adirondack scenic railroad

thomasi640

Good value and a nice rainy day activity for the family of all ages. Pack some snacks and enjoy a short train ride as it used to be in the Adirondacks. Staff / conductors and knowledgeable and accommodating.

NancyT222

Getting to be popular,, we enjoyed the one hour ride to otter creek. You don't get off the train but we saw the foliage and enjoyed riding and talking with our friends

ridgetop01

We went on the Thendara - Otter Lake loop. This loop is non-stop, which is fine because there is access to food/drinks/bathrooms on the train. We wanted to go on the Thendara - Big Moose loop, but the tracks are being worked on this year - that loop has a stopover for lunch or brunch and would have been more fun. Plus, it was pouring rain, and freezing, it would have been much nicer if it had been a lovely sunny day.

tapper54

My husband and I have been taking this train trip once a year because it is so much fun. Our experience last week.....not so much. too many people. and this was on a Thursday. One passenger told us that there was a "Goupon" coupon available, basically a two for one, so while we paid $75 dollars for the trip, others only paid $45. It used to be easy to get to the café car, get a coffee and a donut and sit back down to watch the world go by, not any more. it was chaos, they are not set up for 300-400 people per train. it's just not fun anymore. and, the schedule is a joke, it's very often an hour or two late leaving and coming back. we applaud the tireless and extremely hard working volunteers, but we probably won't be back next year.

CelticChick52

Wow, apparently we should have ridden this train in Thendara! The section between Lake Placid and Saranac Lake was nothing like the reviews I've read here. There ride lasted about 20 minutes and the train crawled along at less than 20 mph. There was some nice scenery, but mostly just trees. There was no dining car and the passenger cars were comfortable, but nothing spectacular or historic. There was an outdoor car, but it was pouring rain and freezing, so that really wasn't an option! The conductor provided some interesting little tidbits about the area, and on the return trip played music. Who would have thought there were so many songs about the Adirondacks and the Adirondack Scenic Railroad! Both my husband and I fell asleep at different times on the ride. Also, you don't have enough time at Saranac Lake to even walk to the village before boarding the train for the return trip. I would not recommend this trip at all. Maybe during high season it's more interesting, has better cars and some entertainment for the kids.

MaryHall75

This is a good rainy day activity for families. The trip isn't that long nor is it particularly spectacular but for those who love trains it's a good way to spend some leisure time. It's sister train also runs between Saranac Lake and Lake Placid if one trip is not enough. The sister train also offers the family groups the opportunity to ride the Adirondack carousel for an additional fee which is located within easy walking distance from the Saranac Lake train station....all aboard!

dwright438

I have been on the other railroads and this one was very very good- our conductor had lots of historical information- the rr consisted of four cars that were very cool - plus a baggage car so you could get fresh air. One of the passenger cars had full blast A/C for a hot day. Really enjoyed this ride and hop e to do it again!!!

Maridale2013

What's not to love a train ride along part of the moose river in the Scenic Adirondacks with some New York Central vintage restored passenger cars.Stopping along the way to pickup some kayakers and kayaks for the return trip to the train station.Great family fun good value the fall trips are the best but they also have some activity trains.A Must ride in the Adirondacks you will not be disappointed.

970marcg

If you are near Old Forge in the fall of the year this is the ride to take. The train ride from Thendara to Otter Lake is the best and if you like to take pics then you are in the right place, There is an observation car where you can stand and snap away. It is especially nice going over the trestle. Going the other way is ok but for my money you can't beat the trip to Otter Lake.

NicholasM535

Because we were in Old forge at the peak of Fall color, we decided to take a ride on the Adirondack Scenic Railroad. We had ridden it before but had never gone South to Otter Lake from Thendara Station. There were about 25 people on board and 4 cars to explore. The day was sunny and warm. We spent about 1 1/4 hours looking out the windows at the beautiful scenery. We crossed over The Big Moose River many times giving us spectacular views. It was a very pleasurable experience. Run by all volunteers, everyone was very friendly and knowledgeable. You could tell they enjoyed it as much as the passengers. We will try the trip down to Utica and back next time. The train runs seasonally, so call for a schedule.

BoSox30

In looking for things to do on our trip, we found the Adirondack Scenic Railroad. We took a Saturday 3pm trip and found it to be a great time and day. The train ride lasts a little over an hour, but goes by very quickly once you're on. We didn't see too much....trees and rivers....but the train ride experience was worth it. You have the option to sit on the train inside or go to the open-air train in the back. We opted to sit inside on the way down the mountain and stood on the open-air train on the way back up the mountain. Both were enjoyable....but the open-air train gave way to better scenic pictures. The only minor drawback was the smell inside the train. You could tell it was on the older side....smelled a bit musty. If you're sensitive to smells, the open-air train is probably your best choice for the scenic ride. We had a pretty good time, so we would recommend it.

catwoman13439

I appreciate that this rail line is run primarily by volunteers dedicated to keeping a small rail line alive. The conductor and engineer were knowledgeable and friendly and we enjoyed the train trip, but the "brunch".....Where to start? Brunch to me means a mix of breakfast and lunch foods, maybe some fresh fruit. This one included four food items; powdered scrambled eggs, some kind of dried up potatoes, pancakes and sausage. Our wee one wanted some bacon and they did bring us some....for $2.00 extra. The ancient rug looked like some kind of science experiment as a breeding ground for bacteria. The train ride was fun and worth the price; the "brunch" was just plain gross.

kanadana

This was a lot of fun! The old train car was neat to ride in and we went past some really gorgeous views of the Moose River. The conductor was very helpful and knowledgeable, and obviously loves his job. Be sure to bring a camera and walk back to the baggage car - you get the wind in your face, some great pictures and a better sense of what it's like to ride the rails! At $12 this Saturday discount ride was a bargain.

mhz0214

We went on a rail/boat cruise from Thendara to Big Moose. This is a new route just opened 6 weeks ago. The track was in good condition, the cars were clean. We picked up a couple of bikers in Thendara who were going up to Carter and biking back. The conductor was informative and pleasant. We were permitted to stand in the boxcar with the open air windows, made for great picture taking as well. Some people at the brunch were at the end of the line and there food wasn't warm ( a sterno could solve that problem.) I am hoping that the route up to Lake Placid will be finished soon. This is a great asset to the Adirondack Park System.

EdP366

We had not been on a train for many years and went on the ride with friends. We were all thrilled with the experience of a train ride through the mountainous areas of New York. While not a lengthy trip, it was enough to make us want to try for a longer trip in the future.