March 2025 Wheel Report
By Brian Solomon
Photos by Mike Lacey
Marching Forward
Historically, March was the quietest month for Conway Scenic’s train operations. Until this Winter season, the railroad routinely turned over significant portions of both Conway Branch and the state-owned Mountain Division to various 3rd parties for winter recreation. Over the last few years, the railroad has moved toward expanding its winter excursion and track maintenance operations. This has resulted in necessary changes to 3rd party arrangements to enable continued railroad operation on many portions of the track through the winter.
Initially, Conway Scenic planned to run its popular Snow Train excursions through the end of February, however owing to robust demand, the railroad decided to extend its excursion season twice. The first extension saw trains running through the first weekend in March, and then it was further extended for weekend operation through the end of March, which was a first for the railroad. Expanded Winter operations has proven as an excellent way to boost Conway Scenic annual ridership, keep employees busy with revenue generating activities through the Winter, and improve the railroad’s image as an excursion operator, while making better use of its rail-assets.
Work Extras and Plow Trains
Keeping the railroad open through the Winter is no small chore. Conway Scenic has operated a host of extra trains, both for snow removal and other maintenance to keep the line available for excursions and equipment moves, as well as necessary upkeep and heavy work. On February 25, 2025, GP9 1751 brought a work extra with the excavator on a flatcar from North Conway to Bartlett, NH. This supported Track Department crews, which spent several hours in the Bartlett Yard clearing switches and performing other maintenance. On February 28th, GP38 255 worked a plow extra from North Conway to Conway to clear the Conway Branch. On the same day, 1751 was assigned to a work extra that ran to Bartlett. Several plow extras have been called for the Mountain Division to keep the line open. This included a run over Crawford Notch on March 4th, that faced numerous downed trees in Whittaker Woods near Mountain Junction, and drifts on Crawford Notch. By one estimate, in the rock cut east of the Willey Brook Bridge drifting snow was at least 10 feet deep and nearly reached the top of the former Central Vermont Railway snow plow that is used to keep the line clear. On March 6th, GP38 255 operated light engine to Crawford to help clear a snow slide in the Gateway. On March 10th, GP9 1751 operated from North Conway to Fabyan, largely to clear the line of fallen trees and other debris which had blocked the line as the result of exceptionally strong winds over the previous weekend. On March 11th, 1751 brought a flatcar carrying the excavator to Conway in preparation for planned work, then returned to North Conway to perform a series of sound-system tests with the Valley consist on the Conway Branch in preparation for the 2025 operating season.