone drone on about trivia information while sitting on a squeaking rail at for over four hours? Do you like not seeing the forest for the trees? ( limited scenic views) Do you have $80 and four and a halls hours to waste? Then this excursion is for you,

Paid a premium price to ride in the dome car on the Mountaineer (a 4-hour excursion). There was an ongoing narration of areas of interest along the route but, unfortunately, we could not hear what was being said for the racket of boisterous people surrounding us. They might as well have been in a bar watching a big screen TV for all the attention that was paid. Felt like we were in a party train. To make it worse, a "conductor" came around and-with a very loud, booming voice and spewed out useless information and most talked about how he loved volunteering for this gig and from what countries people originated on the tour. That was the icing on the cake in terms of drowning out the narration. Seriously? I didn't pay $400 to hear some braggart talk about his part-time volunteer job. Also, it is clearly stated that NO food or beverage is allowed to be brought on board, so we knuckled under and paid the extra $20 per person for a lunch of a sad ham+cheese sandwich, bag of chips, bottle of water, piece of cheese and big cookie. It was high-school cafeteria food at gourmet restaurant prices. Clearly, others had ignored the policy has most people seemed to have brought along their own snacks and beverages. Lastly, the route of the train was built for practical transport ... not for sightseeing. As such, there's primarily a bunch of scrub trees and uninteresting scenery in view for most of the ride. What glimpses there were of a couple of waterfalls, Mount Washington, and rivers were seen through the seat-level windows (not the dome windows) -- all of which were pretty dirty, making picture-taking a sad affair. Some of the regular (i.e. lower-priced) cars seemed quieter and a bit warmer and more comfortable. Definitely stay out of the dome!

We did the 2 hour ride--beautiful scenery! The windows open for a nice breeze and photos without a glare. The seats also turn around so you can face forward/backward, and the narrator encouraged riders to switch sides on the way back so everyone got to see everything on each side of the tracks. We didn't order the boxed lunches because we didn't want to pay $20 for a sandwich; we got lunch at a restaurant nearby after our train ride. It was a nice touristy experience looking at the fall foliage and learning more about the local history.

Very scenic and beautiful and very relaxing. Great history and educational information. Rode up top, best ride.

Very enjoyable train ride, with great views and interesting history. We went without AC, which was fine.

This time we went 1 on the hour ride. For an extra 3 bucks we sat on the open end back of car. Narrator was knowledgeable and took multiple pictures for us. Worth the money

Unfortunately this was probably the biggest waste of 2 hours of my trip. My dad insisted on doing this since he did it in the 80's and there was no scenery I saw that I couldn't see in Texas. If you want to see a lot of trees, private drives, and a couple stone rivers, this is the "scenic" tour for you!

This was a lot of fun. Got to enjoy the lovely fall foliage and lots of pretty views! Will definitely go again!

We selected the Mountaineer level and paid for first class tickets. This was a very disappointing 125$ x 4 spent. We were in a "first" class car and we could not understand one thing the speaker said on the tour. For four plus hours unintelligible words blared from an overhead speaker. Multiple people asked to have the speaker turned off in our car. With 30 minutes left in the trip, we didn't hear anything more and the patrons on the train car cheered. We don't know if the audio part of the tour was over or if the train personnel succeeded in turning the speaker off in our car. I can't overstate this enough- it was like listening to the teacher on the Charlie Brown cartoons. I could not hear ONE word during the entire train ride. Was it a mail functioning speaker in just our car? Is is always like this? I am not sure, The seats were dirty and trash shoved in the arm rests. It looked like this train car hadn't been cleaned in a long time. The two bright points- the pre-ordered lunch was good and despite an auditory overload, the views were pretty. I do think the train should let you know the preferable side to sit. They suggest changing seats at the half way point but you are at the mercy of the seat mates across the aisle. We viewed the side of rocks the majority of the trip. I would not recommend this activity.

It was not scenic at all. If you just want a train ride it's great. Staff was very nice, but more scenery is just driving down the road

A great little trip. Took the 55 min ride. A few views and great chats. The staff was great and the conductor looked like Mickey Rooney

The last review is SPOT ON! One of the conductors was INCREDIBLY rude and abrupt and was also screaming about how there were no snacks... I feel bad for the other conductors and staff because that one conductor ruined it for everyone.. I also understand the overhead, and that the $$ goes to a cause, but man was it overpriced. My kids liked it, but they didn't LOVE it. For a 2.5 hour drive, and paying for a hotel. It isn't worth it

What a great way to dive into history first hand and enjoy the local scenery as well! I booked my ticket online 30 mins prior to departure and upon arriving my ticket was already printed and waiting on me!! The hospitality from the ticket counter to the food and beverage station on the train was very pleasing. I could tell all that worked there were veterans in there field. My only critique would be that it may be time to upgrade the surround sounds so the conductor could be heard clearly during the hour of story telling. I can appreciate all the old train cars rattles and sounds, but wish I could of heard the history more clearly as the history of the land is something that truly excites me!! I look forward to taking another tour as this one was the scenic 2hr tour and I would love to try the 3 hour tour! Also I found it cool that if you booked your ticket the day departure, prior to 3 pm they could have offered a lunch for additional purchase. The gift shop could use an upgrade in the types of souvenirs offered as I am not a train collector, the rocks offered didn't appear to have any connection to the land, and the shirts offered was in one style in two colors. With both critiques aside I would recommend this ride as a great relaxation. It was a fun time that did not require a lot of energy and is good for a slow down experience in the middle of busy tourist life. Thank you all for your service!!

Journey to the North Pole review: Purchased tickets at $85 pp for 14 plus 2 babies under 1. Total of 9 children & 7 adults. Spent over $1200 For this Joke! Thankfully we did a nice little pre- polar express night /day of this for our 9 grandchildren. Gave them Blankets/ matching elf pj's/ GOLDEN TICKETS/ hot chocolate and cookies. They've been looking forward to this " event" since I purchased the tix in June! PEOPLE, If you haven't yet purchased tix, do yourself a favor and DON'T! This was a joke. Someone surely played a cruel trick on all of us. There was absolutely NO guidance....no smiles/ Train engineer or whoever yelled into the train intercom " There's NO SNACKS on this train tonight etc and the children immediately stopped smiling and asked why was he mad at us??!?!!? Really?!? You people should be ashamed of yourselves. Where were these elves that welcome you and sing to you? Where was the heartfelt dramatic reading of 'Twas the Night Before Xmas, or 6 year old grandson could have done a nicer job. Why did Santa practically fall off the stairs? I am beyond livid at this joke of a money grabber. Gifts for the kids....Where were they? ( We also had dome seating! ) Where was the the hot chocolate and cookies for the children ? Thankfully I had already done this for them as a "preview" for them. How can 9 children dislike a trip to the North pole so much? All 7 adults kept making excuses and smiling and singing to over compensate for this absolutely ONE AND DONE mess. No thought went into this evening At all except by us. However you happily STOLE our money and called this a seasonal event! Ha! Never again. I'll take my kids elsewhere, where they actually care that the children have a memorable time. I can't stress this enough everyone....PLEASE SAVE YOUR MONEY and your children's Xmas fantasies. If they believed in Santa before this ridiculous "Journey ", they surely won't after. They should rename it: "The Journey to Hell and Back". Would have been nice if there was a CONDUCTOR with Golden Tickets. I've said my peace.

We had a great experience taking our 2.5 yo son! we booked the 1 hr (to Conway) trip and that was perfect for what we were going for, train ride for the baby. We did book the first class seats (the upper deck was booked) and it was not worth the extra cost, esp with the baby. He would have been FREE in the other seats and they were just as great and you can open the window (which is cool) and close to the snack car. They do serve beers/light alcohol so that was a nice surprise! Enjoy.

We took the Conway Scenic Railway Mountaineer train on October 13, 2020. The train was excellent as were the staff. Everything occurred exactly on time. Beside one bottle of water provided, drinks were extra. The ride was comfortable, interesting and the scenery was awesome. A surprising plus was the running commentary and history lesson piped throughout the train. We enjoyed ourselves very much and we both recommend this trip to anybody interested. Our weather was rainy and cool. We were a little disappointed that we were a tad late for peak foliage but that's always a guessing game. We've been told the foliage peaked a little early this year due to weather conditions and a bit of drought. It also didn't help that there was a rain and wind storm two days before our trip. That said, we still had a lot of foliage left to enjoy. Time and money well spent.