The towers of Conway’s [1] whimsical train station lord over the main street of North Conway like a beacon from a long-vanished age. Passengers can relive that era of Victorian splendor on the restored Conway Scenic Railroad (Main St./Rte. 16, 603/356-5251, www.conwayscenic.com [2]), which offers three scenic rides around the Mount Washington Valley on vintage trains.
The Valley Train (mid-Apr.–mid-Oct., $22–36 adults, $15–28 children 4–12, free–$16 children under 4) takes in the scenery of the Presidential Range [3] and Saco River with a two-hour trip to Bartlett. A Pullman observation car has original wicker chairs for rocking as you roll.
The Notch Train (mid-June–mid-Oct., $40–65 adults, $30–40 children 4–12, $10–28 children under 4) drives straight up through the heart of Crawford Notch [4] with a five-hour chug along dizzying cliffs and sky-high railroad bridges.
For the ultimate in nostalgia, hitch a ride with Steam Locomotive #7470, a 1921 coal-fired locomotive that runs periodic short-haul trips between Conway and North Conway. Call for current schedule and rates.
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/new-england/new-hampshire/white-mountains/the-presidential-range/the-conways
[2] http://www.conwayscenic.com
[3] http://www.moon.com/destinations/new-england/new-hampshire/white-mountains/the-presidential-range
[4] http://www.moon.com/destinations/new-england/new-hampshire/white-mountains/the-presidential-range/crawford-notch