July 2025 Wheel Report
By Brian Solomon
Photos by Mike Lacey
New Offerings and Summer Schedule
As planned, Conway Scenic Railroad debuted its new Summer schedule on July 1, 2025. By running more excursions and making better use of its rail-assets, the railroad aimes to grow its business and carry more guests.
Key to the new schedule is the operation of the Mountaineer twice a day with more days of operation. Not only does this give guests a greater choice of departures from North Conway (9am and 1:30pm, Tuesday-Thursday, plus weekends) but it also has opened up several completely new travel options. Conway Scenic’s Hiker’s Ticket allows for passengers to travel from North Conway to Crawford on the Morning Mountaineer and layover at Crawford for about 4 hours, before returning on the Afternoon Mountaineer that re-boards at Crawford Station at 3:15pm. Hikers traveling on this train will have plenty of time to explore trails at Crawford Notch and visit AMC’s Highland Center, which is just a short walk from the station. Conway Scenic advises guests planning to layover at Crawford to dress appropriately and be prepared for their four-hour visit.
Another new option for visitors is the ability to board at Crawford Station at 11am and travel eastbound on the Morning Mountaineer to North Conway, enjoy a short layover, and return to Crawford Station on the 1:30pm train. Tickets for the Crawford-boarding option are sold on-line through Conway Scenic’s website as the Crawford to North Conway and Return. The name of this option is specifically designed to avoid confusion with the Mountaineer excursions that board at North Conway for the return trip to Crawford.
Firecracker Success
On July 4th, the railroad’s annual Firecracker Express was a great success. This once-per-year reversal of operations provides for the boarding of trains at Conway to enable visitors to travel by train to North Conway and enjoy the fireworks display. Trains were scheduled to depart the Conway depot at 4:45, 6 and 8 pm and all of the seats available for sale were sold out. As is often the case with the Firecracker, a few guests were confused regarding the correct boarding location of the train and instead of going to Conway, drove all the way to North Conway only to learn that they’d arrived before they were to depart.
Murder on the Rails
Beginning Saturday July 12, Conway Scenic began its new series of Murder on the Rails performances on its 4:15pm Saturday Valley excursion. This was very well attended and additional performances scheduled for July 12, 19, and 26th. Details are available on the Website.
Work Extra
On Monday, July 7, 2025 Conway Scenic operated a work extra to load new ties at the Post Office Crossing in front of the North Conway station and delivered them to Bartlett. These will ultimately be installed on the Mountain Division as part of routine maintenance of the line.
GP38 255 for the Frankenstein 150th
On June 29, 2025, Conway Scenic Railroad’s GP38 255 made its public debut in fresh yellow and green paint! This worked with sister locomotive 252 to lead the return run of the one-time Frankenstein Trestle Completion Commemoration Special! This train was operated over New Hampshire’s Crawford Notch to mark 150 years since the opening of the original Frankenstein Trestle on June 29, 1875.
Electro-Motive Division model GP38 diesel-electric locomotives 252 and 255 were built in 1966 as part of an order for Maine Central. Between 1966 and 1983, these locomotives regularly worked through freight trains on Maine Central’s Mountain Division over Crawford Notch. In 2021, the two engines were re-united when CSRR acquired 255 from the Vermont Rail System. Until recently, 255 had been working for CSRR in red and white paint and was a regular on the Winter Mountaineer and Snow Trains over the winter. Now, engines 252 and 255 make for a perfectly matched pair and will be regularly assigned (either singly or as a pair) to Conway Scenic trains working the former Mountain Division.
Crawford 150th Anniversary Special Events
Friday, August 1, 7:00 PM Bartlett Historical Society Museum – Presentation at the Bartlett, NH Congregational Church titled, ‘A Century of Railroading in Crawford Notch’ by Ben English, historian and author. This is about the operation of the Maine Central’s Mountain Division from the age of steam to the age of diesel. Ben will talk about trains and the people that made transportation by rail through Crawford Notch happen.
Saturday, August 2, 2025. North Conway Station 9:30 AM – The Crawford 150th Anniversary Special. The excursion boards at 9 AM. This special train train will feature a special narration and at Fabyan station, a special program commemorating the track completion on August 7, 1875. There will be music by the Mt Washington Valley Community Band and Cannon Salutes by the 6th Maine Artillery Brigade Re-enactors as happened at the original celebration 150 years ago. This trip is expected to take 5-6 hours.