When you hear the deep hum of a biodiesel engine or see a blast of smoke from a steam engine, you’ll know your trip up Mt. Washington aboard the historic Cog Railway is about to begin. Knowledgeable and entertaining engineers and brakemen and brakewomen will answer questions as you chug up the Northeast’s highest peak, passing through forests, by wildlife and ravines and through three climate zones until you reach the summit. Included in the thrilling ride is Jacob’s Ladder, the steepest railroad trestle in the world. A museum at the base station and a visitor center at the summit provide history about the 152-year-old railway, the first mountain-climbing cog railway in the world, as well as an interactive weather exhibit. Trains run from late April through November.

Escape from ordinary excursions and reserve a seat on board the Cafe Lafayette Dinner Train, one of the nation’s premier dinner trains. In your 1950s restored vintage rail car, perhaps the one with the dome, you’ll relax in elegant surroundings, including ornate woodworking, stained glass and brass. You’ll be served an equally elegant five-course meal, from a seasonally inspired menu, and enjoy special cocktail selections from a full bar. The train travels 20 miles through the lovely Pemigewasset River Valley. You’ll rumble through woods, over three trestle bridges, the Jack-O-Lantern Golf Course and a Christmas tree farm before returning to the train station in North Woodstock. The dinner train runs May through October and is available for private dining and special events.

You could think of Scenic Railriders as a scenic, exciting excursion along train tracks — without the noisy train! In a custom-built two- or four-seat Rail-Bike, you’ll leisurely pedal along a beautiful stretch of abandoned railroad tracks in Concord, NH taking in the scenery and tranquil river views. You’ll pedal past farmland, through woods and over bridges along the Merrimack River. A guide will pass on some historical facts about the area as you coast along from Concord to Boscawen, NH and back: a 6.2-mile trip that takes about an hour and 45 minutes. The trip is perfect for all ages: Kids 5 and over can usually reach the pedals, and car seats, child seats and booster seats can be buckled right onto the Rail-Bike seats.

Passengers on board the Conway Scenic Railroad’s excursion trains will feel what it was like to travel from town to town by rail. Board a vintage passenger car at the 1874 station in North Conway Village, NH and take a two-hour ride to Sawyer River, crossing over bridges with spectacular views. Or, in a train especially popular with small kids because of its 55-minute journey, travel to Conway, NH and back, admiring the Mt. Washington Valley scenery as you glide along the tracks, pulled by a diesel engine. In winter, the Snow Train takes passengers to Attitash, NH where, if you wish, you can get off to ski or enjoy the resort across the street. Trains have snack bars; the river train also offers pre-ordered lunches.