New England Southern Railroad in Canterbury, New Hampshire
Rail preservation groupA working freight railroad, not a museum; no public visiting hours
The New England Southern Railroad has served central New Hampshire's shippers since 1981, keeping freight moving on the state-owned White Mountain Branch between Concord and Lincoln.
- Founded in 1981
- Based in Canterbury, NH
- Works the White Mountain Branch
- Class III shortline freight railroad
New England Southern Railroad at a glance
- Hours
- No public hours; working freight railroad
- Admission
- Not applicable
- Best for
- Rail historians and shortline fans
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
- WhereCanterbury, New Hampshire(opens in a new tab)
- Phone(888) 265-2735
- Websitenewenglandsouthernrailroad.com(opens in a new tab)
Follow New England Southern Railroad
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to New England Southern Railroad? Bring Rally along.
In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Canterbury.
Rally Takes the Train
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Four decades of hauling freight through central New Hampshire
The New England Southern Railroad started in 1981 and has grown into one of New Hampshire's longest-running shortlines. It is a Class III railroad, reporting mark NEGS, serving industries in central New Hampshire. Its trains work the White Mountain Branch, a line owned by the State of New Hampshire, where it carries common carrier obligations between Concord and Lincoln.
For years the railroad was headquartered at the tower in Concord, until Pan Am evicted it in 2010. It now operates out of Canterbury, where it runs a transload facility for customers moving goods between truck and rail. Its early years, from 1981 to the mid-1990s, are covered in a book, The New England Southern Railroad Volume 1, which collects more than 200 color and black and white photographs from well-known New England railroad photographers.
How rail fans can follow the railroad
There is no museum building or public collection to tour. The best ways to explore the railroad's story are the photo history book, the historical profile kept by Nashua City Station's online history pages, and the railroad's Facebook page. Its working facility is an active freight site, so contact the railroad before visiting for any reason.
Don’t miss
- The New England Southern Railroad Volume 1A photo history covering the railroad from 1981 to the mid-1990s, with more than 200 images.
- The White Mountain BranchThe state-owned line between Concord and Lincoln that the railroad serves as a common carrier.
For young train spotters
This is a freight railroad, so there are no rides, exhibits or kids programs. Older kids who love real working trains may enjoy paging through the photo history with a grown-up. For a train ride or a hands-on visit, try one of the railroad museums elsewhere in New Hampshire.
Plan your visit: tips for New England Southern Railroad
- Do not visit the freight facility without contacting the railroad first.
- Check the railroad's Facebook page for news and photos.
- Look for the photo history book for the railroad's early years.
Railroaders, not curators
The New England Southern is run by working railroaders who serve freight customers in central New Hampshire. The best way to support its story as a fan is to read its published history, follow its Facebook page and respect its work sites.
Places to see New Hampshire rail history in person
For exhibits you can actually walk through, the Contoocook Railroad Museum, about 11 miles away, preserves a historic depot and covered railroad bridge. The Ashland Railroad Station Museum is about 25 miles north, and the Heritage Rail Trail in Nashua, about 40 miles south, follows an old railroad corridor through the city. See all New Hampshire train museums for more.
- Contoocook Railroad MuseumContoocook, NH · about 11 mi
- Ashland Railroad Station MuseumAshland, NH · about 25 mi
- Wolfeboro Railroad historic collectionWolfeboro, NH · about 25 mi
- Heritage Rail Trail / historic railroad exhibitsNashua, NH · about 40 mi
- Portsmouth Historical Society railroad exhibitsPortsmouth, NH · about 44 mi
- Bellows Falls Railroad Station historic siteBellows Falls, VT · about 46 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
A freight railroad carries everything from one place to another, and that makes me think of Rally packing for his trip. Into his little suitcase go his turtle toy, his green bone and his yellow ball, the things he cannot leave behind. Every boxcar is somebody's suitcase too, when you think about it. My kids love reading about trains like these; here are some train books for toddlers we like.
Free for train families
Print the Rally coloring pages before you go
Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.
Get the free coloring pages
A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)More for train families
- Train museums in New Hampshire: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in New Hampshire
- Halloween train rides in New Hampshire
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at New England Southern Railroad?
We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.
Sources
- New England Southern Railroad official website(opens in a new tab)
- New England Southern Railroad on Facebook(opens in a new tab)
Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.
New England Southern Railroad: 20 common questions
What is the New England Southern Railroad?
The New England Southern Railroad is a Class III shortline freight railroad, reporting mark NEGS, that serves industries in central New Hampshire. It was founded in 1981 and operates on the state-owned White Mountain Branch. It is a working railroad rather than a museum.
Is there a New England Southern Railroad museum?
No. The railroad does not run a museum or public exhibit space. Its history lives in a published photo book, online railroad histories and its own Facebook page. For a museum visit, the Contoocook Railroad Museum and other New Hampshire rail sites are better choices.
When was the New England Southern Railroad founded?
The railroad was founded in 1981. It has since become one of New Hampshire's longest-running shortline railroads, serving shippers in the central part of the state for more than four decades. Its first fifteen or so years, up to the mid-1990s, are the subject of a published photo history.
Where is the New England Southern Railroad based?
The railroad operates out of Canterbury, New Hampshire, where it runs a transload facility near Interstate 93 just west of Exit 18. That is an active freight site, not a visitor attraction, so contact the railroad before going there for any reason.
What line does the New England Southern Railroad operate?
It operates on the White Mountain Branch, a line owned by the State of New Hampshire, with common carrier obligations between Concord and Lincoln. That means it is responsible for providing freight service to customers along that route.
Where was the New England Southern Railroad headquartered before Canterbury?
For years the railroad's headquarters was at the tower in Concord, New Hampshire, and photos from 2004 show its locomotives posed there. It was evicted from that site by Pan Am in 2010, and it now operates out of Canterbury, a short distance up Interstate 93.
Does the New England Southern Railroad offer train rides?
No passenger excursions are advertised. The New England Southern is a freight railroad that moves goods for customers. Families looking for a ride in New Hampshire can try heritage lines such as the Granite State Railway in Lincoln or the Conway Scenic Railroad.
Can you visit the New England Southern Railroad?
The railroad does not offer public tours or visiting hours. Its facilities are working freight sites, so visiting without permission is not appropriate. If you have a question, call the railroad at (888) 265-2735 or send a message through its Facebook page.
Is there a book about the New England Southern Railroad?
Yes. The New England Southern Railroad Volume 1 tells the railroad's story from 1981 to the mid-1990s, with more than 200 rare color and black and white photographs from well-known New England railroad photographers. It is described as the most complete book written on the subject.
Where can I read about the history of the New England Southern Railroad?
Besides the photo history book, Nashua City Station's online history section has a profile of the New England Southern Railroad Company with a timeline, routes and stations. Railroad history websites also feature photos, such as its locomotives at the Concord tower in 2004.
What does the New England Southern Railroad do at Canterbury?
The Canterbury site is a transload facility, where freight is shifted between trucks and rail cars for customers who are not directly on the line. It is easily reached from Interstate 93, just west of Exit 18.
Does the New England Southern Railroad have a Facebook page?
Yes. The railroad keeps a Facebook page under the name New England Southern Railroad, which is the easiest place for fans to follow its news and photos. It is also a simple way to send a question to the railroad.
How do I contact the New England Southern Railroad?
Call (888) 265-2735, or send a message through the railroad's Facebook page. Its website, newenglandsouthernrailroad.com, focuses on freight shipping services for central New Hampshire businesses. Shipping inquiries are the railroad's main work, so allow some time for a reply to general history questions.
Is the New England Southern Railroad good for kids?
There is nothing set up for families to visit, since it is a working freight railroad. Kids who love trains will get more from a New Hampshire railroad museum or excursion train with rides and equipment to explore up close.
What locomotives does the New England Southern Railroad run?
The railroad does not publish a roster on its main page. Photo histories show its locomotives, including units numbered 566 and 503 photographed at the Concord tower in 2004. The Volume 1 book covers equipment from its early years.
Is the New England Southern Railroad a Class III railroad?
Yes. It is a Class III shortline, the smallest category of freight railroad in the United States by revenue. Shortlines like this one connect local businesses, such as the customers using its Canterbury transload facility, with the larger national rail network for longer hauls.
Does the New England Southern Railroad hold open houses or events?
No public open houses or events are posted online. Watch the railroad's Facebook page for any announcements, but do not expect regular public programs from a working freight carrier. For railroad open houses, New Hampshire's railroad museums and historical societies are the better places to look.
Can I volunteer with the New England Southern Railroad?
The railroad does not post volunteer programs, since it is a commercial freight operation. Rail fans who want to help preserve New Hampshire railroad history can look at volunteer opportunities with the state's railroad museums and historical societies instead.
Is the New England Southern Railroad connected to the Boston & Maine?
The White Mountain Branch it operates was historically part of New England's railroad network, but the New England Southern is an independent shortline founded in 1981. For Boston & Maine records, the Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society keeps online archives.
Where can I see railroad history near the New England Southern Railroad?
The Contoocook Railroad Museum, about 11 miles away, preserves a historic depot and covered railroad bridge. The Ashland Railroad Station Museum is about 25 miles north, and the Heritage Rail Trail in Nashua, about 40 miles south, follows a former railroad corridor through that city. Each makes a good stop for families who want to see rail history up close.
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