The Conway Scenic Railroad (reporting mark CSRX) is a heritage railway in North Conway, New Hampshire, United States, owned and operated by Profile Mountain Holdings Corp. The railroad operates over two historic railway routes: a line from North Conway to Conway that was formerly part of the Conway Branch of the Boston and Maine Railroad, and a line from North Conway through Crawford Notch to Fabyan that was once part of the Mountain Division of the Maine Central Railroad.
The Conway line is owned by Conway Scenic, and the Mountain Division is owned by the State of New Hampshire. The railroad’s main terminal is located in historic downtown North Conway in the Mount Washington Valley. The station complex has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1979.
Conway Scenic Railroad 7470
Steam locomotive #7470 was built by the Grand Trunk Railway Point St. Charles Shops at Montreal, Quebec, in 1921 with serial #22/1500. It is a coal-fired switching locomotive with an 0-6-0 wheel arrangement; it has 51” driving wheels and 22” x 26” cylinders. It develops 36,700 lbs of tractive effort.
The weight of the locomotive in the working order is 87 tons and the tender weighs 65 tons. The locomotive is equipped with super-heaters. Originally built as Grand Trunk Railway #1795, it soon became Canadian National Railway #7470, Class 0-18-a. It was acquired in 1968 by Dwight Smith, and in 1974 joined the start-up Conway Scenic Railroad as #47. It was renumbered to #7470 in 1989.
The engine was out of service for the last four seasons while we performed a major, federally-mandated inspection and overhaul. The work took place right here in our roundhouse with the aid of a specialized contractor and has been successfully completed.
History Of Conway Scenic Railroad
Conway Scenic Railroad was founded by local businessmen Bill Levy and Carroll Reed and a Boston and Maine Railroader named Dwight Smith. They purchased the abandoned station and rail line from Conway to Intervale (7 miles) from the Boston and Maine in 1974. Smith bought Canadian National 7470 and the first train was run on August 4, 1974.
In 1984, the Mountain Division was abandoned, and for ten years the Conway Scenic was insulated without a connection to the wider United States rail network, until 1994 when they obtained an operating lease from the state of New Hampshire, who had purchased the line from the Maine Central the year before. On December 17, 1994, the first train to Bartlett was run, with operations through Crawford Notch starting in September 1995. The first train to Fabyan Station was run in September 1996. Expansions east to Redstone (a village in Conway) and west to Hazen Road in Whitefield were added in June 1998, but those two points have only been used for special runs.
North Conway Scenic Railroad
Join us for an old-fashioned railroading experience! Whether you choose one of the Valley routes to Conway or Bartlett or the legendary Crawford Notch excursion, this is a journey back in time the whole family will enjoy! On the Valley Train, choose Coach, First Class, or experience dining on the rails aboard the dining car Chocorua. The Notch Train offers Coach, First-Class, or Dome seating. With the First Class package, enjoy lunch on one of our beautiful dining cars.
Address: 38 Norcross Circle, Route 16 & 302, North Conway, NH 03860
Phone: (603) 356-5251
Take A Trip & Enjoy Lunch Along The Historic Conway Railroad
Relive the golden days of railroading as you travel aboard the elegant Dining Car, the Chocorua on the Valley Trains.
Attitash Mountain Resort is honored to be the culinary partner for the Conway Scenic Railroad to offer fine dining aboard the Chocorua dining car. Enjoy dining off a menu, complete with friendly and attentive service, in a beautiful restaurant where the views are constantly changing.
Dining on the rails is a tradition dating back to the mid-to-late 19th Century when railroads across the country began offering meal service as an alternative to the roadhouses that were located at their water stops. As the competition among the railroads increased, dining car service was taken to new levels, and today a fascination with this tradition continues.
Conway Scenic Railroad North Conway NH
The Notch Train, dating to 1874, provides New England’s most scenic rail journey, a slow but spectacular 5½-hour out-and-back trip from North Conway to Crawford Notch. Accompanying live commentary recounts the railroad’s history and folklore. Reservations are required. Dogs OK in coach class.
The same company operates the antique steam-powered Valley Train (April to October; coach/1st class/dome/dining car from $18/23/27/38), which makes a shorter journey through Mt Washington Valley, stopping in Conway and Bartlett. Sunset trains, dining trains, and other special events are all available. Fares are reduced for kids aged 12 and under.
Both trains offer the option of 1st-class or dome-car seats for an extra $10 to $30.
