Steam & Excursion > Questions about the Conway Scenic

I know it's not steam, but folks on the Eastern board suggested I post this here as well because of a lot of local knowledge here.  So this is what I posted there yesterday:

Hi, Easterners; a Westerner here with questions about New Hampshire's Conway Scenic RR.  Hoping some experience resides on this board, and can point me in the right direction (literally, as you will see!).

My wife and I are heading to NH in September, and one of the days has been dedicated to riding the CSRR Mountaineer train.  What I was hoping someone could direct me to is:

1.  Is there a difference between the two dome cars, and if so, which one should I book into?  It appears one car has leather seats, one upholstery (just from pictures).  Does anybody know which is which?
2.  Is there a side of the car we should book seats that has the better views?
3.  Schematics of the cars are shown for booking seats, but there is no information which is the forward end vs. the rear end.  Anybody have thoughts on the seat arrangement numbers and direction of travel?

I sure appreciate any help that can be provided.  My backup plan is to call the railway, but I was hoping that someone with actual riding experience could provide what I need.

Thanks to all, in advance.


I received very good information about which side of the train to sit on leaving North Conway, and the type of seats in the two dome cars.  Was wondering if anybody here could fill in the gap on which seat numbers in the domes would be on the "right side" of the train when it is ready to leave N Conway and now have one additional question - one of the Easterners suggested that at Crawford Notch, everybody was asked to switch sides so all riders got one direction of the better view.  Is that done on all movements?  If so, of course, which side you're seated on leaving N. Conway is moot! 

Any thoughts/info is appreciated.  Thanks to all here as well.

HomerBedloe Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I know it's not steam, but folks on the Eastern
> board suggested I post this here as well because
> of a lot of local knowledge here.  So this is
> what I posted there yesterday:
>
> Hi, Easterners; a Westerner here with questions
> about New Hampshire's Conway Scenic RR.  Hoping
> some experience resides on this board, and can
> point me in the right direction (literally, as you
> will see!).
>
> My wife and I are heading to NH in September, and
> one of the days has been dedicated to riding the
> CSRR Mountaineer train.  What I was hoping
> someone could direct me to is:
>
> 1.  Is there a difference between the two dome
> cars, and if so, which one should I book into? 
> It appears one car has leather seats, one
> upholstery (just from pictures).  Does anybody
> know which is which?
> 2.  Is there a side of the car we should book
> seats that has the better views?
> 3.  Schematics of the cars are shown for booking
> seats, but there is no information which is the
> forward end vs. the rear end.  Anybody have
> thoughts on the seat arrangement numbers and
> direction of travel?
>
> I sure appreciate any help that can be provided. 
> My backup plan is to call the railway, but I was
> hoping that someone with actual riding experience
> could provide what I need.
>
> Thanks to all, in advance.
>
>
> I received very good information about which side
> of the train to sit on leaving North Conway, and
> the type of seats in the two dome cars.  Was
> wondering if anybody here could fill in the gap on
> which seat numbers in the domes would be on the
> "right side" of the train when it is ready to
> leave N Conway and now have one additional
> question - one of the Easterners suggested that at
> Crawford Notch, everybody was asked to switch
> sides so all riders got one direction of the
> better view.  Is that done on all movements?  If
> so, of course, which side you're seated on leaving
> N. Conway is moot! 
>
> Any thoughts/info is appreciated.  Thanks to all
> here as well.

My two cents:
-  First, does your selected train ride through the Crawford Notch??  Ten years ago, steam did not travel through the Notch.
-  PS, I have no info for the seat number info for the dome cars.
-  As an FYI, I rode through the Crawford Notch on two separate occasions.  Even drove through the Notch for ground views.
-  Are you riding one-way or both ways?
-  If you are riding outbound only from the Conway station through the Notch, you must sit on the right side.
-  Please note that much of the Notch train ride is not very scenic, BUT, the Crawford Notch is worth every penny in the Fall.  Colors can be SPECTACULAR.
-  From the crowd reaction, you will absolutely know when the Crawford Notch is visible from the train.  
-  For me, on a rainy day, I preferred sitting in the truly open-air cars (no extra fee); plenty of seating capacity.
-  If you're shooting video, the open-air cars (no extra cost at the time) are much preferred. 
-  The train moves relatively slowly, thus making photography quite easy.  

Good luck.

Just brought out of the archives.  Brief footage from a 2008 trip through Crawford Notch in New Hampshire.
Please note that the steam locomotive did not lead the train on the Crawford Notch line.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/07/25 18:49 by redberan4449.

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Thanks RB,  for the info.  We're on the train that goes from N Conway to the Notch and returns.  I am hoping they ask everybody to change sides, because the website is not clear which is the right side of the car leaving N. Conway.  So I guess I have a 50/50 chance of guessing correctly!

Thanks again for your thoughts.

I haven't been on the Mountaineer yet, even though its in my proverbial back yard.  So just a couple of general inputs -

- significant leave color will begin in the last week of September...once it does, the change is often quick, with peak coming in about ten days or so.
- the train slows to a crawl for the scenic highlights like Frankenstein and Willey Brook trestles, and the Mt. Washington Hotel view.  (In the fall they run past Carwford station to Fabyan's.  So you should be able to get pictures even if on the "wrong" side.

Hope you have a great time!

Dave (in NH)

HomerBedloe Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks RB,  for the info.  We're on the train
> that goes from N Conway to the Notch and
> returns.  I am hoping they ask everybody to
> change sides, because the website is not clear
> which is the right side of the car leaving N.
> Conway.  So I guess I have a 50/50 chance of
> guessing correctly!
>
> Thanks again for your thoughts.

Outbound headed to and through the Notch, the best viewing side is on the right.  Ten years ago, most of the passengers were on tours and went one way only.  Bus return.
In a dome car, you gain a slightly higher view, but, you lose clarity for photo or video images.  Listen to the advice about Fall Colors.  It can be quite spectacular.  Happy travels.
RB