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May 2026 Wheel Report

Interior view of a train vestibule with a door and window.

Photo by Greg Neptune

Blue caboose being lifted by crane onto a flatbed truck with workers nearby.

Photo by Mike Lacey

Red and blue train caboose being lifted by large crane vehicle.

Photo by Mike Lacey

Vintage train by yellow station building with signs and trees.

Photo by Mike Lacey

Two workers repairing railroad tracks with equipment nearby.

Photo by Mike Lacey

By Brian Solomon
Photos by Mike Lacey and Greg Neptune

Repair and Maintenance

Spring offers ample opportunities for the repair and maintenance of rolling stock and infrastructure. Recent projects have included painting and refurbishing the vestibule on Budd-built Vista Dome Dorthea Mae, as well as plumbing work on Budd Vista Dome Rhonda Lee. Track work has been ongoing on both the Mountain Division and Conway Branch. On Tuesday, May 12, the track department replaced ties on the Branch in the vicinity of Allens Siding Road in Conway. In addition, crews have embarked on a general cleaning and tidying of the North Conway Yard. This includes addressing potential safety hazards and removing or organizing of equipment, supplies and material.

Annual Mountaineer Social

The railroad’s annual Mountaineer Social is scheduled to depart from North Conway Station at 10:15 a.m. on Monday, May 18, 2026. This is a familiarization and demonstration run operated for the benefit of business leaders, public officials, civic leaders, railroad partners, area attractions, and members of the media. The event is aimed at showcasing the railroad, its streamlined Mountaineer train-set, and the scenic journey over Crawford Notch.

Memorial Day Launches Daily Operations

Memorial Day weekend marks the beginning of seven-day-a-week spring operations for the Valley Train excursion during the Spring–Summer 2026 season. Beginning May 23, up to five Valley Trains will depart daily from North Conway. The Valley Train is the railroad’s original hour-long North Conway–Conway excursion and has been enjoyed by families since 1974. The trip offers a classic American heritage rail experience designed to recapture the spirit of the Golden Age of branch-line rail travel.

In addition, the scenic Mountaineer is scheduled for Saturday and limited weekday operation, departing North Conway at 10:30 a.m. for its four-hour round-trip journey over Crawford Notch on the former Maine Central Mountain Division. Two-train five-day a week Mountaineer schedules resume in July.

May 23 also marks the beginning of the Spring–Summer 2026 Murder on the Rails season, with performances scheduled on most Saturdays into early autumn. This is Conway Scenic’s take on the classic murder mystery experience and has proven popular with visiting audiences.

Website Upgrades

The railroad has been implementing improvements to Conwayscenic.com aimed at more clearly distinguishing various excursions and travel options. These enhancements include new descriptions of regularly scheduled trains, an expanded Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section, and a variety of other updates designed to make it easier for visitors to learn about the railroad, understand the differences between excursion options, and purchase tickets.

During the summer season, Conway Scenic will be again offering both a “Hiker’s Ticket” and Crawford-to-North Conway travel options. These offerings are possible as a result of two scheduled North Conway–Crawford Mountaineer excursions operating on select days.

The Hiker’s Ticket is designed to provide passengers with a layover option at Crawford. This special ticket allows passengers to travel from North Conway to Crawford on the morning Mountaineer train (departing North Conway at 9:00 a.m.), and enjoy approximately a 4½-hour layover before returning from Crawford on the afternoon train (departing Crawford Station at 3:15 p.m.).

The Crawford-to-North Conway-and-Return excursion is another travel option. This is intended for passengers who wish to begin their rail journey at the Crawford Notch Station and travel east to North Conway before returning west to Crawford later the same day. In order to avoid passenger confusion, the updated website aims to clearly distinguish these new offerings from regular Mountaineer tickets. Because the Crawford-to-North Conway-and-Return excursion operates in the reverse direction of the standard Mountaineer trip, it is important that passengers holding Crawford-to-North Conway-and-Return tickets clearly understand where and when to board, as well as their intended destination and the schedule of the train.

Boston & Maine C86 Arrives

On Saturday, May 9, 2026, privately owned and restored Boston & Maine caboose C86 was delivered by road to the railroad at Conway, where it was placed on the rails using a crane. It was then hauled over the Conway Branch to North Conway, where it will serve as accommodations for its owners during their employment with the railroad.

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