Plymouth & Lincoln Railroad

On June 15, 1987, the Plymouth and Lincoln Railroad was formed with the purpose of operating a theme park and railroad out of Lincoln, New Hampshire.^[1] Edward Clark and his wife Brenda Reynolds Clark were the owners. Trains have been operating since then between Lincoln and Woodstock, a distance of 7 miles (11 km).

After a few years of operating the railroad in Lincoln under the "Hobo Railroad" name (which would later be renamed "Granite State Scenic Railway"), the railroad was invited to bid on the lease for the state-owned trackage from Tilton to Plymouth. They won the bid, and the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad was formed, with trains running from Meredith to Lakeport, with a stop in Weirs Beach.^[2]

The railroad now holds the passenger rights on the entire state of New Hampshire-owned track running from Lochmere to Lincoln, a total of 54 miles (87 km). This additional mileage allows the operation of many special excursion trains. The state owns another 19 miles (31 km) of track from Lochmere to Concord, which is used by the New England Southern Railroad for freight customers.^[3]

Edward Clark, founder of the railroad, died in the summer of 1998. Benjamin, his only son, assumed the post of President and promoted the business heavily.^[1]

The Patriot Rail Company assumed ownership of the two passenger services and the rail bike operations in August 2023.^[4]

In April 2024, the railroad was renamed as the Granite State Scenic Railway.^[5]

From the mid-1990s, the Lincoln Shops have grown to be a major source of off-season revenue through its refurbishing and repair of numerous pieces of customer railroad equipment. Two Russell snowplows and some subway tampers were rebuilt for the MBTA. The privately owned ex-New Haven Railroad Roger Williams was in for major restoration to like-new condition,^[6] along with four or five caboose repaintings. The company's reputation increased the demand for the facility enough to make the business a 12-month operation. In 2005, they brought the three-car set of the Flying Yankee, under restoration, to the Lincoln Shops for completion.^[7] In 2021, 2 major locomotive repaints to SW1000 105 and SW1001 1590 were done as well as an interior upgrade on both locomotives.

The railroad operates fall foliage trains in New England, offering routes alongside Lake Winnipesaukee and the Pemigewasset River to the mountains. Since 2003, autumn tourism has formed a major part of the railroad's promotional efforts, supported by its proximity to Boston, located approximately 1.5 hours to the south.

During peak foliage season, the railroad hosts bus tour groups in Meredith, New Hampshire, with up to eight tour buses arriving daily. A notable feature of these seasonal excursions is the "Turkey Train," which offers a full roast turkey meal on board catered by Hart's Turkey Farm Restaurant, a local Meredith establishment.

In winter 2005, the "Believe in Books Literacy Foundation" contracted with the railroad to provide a "Polar Express" out of Lincoln, to supplement the growing demand from the North Conway operation run by the Conway Scenic Railroad. The Tom Hanks movie of the same name was released in the 2004-2005 season, sparking even further interest.

In June 2021, Rail Bike Adventures began offering 2-hour tours out of Laconia Station along the shores of Lake Winnisquam.

Three ALCO S1 switchers (two of them are currently out of service; one switcher is from the Portland Terminal Company and two are from the Maine Central Railroad), an ALCO S3 switcher from the Boston and Maine Railroad, 2 EMD SW1000's, 1 EMD SW1001, 1 EMD GP9, and a former Rock Island Railroad EMD GP7 provide the motive power for the two railroads. Four former Erie Lackawanna Railroad cars and six former Budd RDCs from the MBTA in Boston comprise the railroad cars that they use for operations.

• List of heritage railroads in the United States