Train Museums in New Hampshire: Every Railroad Museum by Town
- 11 museums
- 10 towns
- 5 with train rides
- 3 free
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New Hampshire is home to the world's first mountain-climbing cog railway, which still pushes trains up Mount Washington on an average 25 percent grade. This page lists 11 train museums, heritage railroads and rail sites in 10 New Hampshire towns, and it is one stop in our state by state train museum guide. Type your town into the finder below to see the closest ones.
Most of the state's rail fun is about riding. Families can take a one-hour Valley Train from North Conway, roll along Lake Winnipesaukee from Meredith or Weirs Beach, or ride behind a 1920 Climax logging engine at Clark's Bears in Lincoln. Quieter depot museums in Contoocook and Ashland are free.
Many of these railroads run from spring through fall plus holiday trains, and several small museums open only in summer. Check each card for the season before you plan a trip.
Look inside the book
Big engines, little legs. 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 a New Hampshire train museum.
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Every train museum in New Hampshire, town by town
11 museums in 10 towns, A to Z by town. Tap any museum for its own page: the full story, what to see, what kids can do, hours, tickets, contact details and 20 answers to the questions families ask.
Ashland
Depot museum
Ashland Railroad Station Museum
A restored 1869 depot, listed on the National Register, filled mostly with railroad artifacts. The Ashland Historical Society opens it on Saturday afternoons in July and August, and will arrange tours by appointment.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsBretton Woods
Heritage railroad with a museum
Mount Washington Cog Railway
The world's first mountain-climbing cog railway, climbing Mount Washington on an average 25 percent grade. Biodiesel engines run most trips, and two coal-fired steam engines over a century old run in warmer months. Book on thecog.com.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsCanterbury
Rail preservation group
New England Southern Railroad
A working shortline freight railroad founded in 1981 and based in Canterbury, not a museum. Its history is told in a photo book and online railroad histories rather than in public exhibits.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsContoocook
Depot museum
Contoocook Railroad Museum
An 1849 depot museum and visitor center beside the world's oldest surviving covered railroad bridge, with a wooden passenger coach waiting on the rails. Volunteers usually staff it Friday to Sunday; call ahead for other times.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsLincoln: 2 train museums
Lincoln has two train rides about a mile apart: the Granite State Railway, long known as the Hobo Railroad, leaves the Lincoln Depot for the Pemigewasset River, and the White Mountain Central Railroad runs steam inside Clark's Bears.
Heritage railroad with a museum
Granite State Railway (Hobo Railroad)
The old Hobo Railroad, now called the Granite State Railway, runs vintage coach rides from downtown Lincoln along the Pemigewasset River, plus a winter Santa Express and electric rail bikes. Just off I-93 at exit 32.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsHeritage railroad with a museum
White Mountain Central Railroad at Clark's Bears
A 25-minute, 2.5-mile steam train ride inside Clark's Bears, crossing a 1904 covered bridge into Wolfman's territory behind a rare 1920 Climax logging engine. The ride is included with park admission.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsMeredith
Heritage railroad with a museum
Winnipesaukee Railway
Lakeshore train rides from Meredith (2 hours) and Weirs Beach (1 hour) on 1848 rails, plus Rail & Sail days, a private party caboose and fall dinner and Halloween trains. Rides run summer and fall.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsNashua
Outdoor rail park
Nashua Heritage Rail Trail
A flat, paved city trail on a former 1848 railroad corridor, running past City Hall and toward Mine Falls Park. It is free and good for strollers and bikes; there is no museum building or posted exhibit.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsNorth Conway
Heritage railroad with a museum
Conway Scenic Railroad
Heritage trains leave the 1874 North Conway station for a one-hour Valley Train to Conway or the four-hour Mountaineer through Crawford Notch. Toddlers ride free in coach on the Valley Train, and holiday trains fill up fast.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsPortsmouth
Rail preservation group
Portsmouth Historical Society
A Seacoast history museum with changing exhibitions, the John Paul Jones House and daily walking tours. Railroad material is not a featured permanent exhibit, so rail fans should ask the staff about the collection before visiting.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsWolfeboro
Rail preservation group
Wolfeboro Historical Society (Clark Museum Complex)
The Wolfeboro Historical Society's Clark Museum Complex keeps local history in four antique buildings. A museum directory notes Boston & Maine and transportation exhibits; call ahead to confirm what railroad material is on view. Open summers.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsCompare every New Hampshire train museum side by side
Type, train rides, admission, hours and who each one suits, in one table. Tap a column to sort it, or a museum to open its page.
| Hours | Best for | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland Railroad Station MuseumAshland | Depot museum | No | Free; a donation is requested for visitors over 13 | Saturdays 1 pm to 4 pm in July and August; tours by appointment | Rail history fans and families passing through the Lakes Region |
| Mount Washington Cog RailwayBretton Woods | Heritage railroad | Yes | Fares not posted here; book and check prices on thecog.com | Seasonal schedule; check thecog.com for train times | Families, mountain lovers and steam fans |
| New England Southern RailroadCanterbury | Preservation group | No | Not applicable | No public hours; working freight railroad | Rail historians and shortline fans |
| Contoocook Railroad MuseumContoocook | Depot museum | No | Free; donations welcome | Typically Friday to Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm; summer visitor center hours differ (as posted for 2026) | Families, covered bridge fans and rail historians |
| Granite State Railway (Hobo Railroad)Lincoln | Heritage railroad | Yes | Check gsscenic.com for current fares; group rates for 20 or more | Seasonal; check gsscenic.com for train times | Families with young kids visiting the White Mountains |
| White Mountain Central Railroad at Clark's BearsLincoln | Heritage railroad | Yes | Train ride included with Clark's Bears park admission; check clarksbears.com for prices | Runs on the Clark's Bears schedule, roughly late May to early October; check the park's site | Families with young kids and steam fans |
| Winnipesaukee RailwayMeredith | Heritage railroad | Yes | Check gsscenic.com for current fares; group rates for 20 or more | Meredith departures in spring and summer at 10:30 am, 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm; fall times differ (as posted for 2026) | Families visiting the Lakes Region |
| Nashua Heritage Rail TrailNashua | Rail park | No | Free | Public city trail; no hours posted | Families with strollers, walkers and cyclists |
| Conway Scenic RailroadNorth Conway | Heritage railroad | Yes | Valley Train coach: adults $24, ages 4 to 12 $18, 3 and under free (as posted for 2026; prices vary) | Excursions run April to November plus holiday trains; departure times vary, check the online schedule | Families with young kids, foliage seekers and rail fans |
| Portsmouth Historical SocietyPortsmouth | Preservation group | No | $10 general, $5 discount, $15 family; under 5 free | April to December, daily 10 am to 5 pm (as posted for 2026) | History lovers and families with school-age kids |
| Wolfeboro Historical Society (Clark Museum Complex)Wolfeboro | Preservation group | No | $5 per person; under 12 free; active duty and reservists free | July 1 to Labor Day: Wednesday to Friday 10 am to 4 pm, Saturday 10 am to 2 pm (as posted for 2026) | Local history lovers and families visiting the Lakes Region |
No museum on this page matches every filter you picked.
Quick picks: where to start in New Hampshire
Best first visit with a toddler
North Conway
The Valley Train lasts about an hour, and children 3 and under ride free in coach when booked with an adult.
Most famous ride
Bretton Woods
The world's first mountain-climbing cog railway, with two coal-fired steam engines over a century old running in warmer months.
Best steam for little kids
White Mountain Central Railroad at Clark's Bears
Lincoln
A 25-minute ride behind a rare 1920 Climax logging engine crosses a covered bridge, and it is included with park admission.
Best lake views
Meredith
Trains follow the western shore of Lake Winnipesaukee, with one-hour rides from Weirs Beach and Rail and Sail days that add a boat trip.
Best free museum
Contoocook
An 1849 depot with a wooden passenger coach out back sits beside the oldest surviving covered railroad bridge in the world.
Best stroller walk
Nashua
A flat, paved, free trail in downtown Nashua that follows an 1848 railroad corridor toward Mine Falls Park.
Map of every train museum in New Hampshire
New Hampshire train day trips
Trip 1
Two trains in Lincoln
Ride the Granite State Railway along the Pemigewasset River from the Lincoln Depot, then drive about a mile to Clark's Bears for the steam train over the 1904 covered bridge. The park ride is included with admission, so leave time for the bear show and the rest of the park. Clark's runs roughly late May to early October.
Trip 2
Mount Washington Valley by rail
- Conway Scenic RailroadNorth Conway
- Mount Washington Cog RailwayBretton Woods
The Conway Scenic Railroad and the Cog are about 18 miles apart. Younger kids can take the one-hour Valley Train in North Conway one day and the Cog up Mount Washington the next. Pack warm layers for the summit, where weather can be very different from the base.
Trip 3
Depots near Concord
- Contoocook Railroad MuseumContoocook
- Ashland Railroad Station MuseumAshland
Start at the free Contoocook Railroad Museum and its covered railroad bridge, then head about 33 miles north to the Ashland Railroad Station Museum and its 1893 model layout. Ashland opens on Saturday afternoons in July and August, so this pairing works best on a summer Saturday.
Tracks to the lakes and the mountains
New Hampshire's railroads were built early. In 1848 crews laid 54 miles of track between Tilton and Lincoln, and the Contoocook depot opened in 1849 on the Concord & Claremont. The Boston, Concord & Montreal and later the Boston & Maine carried summer visitors from Boston, Hartford and New York to the lakes and the White Mountains, while lines like the Wolfeboro Railroad, formed in 1868, tied resort towns to the network.
The mountains brought their own railroads. The Portland & Ogdensburg reached North Conway in 1871 and became part of the Maine Central's Mountain Division through Crawford Notch, and in 1869 P.T. Barnum rode the new cog railway to the summit of Mount Washington. When cars took over in the 1950s and paper mill freight ended in the 1970s, the state bought idle lines, and local families and volunteers put excursion trains back on them.
You can follow that story across the state. The Contoocook Railroad Museum and the Ashland Railroad Station Museum keep early depots. The Winnipesaukee Railway and the Granite State Railway in Lincoln ride the 1848 line, the Conway Scenic Railroad runs the Mountain Division, and the Mount Washington Cog Railway still climbs the mountain.
Holiday trains and seasonal days at New Hampshire museums
Fall and the holidays fill New Hampshire's train calendars. The Conway Scenic Railroad runs a not-too-spooky Halloween Express and Santa's Holiday Special, and the Winnipesaukee Railway adds the Wicked Witch Express, Pumpkin Festival trains from Laconia and a Turkey Dinner Train. In Lincoln the Granite State Railway runs the Santa Express through snowy woods, and the Contoocook Railroad Museum hosts Christmas at the Depot. Find dates in our New Hampshire Halloween and pumpkin trains guide and our roundup of New Hampshire Christmas train rides.
Drive times from New Hampshire cities
Times are approximate, without traffic, and estimated from straight-line distance.
| Museum | From Manchester | From Nashua | From Concord |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contoocook Railroad MuseumContoocook | 30 min | 15 min | |
| Portsmouth Historical SocietyPortsmouth | 50 min | ||
| Granite State Railway (Hobo Railroad)Lincoln | 1 hr 40 min | ||
| Conway Scenic RailroadNorth Conway | 1 hr 45 min | 1 hr 25 min | |
| White Mountain Central Railroad at Clark's BearsLincoln | 2 hr | ||
| Mount Washington Cog RailwayBretton Woods | 2 hr 25 min | 1 hr 40 min | |
| Ashland Railroad Station MuseumAshland | 45 min |
Tips for New Hampshire train days
- Book Conway Scenic holiday trains and foliage-season rides early. Toddlers ride free in Valley Train coach but still need a ticket booked with your adult tickets.
- The Mountaineer from North Conway runs 4 to 4.5 hours, so it suits older kids better than toddlers.
- Summit weather on Mount Washington can be harsh even in summer; bring warm layers for the Cog.
- At Clark's Bears, Wolfman appears once the train crosses the covered bridge, which may startle very young riders.
- The Winnipesaukee Railway has separate stations: Meredith for two-hour rides and Weirs Beach for one-hour rides. Check which one you booked.
- The Hobo Railroad now books as the Granite State Railway, so search that name online.
- Contoocook depends on volunteers; call ahead before a special trip, and use the indoor elevator with strollers.
From Rally's family
A train that rolls along a lake makes me think of my favorite page in our book. Rally, our real corgi, presses her nose to an arched window and watches the ocean go by while a white bird keeps pace outside. My mom dreamed up that story before she died in 2021, and these days my kids are sounding out the words themselves. If your family is heading for a window seat in New Hampshire, our free train coloring pages are good for the wait at the station, and you can read the story behind Rally's book.
Train museums just over the state line
From Manchester, Massachusetts train museums start with the National Streetcar Museum at Lowell, about 35 minutes south. Heading toward the coast, Maine's train museums include the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, about 1 hour 20 minutes from Manchester.
West of Concord, Vermont's train museums include the Bellows Falls Train Station, about 1 hour away, and the Rutland Railway Museum, about 1 hour 50 minutes away.
A train book for the drive
For a real Amtrak trip near the Seacoast, read our guide to riding the Downeaster with kids.
Free for train families
Print the Rally coloring pages before you go
Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. They fit in a folder with a few crayons for the drive to the museum or the wait for the next train ride.
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 every state: search all 50 by town
- Christmas train rides in New Hampshire: Santa trains and holiday rides
- Halloween train rides in New Hampshire: pumpkin trains for next October
- The Downeaster with kids: ride a real Amtrak train
- Every Amtrak route with kids: find a train by city or station
- Train books for toddlers for the drive home
New Hampshire train museum questions
What is the best train ride in New Hampshire for families?
The Conway Scenic Railroad in North Conway is the best all-around family pick. Its Valley Train is a one-hour, 11-mile round trip from an 1874 Victorian station, and as of October 2026 coach fares are $24 for adults and $18 for ages 4 to 12, with children 3 and under free. Older kids can try the four-hour Mountaineer through Crawford Notch.
Are there free train museums in New Hampshire?
Yes, the Contoocook Railroad Museum is free and usually open Friday to Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm. The Ashland Railroad Station Museum is free on Saturday afternoons in July and August, with a donation requested from visitors over 13. The Nashua Heritage Rail Trail is a free paved path on an old railroad corridor, though it has no museum building.
Where can you ride a train in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire has five railroads that carry passengers. The Conway Scenic Railroad runs from North Conway, the Mount Washington Cog Railway climbs from Bretton Woods, and the Winnipesaukee Railway rides the lakeshore from Meredith and Weirs Beach. In Lincoln, the Granite State Railway runs riverside coach trips, and the White Mountain Central Railroad runs a steam train inside Clark's Bears.
What is the best New Hampshire train ride for toddlers?
The Conway Scenic Railroad's Valley Train is the easiest first ride for toddlers. It lasts about an hour, children 3 and under ride free in coach, and most trips have a snack bar. The one-hour rides from Weirs Beach on the Winnipesaukee Railway and the 25-minute steam ride at Clark's Bears in Lincoln are also short enough for little ones.
Is there a train museum near Concord, NH?
Yes, the Contoocook Railroad Museum is about 15 minutes from Concord. It occupies an 1849 depot at 896 Main Street with original ticket windows, a wooden passenger coach behind the building and the 1889 covered railroad bridge next door. Admission is free. The New England Southern Railroad is based nearby in Canterbury, but it is a working freight line with no public exhibits.
What train rides are in Lincoln, New Hampshire?
Lincoln has two train rides about a mile apart. The Granite State Railway, formerly the Hobo Railroad, runs vintage coaches from the Lincoln Depot at 64 Railroad Street along the Pemigewasset River and offers a Santa Express in winter. The White Mountain Central Railroad runs a 25-minute steam ride inside Clark's Bears, included with park admission.
Is there a train museum in Nashua, NH?
Nashua does not have a train museum, but it has the Nashua Heritage Rail Trail. The flat, paved path follows a corridor that began in 1848 as the Worcester and Nashua Railroad, running from near City Hall toward Mine Falls Park. It is free and good for strollers and bikes. The city does not list railroad exhibits or equipment along the trail.
Is there a railroad museum in Portsmouth, New Hampshire?
Portsmouth has no dedicated railroad museum. The Portsmouth Historical Society on Middle Street runs changing exhibits and the John Paul Jones House, but railroad material is not a listed permanent exhibit, so rail fans should call ahead to ask what can be shown. As of October 2026 it opens daily 10 am to 5 pm from April to December.
Is there a train ride on Lake Winnipesaukee?
Yes, the Winnipesaukee Railway runs along the western shore of Lake Winnipesaukee. Two-hour rides leave from Meredith and pass Weirs Beach and Paugus Bay, while one-hour rides board at Weirs Beach in summer and fall. Rail and Sail days add a boat trip on the lake, and Leo's Party Caboose can be booked for private groups of up to 10.
How steep is the Mount Washington Cog Railway?
The Mount Washington Cog Railway climbs at an average grade of 25 percent, with short stretches close to 38 percent. It uses a Marsh rack and pinion system to grip the track, and it ranks as the second steepest cog railway in the world. Most trains are pushed by biodiesel locomotives built at the railway's own shops, and two coal-fired steam engines run in warmer months.
Is the Hobo Railroad still running in Lincoln, NH?
Yes, the Hobo Railroad still runs, but it is now called the Granite State Railway. Ed and Brenda Clark opened it in 1987, and in 2024 it joined Patriot Rail's group of excursion railroads under the new name. Trains leave the historic Lincoln Depot for a round trip along the Pemigewasset River. Book through gsscenic.com.
How long is the Conway Scenic Railroad Mountaineer?
The Conway Scenic Railroad's Mountaineer takes about 4 to 4.5 hours round trip. It covers 50 to 60 miles over the old Maine Central Mountain Division into Crawford Notch, passing Gateway Cut, and it is styled after 1950s long distance travel. Because of its length, it suits older kids and patient rail fans better than toddlers.
What is the Climax locomotive at Clark's Bears?
The Climax at Clark's Bears is a geared steam logging engine built in 1920 in Pennsylvania. It first hauled logs for the Beebe River Lumber Company in Campton and was bought by the Clark family in 1951. Of roughly 1,000 Climax engines built, only four still operate, and this one pushes the White Mountain Central Railroad train on busy days.
Where is the oldest covered railroad bridge in the world?
The oldest surviving covered railroad bridge in the world stands in Contoocook, New Hampshire. Built in 1889, the Contoocook Railroad Bridge is owned by the state and listed on the National Register. It sits right beside the Contoocook Railroad Museum, where volunteers restored the 1849 depot and the bridge to their 1910 look in a project that started in 2002.
Is there a Santa train in New Hampshire?
Yes, several New Hampshire railroads run Santa trains. The Conway Scenic Railroad runs Santa's Holiday Special, a daytime weekend ride where Santa may visit, and the Granite State Railway in Lincoln runs the Santa Express through snowy woods. The Contoocook Railroad Museum also hosts Christmas at the Depot. Holiday trains fill up fast, so book early.
Are there Halloween trains in New Hampshire?
Yes, New Hampshire has several fall Halloween and pumpkin trains. The Conway Scenic Railroad runs the Halloween Express in North Conway, a not-too-spooky ride with costumed characters and treats. The Winnipesaukee Railway runs the Wicked Witch Express and Pumpkin Festival trains that board in downtown Laconia in October. Check each railroad's schedule for current dates.
When were the first railroads built in New Hampshire's Lakes Region?
Railroads reached New Hampshire's Lakes Region in 1848, when 54 miles of track were laid between Tilton and Lincoln. The Boston, Concord and Montreal and later the Boston and Maine carried summer visitors to the lakes. Ashland's depot followed in 1869, and Wolfeboro residents formed their own railroad in 1868. Today the Winnipesaukee Railway still rides part of the 1848 line.
Is there a train museum in Ashland, NH?
Yes, the Ashland Railroad Station Museum is a restored 1869 depot on the National Register. It is filled mostly with railroad artifacts, including a school-built model layout of the station around 1893. As of October 2026 it opens Saturdays from 1 to 4 pm in July and August, with tours by appointment. Admission is free, with a donation requested for visitors over 13.
Can you visit the New England Southern Railroad?
No, the New England Southern Railroad is a working freight railroad, not a museum, and it has no public hours. Founded in 1981 and based in Canterbury, it serves the state-owned White Mountain Branch between Concord and Lincoln. Its early history is collected in a photo book with more than 200 images. Contact the railroad before visiting its facility for any reason.
Does Wolfeboro have a railroad museum?
Wolfeboro has no dedicated railroad museum, but the Wolfeboro Historical Society's Clark Museum Complex keeps local history, and a museum directory lists Boston and Maine exhibits. Call ahead to ask what railroad items are on view. As of October 2026 it opens July 1 to Labor Day, Wednesday to Friday 10 am to 4 pm and Saturday 10 am to 2 pm.
Keep exploring
More family train guides from Rally
- DirectoryRailway Museum Directory650 train museums in all 50 states, with hours, tickets and train rides.
- HolidayChristmas Train RidesSanta trains and holiday light rides, sorted by state and town.
- OctoberHalloween Train RidesPumpkin trains and not-too-spooky rides for little ones, by state.
- NovemberThanksgiving Train RidesHoliday weekend train trips the whole family can share.
- AmtrakAmtrak With KidsWhich Amtrak routes work best with babies, toddlers and big kids.
- Plan a tripTrain Trips With KidsEvery Amtrak route, stop by stop, planned for families.