Conway Scenic Railroad (CSRX) discussion thread

[NHV 669]

Thanks for noticing, glanced right over it. No need for extra crews either, then. Just turn and burn.

[gokeefe]

It's seems very fitting that an RDC would be used to bring service back given their history with North Conway (B&M final train).

Obviously it's a sensible decision from an operations perspective.

[b&m 1566]

I doubt they'll even have a narrator as these are strictly shuttle trains. N. Conway is absolutely a hellish nightmare with traffic those two weeks, so I do see people taking advantage of this and the RDC is absolutely perfect for this service and the 90 minute turn arounds they are going to provide; I don't see this working if they didn't have the RDC.
I took another look on their website lastnight, I saw nothing about a stop at Bear Peak, however I won't be the least bit surprised if they add that at some point in the future, if in fact this it is successful for them. I'm sure Attitash welcomes this, I'm sure the towns of Bartlett and N. Conway welcome it and I'm sure to a lesser extant the Mt. Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce welcome this. If it's successful it will be something that can be advertised across other spectrums, not just by the railroad.

[Hux]

So, is the RDC set up for handling skis and boots?

[Arborwayfan]

Their website says it has a ski rack.

Is this the first scheduled passenger service designed to get people from point a to point b -- as opposed to fun scenic/nostalgic rides to operate to or from any of these towns since 1958? Or would we put them in the category of the special ski trains that ran once or twice a winter right up to the abandonment of the Conway Branch? I realize fun and nostalgia are part of the draw, but these trains are supposed to take people skiing, so to me they count as real passenger service.

Interesting that the last ski trains ran _to_ North Conway, which is now the starting point. Changes in the lodging and skiing geography.

An additional stop next to the parking lot of the McDonalds down towards Conway would be in walking distance of three or four more hotels.

[b&m 1566]

I notice the dinner train for 2020 had its Wednesday departures removed from the schedule. Only 3 weekly departures on Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday w/occasional Sundays, if Monday is a holiday. I am surprised they didn't added Friday's, isn't that the biggest eating out night of the week?

Off topic: Back on Super Bowl Sunday, I got talking to a few people about cocktail cruises, it started over boat cocktail cruises but morphed itself into a question. One of them is spending this coming weekend in N. Conway for skiing and what not, they know about the train shuttles and asked if there are any cocktail cruises operated by any railroads? My answer was no, not that I'm aware off, then I remember the Conway Scenic, now has a bar/lounge in the lower dome. So now I'm curious, can someone just get cocktails or do riders have to order food? I know a liquor license dictates what you do, depending on the type you apply for. Most bars in NH are required to offer food (I believe Cigar Bar's are exempt) but not everyone has to order food, you just have to have the option. Restaurants with bars, liquor sales are not supposed to exceed your food sales.

[Rockingham Racer]

We pre-ordered boxes lunches a few years ago, but cocktail orders were being taken by a crew member once we got under way.

[b&m 1566]

Interesting, what car were you in?

Also, are there any train services out there that offer "Cocktail Cruises"? Until now the two never crossed paths in my mind and I've been on a few boat ride cocktail cruises over the years. The last one was out of Ogunquit, ME it was an hour long, which was perfect.

[Rockingham Racer]

Can't remember which service, or even which car, but I know it was a notch above what most people rode that trip. Maybe contact them with your question if nobody else chimes in.

[NHV 669]

Seems that demand was high enough that yesterday's trains ran with 1751 leading west, 4 coaches, and 573 on the east end.

Looks like a fifth coach was added for today.

[b&m 1566]

According to their new marketing director Brian Solomon, both Cupid Express dinner trains were sold out.

[gokeefe]

WOW!

[b&m 1566]

It appears they have scrapped the idea of using the RDC for these shuttle runs, my understanding is that rider ship numbers are much higher than they ever anticipated, so that's great news! They are now offering light snacks and beverages (not sure if alcohol is included or not) in their dinning cars.

[gokeefe]

That is AMAZING.

Who would have ever imagined that there was money to be made.

[Arborwayfan]

Right?

Maybe if there's a market for whole trains these two weeks, there's a market for Millie on ordinary weekends. I like the way they are thinking.