Vintage Train Rides in the New York Adirondacks
Historic Railroads Offer Family Friendly Scenic Excursions
Oct 4, 2008
Vintage railroads offers scenic excursions with magnificent views of the Adirondacks. Nostalgic train tours are an excellent family friendly outing, enjoyable for kids and adults. Vintage railways offer a glimpse into an era in which trains were the most efficient modes of transportation for freight and passengers. Historic train lines in the Adirondacks include Finger Lakes Railway, Adirondack Railroad and Upper Hudson River Railway.
Finger Lakes and the Geneva Cluster
The Finger Lakes Railway operates on 118 miles of mainline track previously known as the Geneva cluster . The main train from Syracuse to Canandaigua, formerly the New York's Central's Auburn Road, dates back to 1835. Portions of the Finger Lakes Railway were once the Lehigh Valley and the Pennsylvania Railroad.
Along the route are historic depots that are no longer used for their original purposes. The standing depots include Martisco, Skaneateles Junction, Village of Cayuga, Seneca Falls, Clifton Springs, Shortsville, Canandaigua and Watkins Glen.
Finger Lakes Scenic Railway offers regular excursions and special events. Some special events, listed on their website, include:
- Central NY Fall Foliage Ride
- The Montezuma Run with Wine Tasting
- Lehigh Valley RR Historical Society Fall Foliage Ride
- Fall Colors of the Finger Lakes
- Grape History Train
- Halloween Train for Kids
- Halloween Train for Adults
- The Pumpkin Express
- CNY Excursion to the Model Train Show
- Wine & Cheese Train
- Santa Trains
- Geneva Rotary Santa Express
- It's a Wonderful Life Family Holiday Train
- Watkins Glen Santa Train the CNY Pajama Express
- CNY St. Nick Express
- Claus Family Train
Reservations for events can be made by contacting the railway at 1-315-374-4994.
Finger Lakes Railway Corp, Geneva, NY 14456. 1-315-374-4994.
Adirondack Railroad
The Adirondack Scenic Railroad's climate controlled coaches transport passengers through the magnificent six million acre Adirondack Park.
During the golden age of railroading, wealthy magnates with names like Carnegie, Vanderbilt and J.P. Morgan built fabulous estates in the heart of the Adirondacks.
The Adirondack Railroad offers scenic excursions that depart from Union Station in Utica, Thendara Station near Old Forge, Saranac Lake Union Depot and Lake Placid Station. The rail line offers excursions and special events, including:
- Lake Placid Wine Train
- Thendara Wine Train
- Utica Wine Train
- Lake Placid Halloween Train
- Adirondack Christmas Train
- Dinner Trains
- Rainbow Express
- Murder Mystery Train
- Polar Express Train.
Adirondack Scenic Railroad Union Station, 321 Main Street, Utica, New York 13501. 1-800-819-2291.
Upper Hudson River Railroad
This scenic tour takes passengers along the Upper Hudson River, with breathtaking views of the Adirondacks. The Upper Hudson River Railroad offers seasonal excursions along 40 miles of what used to be the Adirondack Branch of the D&H Railroad.
Upper Hudson River Railroad offers regular excursions and special events, including a Halloween Train, Magical Christmas Train, Thomas the Tank Engine and Mystery Trains.
Upper Hudson River Railroad, 3 Railroad, 3 Railroad Place, North Creek, NY 12853. 1-518-251-5334.
Information is subject to change. Contact the railways for additional information about schedules and fares.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
