Plymouth & Lincoln Railroad

The Plymouth & Lincoln Railroad is a class III shortline railroad operating on the Concord-Lincoln rail line in central New Hampshire, United States. The railroad consists of two distinct passenger operations, the Hobo Railroad, which offers passenger excursion trains in the White Mountains, and the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad, which operates passenger excursion trains along the shore of Lake Winnipesaukee in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. In addition to passenger operations, the railroad owns the Lincoln Shops, a railroad equipment maintenance and repair facility located in Lincoln, New Hampshire.

Plymouth & Lincoln Railroad
Hobo Junction with Hobo Railroad scenic trains in Lincoln, New Hampshire
Overview
HeadquartersLincoln, New Hampshire
Reporting markPLLX
LocaleNew England
Dates of operation1986–present
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Plymouth & Lincoln Railroad
 Lincoln
 Foster's Boiler Room
 Plymouth
 Ashland
 Meredith
 Weirs Beach
 Lakeport Siding
 Laconia
 Laconia Freight Depot
 US Route 3
 Silver Lake Siding
 Interstate 93
 Tilton
(Merrimack Railroad Freight Station)

History

In 1986 the Plymouth and Lincoln Railroad was formed with the purpose of operating a theme park and railroad out of Lincoln, New Hampshire. 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).

Weirs station, early 20th century

After a few years of operating the railroad in Lincoln under the "Hobo Railroad" name, 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.[1]

The railroad now holds the passenger rights on the entire state of New Hampshire-owned track running from Tilton 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 Tilton to Concord, which is used by the New England Southern Railroad for freight customers.[2]

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.[3]

The Lincoln Shops

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,[4] 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. 2005 brought the three-car set of the Flying Yankee, under restoration, to the Lincoln Shops for completion.[5]

Current activities

The railroad has some of the most diverse and scenic fall foliage trains in New England, whether lakeside or on a journey along the Pemigewasset River to the mountains. Since 2003 the railroad has promoted heavily this important season for tourism. It also benefits from its ​1 1⁄2-hour travel time from Boston. Bus groups, sometimes eight per day, converge in Meredith in the fall due to the town's location and to the offering of a full roast turkey dinner on the train catered by Hart's Turkey Farm Restaurant, also located in Meredith.

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.

Three ALCO S1 switchers (two 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, 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.

Third party (unofficial) track map, Meredith Running Track, Plymouth & Lincoln Railroad

Service stations

The Plymouth & Lincoln Railroad provides passenger service to the following stations:

Plymouth & Lincoln Railroad Station Roster WSRR = Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad; HRR = Hobo Railroad
Station Location Scheduled service? Milepost Operation Remarks
Silver Lake Road Lochmere No N/A NEGS moves only
Laconia Station Laconia No C 27.59 N/A Special events only
Lakeport Freight House Lakeport (Laconia) No C 29.04 N/A Special events and charters only
Lakeport Engine House Lakeport (Laconia) Yes C 29.33 WSRR Southern terminus for regular service (WSRR); no loading or unloading passengers; no station facilities
South Down Shores Laconia No C 31.01 WSRR Flag stop for South Down Shores Housing Community (WSRR)
Weirs Beach Station Weirs Beach Yes C 33.77 WSRR Regular service stop (WSRR)
Meredith Station Meredith Yes C 37.65 WSRR Regular service stop; northern terminus for regular service (WSRR)
Ashland Station Ashland Yes C 45.78 WSRR Limited service stop (WSRR); fall foliage tours only
Plymouth Station Plymouth No C 51.26 N/A Special events and charters only
Common Man Inn Plymouth Yes P 0.87 WSRR Limited service stop (WSRR); fall foliage tours only
Jack O'Lantern Resort Woodstock Yes P 14.90 HRR Southern terminus for regular service (HRR); no loading or unloading passengers; no station facilities
Hobo Junction Lincoln Yes P 21.21 HRR Regular service stop; northern terminus for regular service (HRR); Plymouth & Lincoln Railroad corporate headquarters

Locomotive roster
Locomotive Type Builder Build date Status Former railroad service Usage Notes
958 S1 Alco 1949 Operational ex. Maine Coast, exx. Maine Central Currently main power for the Lincoln trains Bought by the Hobo in 2003, this locomotive has pretty much never left the Hobo, except for events in Meredith such as the Capital Limited.
959 S1 Alco 1949 Out of service ex. Maine Central Currently out of service in Lakeport awaiting new wheel bearings Bought by Hobo in 1999; used to be Winnipesaukee secondary backup. Last ran 2013 for the Foliage Train.
1008 S1 Alco 1949 Out of service ex. Portland Terminal Currently out of service in Lakeport awaiting major fixes Second engine bought by Hobo in 1990; used to be main power for Winnipesaukee trains until suffering major problems during a train ride and came into Meredith in smoke
1186 (Edward Clark) S3 Alco 1949 Operational ex. Wolfeboro RR, exx. Otter Valley RR, exxx. Boston and Maine Currently third backup power for Lincoln trains First engine bought by Hobo in 1986; used to be main power for the Lincoln trains until 958 arrived in 2003
1012 SW1000 EMD 1970 Operational ex. Burlington Northern Currently main power for the Winnipesaukee trains Replacement for 1008 in 2014, not owned by Hobo; moved to Hobo in the winter for the Santa Trains
1590 SW1001 EMD 1973 Operational ex. Norfolk Southern, exx. Conrail. exxx. Reading Currently backup power for Hobo; moved to Winnipesaukee operation each fall This locomotive was purchased in 2011, although not arriving until 2016. Most likely to see at special events.
1921 GP9 EMD 1957 Out of service ex. MBTA, exx. Burlington Northern, exxx. Great Northern Privately owned; operates occasionally for backup power This locomotive was drained in September of 2019, making it Out of Service
302 GP7 EMD 1950 Operational ex. New England Southern, exx. Rock Island Currently main backup power for the Winnipesaukee trains This locomotive is operational but rarely runs.
2 44-Ton GE Out of service ex. US Army, exx Wolfeboro, exxx Goodwin, exxxx North Stratford, exxxxx NEGS Currently out of service in Lakeport Originally built for the US Army Railroad, this switcher was sold to the state of New Hampshire in 1976 and was used by the Wolfeboro, Goodwin and North Stratford railroads and New England Southern. Sold to the Hobo Railroad in 1992, the engine has been out of service since the late 1990s.[6]
105 SW1000 EMD 1971 Operational ex. New Orleans Public Belt Currently 2nd back-up for Lincoln trains. Built in August of 1971, former 1001 spent the past years working in Louisiana until making its way to Lincoln in August 2020.

Rolling stock
Revenue Rolling Stock[7]
Car number Car name Type Builder Build date Class Status Former railroad service Usage
1001 "Deer Park" Erie Lackawanna MU Pullman Company c.1920 Table coach/dining Operational ex. Delaware, Lackawanna, & Western 3562 Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad
1002 "Alpine" Erie Lackawanna MU Pullman Company c.1920 Table coach/dining Operational ex. Delaware, Lackawanna, & Western 4617 Hobo Railroad
1003 "Waukewan" Erie Lackawanna MU Pullman Company c.1920 Table coach/dining Operational ex. Delaware, Lackawanna, & Western 3538 Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad
1004 "Mountain View" Erie Lackawanna MU Pullman Company c.1930 Table coach/dining Operational ex. Delaware, Lackawanna, & Western 2625 Hobo Railroad
103 "Determination" Parlor car Pullman Company 1954 Presidential class Operational ex. Bangor & Aroostook 103 Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad
1642 "Cold Harbor" Parlor car Pullman Company Unknown First class Operational ex. New York Central 1642 Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad
6148 "Fairview" RDC-1 Budd Company 1955 Table coach Operational ex. B&M, MBTA 6148 Hobo Railroad
6105 "Winona" RDC-1 Budd Company 1953 Coach Operational ex. B&M, MBTA 6105 Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad
6921 "Winnisquam" RDC-9 Budd Company 1956 Coach Operational ex. B&M, MBTA 6921 Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad
9151 No name RDC-1 Budd Company 1962 Coach Operational ex. Reading 9151, MBTA 51 Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad
9154 "Mountain Park" RDC-1 Budd Company 1962 Coach Operational ex. Reading 9154, MBTA 56 Hobo Railroad
9159 "Ice Cream Car" RDC-1 Budd Company 1962 Table coach Operational ex. Reading 9159, MBTA 59 Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad

See also

References
  1. "Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad". www.hoborr.com. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  2. "New England Southern & Granite State Railroad". New England Southern.
  3. Kenson, George (December 2017). "History of the Hobo & Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroads". www.hoborr.com. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  4. Keenan, Bob (August 9, 2019). "Roger Williams at Hobo Junction (Lincoln NH)". Railroad Picture Archives.
  5. "Concord would love to see the Flying Yankee train return here – at least, if it's free". Concord Monitor.
  6. "New England Southern Railroad", Wikipedia, 2020-05-12, retrieved 2020-07-23
  7. Kenson, George. "Hobo Railroad Equipment Roster". Hobo & Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad.
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