Program Itinerary:
*Footage shot on October 9, 10, 11, & 14, 2021
Northbound: North Conway - Crawford Notch & Fabyans:
Milepost 61: 0:08
Glen & Jackson Station: 0:33
Rocky Branch Saco River Bridge: 0:56
River Run Bridge: 1:28
Bartlett Freight House: 2:04
Second Iron: 2:39
Notchland Cut: 3:13
Notchland: 3:52
Frankenstein Trestle: 4:22
Gateway (South Approach): 6:04
Gateway (North Approach): 6:49
Approach to Crawford Station: 7:33
Crawford Station Arrival: 8:01
Crawford Station Departure: 8:44
Bretton Woods Motorcar Shed/Route 302 Crossing: 9:59
Ammonoosuc River Bridge: 10:56
Fabyan’s Station Arrival: 11:17
Runaround at Fabyan’s: 11:36
Southbound: return to North Conway:
Fabyan’s Station Departure: 12:12
Route 302 Crossing/Bretton Woods Motorcar Shed: 13:20
Crawford Station: 14:46
The Girders: 15:17
Willey Brook Bridge: 15:44
Frankenstein Trestle: 16:20
Arethusa Falls: 16:49
Notchland: 17:18
Fourth Iron: 17:37
Bartlett Freight House: 17:55
North Conway Arrival: 18:55
The White Mountains of New Hampshire, a crown jewel in the state’s geographical wonders, a region of incredible natural beauty, where mighty pines and rugged terrain frame the shallow rocky rivers. This picturesque landscape captured the hearts and imaginations of tourist of all regions, even historically speaking; a day’s train ride from the big city would whisk one north to one of several grand hotels. The Maine Central’s Mountain Division was quite possibly the most common route in achieving this, with several connections southward on the Boston & Maine, the Portland, Maine to St. Johnsbury, Vermont route snaked it’s way through the heart of Crawford Notch, affording some of the best views available to those riding the MEC. High bridges, a generous number of rock cuts, and several overviews of the Notch and Saco River were just some of the scenery one would’ve seen. Destinations in the Notch became so popular that joint Boston & Maine - Maine Central trains connected Boston to the mountains running express service, appropriately boasting the name “Mountaineer”. While passenger service waned as the public transitioned from railroads to automobiles, the line still moved an unprecedented amount of freight traffic as crews battle the elements trying to keep the line clear. Following the Guilford Transportation Industries merger between the B&M, MEC, and Delaware & Hudson in 1984 the line was seen as redundant, and abandoned. After a major renovation, the line once again would see passengers under the Conway Scenic, offering the wonder and awe to new generations, retaining the Mountaineer name from the days of old.
While the Notch by itself has incredible beauty in the land’s composition, the ordinarily green has been replaced here with a vibrant blaze of fall colors, gold, orange and red now line the tracks and mountains as the Mountaineer makes headway. Of note in the footage seen here is of course the plentiful bridges over the Saco River that eventually yield to the high bridges over the valleys in the Notch; these being the Frankenstein Trestle traversing the Frankenstein Cutoff and the Willey Brook Bridge traversing it’s namesake. The iconic scene at the Gateway to Crawford Notch is recreated here in numerous formers, between the south end riding along the last section of mountain shelf and the north end, squeezing through the cut as the train approaches Crawford Station. Fabyan’s Station is the trains terminus for today before the return trip to No. Conway, affording a little extra mileage for leaf peepers, capping off with a beautiful view of the Mt. Washington Grand Hotel as well as the hotel’s namesake (these weren’t captured here unfortunately).
Enjoy the sights and sounds of mountain railroading in glorious New England Foliage!