These rail routes showcase the region’s history, fall colors, and dramatic landscapes.
“I have seldom heard a train go by and not wished I was on it,” renowned travel writer Paul Theroux once wrote. We agree. There’s something nostalgically charming about riding the rails, letting the scenery unfold in a slow-paced, easygoing rhythm.
During the Golden Age of Railroads, from about 1865 to 1916 when the network was at its peak, hundreds of trains crisscrossed the region, carrying summer “rusticators,” as vacationers were called then, to scenic destinations throughout Northern New England. Later, the growing popularity of automobiles and the expansion of highways led to the decline of railroad travel. Today, savvy businesspeople and passionate enthusiasts are restoring some of the original lines and vintage locomotives, recapturing the romantic allure of train travel. Hop aboard!