Train watching in New England,Where to go?

[Anonymous]

Hello,I live in near Manchester New Hampshire.Anybody know the best places within about 50 miles too watch and photograph trains? where would I find the best action? any info would be helpfull.Thanks,Ron

[ModelTrainLover]

Well there is the North Conway RR and the Conway Scenic Railway. that should be with in the 50 miles range

[PBenham]

You are a bit too far from the Vermont RR system's Green Mountain Flyer,out of Bellows Falls VT. It is in essence the old steamtown ride up to Chester, VT Time the trip right and you can see/photograph Amtrak 55/57*-56/58*(*weekends/Holidays) and if you are really lucky you might get New England Central action, too. However, there will be some construction going on over the next two years as NECR opens up tight clearances, like the tunnel at Bellows Falls. You can also slide down to Ayer, Ma. for T Trains, and the odd Pan Am (AKA Guilford) freight. But, why not ride into North Station, just work fast and with extreme discretion, as photography is "Illegal" there. One could also ride another route out of North Station, such as up to Rockport and back, which is the most scenic (and at times not so scenic, but be patient)route, with interesting things to do (it'll keep the girl friend happy) near the T station.

[Anonymous]

HEY RON---HOW ABOUT TRYING THE CITY OF WORCESTER, MA? MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT BEYOND YOUR RANGE, BUT THE PROVIDENCE AND WORCESTER EXCHANGES WITH CSX HERE, AND SOMETHING IS ALWAYS GOING ON SOMEWHERE IN THE AREA, ALTHOUGH HIGHWAY BRIDGES ARE NOT SAFE TO STOP ON, ESPECIALLY ON I-290! WE ALSO HAVE THE RESTORED UNION STATION, WHICH i'M TOLD IS BEAUTIFUL INSIDE---NOT BEEN INSIDE YET---WHICH HOSTS BOTH AMTRAK AND MBTA TRAINS. IN ADDITION, FORMER BOSTON & MAINE RR BRANCHES RUN FROM WORCESTER TO GARDINER, MA (SERVED BY THE P&W), AND AYER, MA (CSX), WHICH OFTEN SEE DAYTIME OR EVENING SERVICE. THE AYER LINE SEE REGULAR SERVICE WHILE THE P&W TO GARDINER TENDS TO BE AT NIGHT OR AS NEEDED.

[ModelTrainLover]

Ah no one has said this yet Dover, NH Downeaster station there, take it to either Boston or Portland Maine. I live in Maine and have taken to the train to Boston it's a great ride, and in Portlan on Fore St. not too far away from the Amtrak station in Portland is the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad.

[dmoore74]

It's a little beyond your 50 mile limit but Palmer, MA, is a good spot.  The CSX Boston Line crosses the New England Central and the MassCentral also appears in town.  Amtrak's Vermonter switches between CSX and NECR tracks directly in front of the station.  You can also get a great meal at the Steaming Tender restaurant located inside the station.

[CTValleyRR]

Plan an overnight trip to Southeastern Connecticut.  Lots of things to do there, but go to the Gold Star Memorial Bridge, which carries Interstate 95 over the Thames River.  Just off Exit 82, you can look down on Amtrak's (formerly New Haven, then Penn Central) Shore Line, which crosses the river on a draw bridge just below.  As if that's not enough, the Providence and Worcester runs up the East bank of the Thames, the Central Vermont runs up the west bank.  While there are better train watching spots, a train every 45 minutes to an hour is a pretty good bet.  The only drawback is that you can't get very close.