All Aboard for a Beautiful Scenic Ride through the White Mountains and the Lakes Region of New Hampshire
(Jacksonville, Fla., August 22, 2023)—Patriot Rail Company LLC today announced it has assumed ownership and operations of the Hobo Railroad and the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad, located in Lincoln, NH, and Meredith NH, respectively. Both scenic railroads operate across 54 miles of historic track which navigates through the beautiful White Mountains and Lakes Region of New Hampshire. The railroads serve Lincoln, Plymouth, Meredith, the famed Weirs Beach on Lake Winnipesaukee, as well as the iconic Laconia Railroad Station located in Laconia, NH. In addition to the two scenic railroads, a vibrant rail bike operation—Rail Bike Adventures—offers patrons visiting Laconia, NH, an opportunity to ride a rail bike alongside the magnificent Lake Winnisquam.
Brenda Clark, Ben Clark, and Jennifer Franz, whose family has operated these beautiful scenic trains over the past 36 years, said in a joint statement, “It has been our passion to sustain the joy that Ed Clark first created in the late 1980s for the thousands of smiling faces who rode our historic trains and enjoyed the White Mountains and the beautiful Lakes Region. Now it is time to pass this extraordinary legacy on to Patriot Rail, which has the experience, commitment, and ability to take this wonderful tourist operation to even greater heights.”
“It is a privilege to assume from the Clark family these tremendous Winnipesaukee and Hobo Railroad assets,” said Patriot Rail CEO John E. Fenton. “Working in close partnership with the State of New Hampshire, today’s announcement ensures that we continue the long tradition of providing a superb tourist rail experience in the region. We welcome the Hobo, Winnipesaukee, and Rail Bike Adventures employees to our Patriot team, and together we aim to further elevate the Clark family’s treasured service for rail patrons and riders.”
Patriot Rail, the nation’s third-largest short-line holding company with 32 railroads and supporting operations in 23 states, also operates the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway in Blue Ridge, Georgia, which Southern Living magazine recently recognized as one of the best train rides for spotting fall foliage in the South. Based on building its award-winning Blue Ridge Scenic operation now with over 130,000 patrons a year, Patriot looks forward to introducing new and exciting upgrades to the outstanding Hobo, Lake Winnipesaukee, and rail bike service in beautiful New Hampshire.
About Patriot Rail Company LLC
Patriot Rail operates 32 regional and freight short line railroads, a scenic rail excursion train, and rail-related services companies with operations in 23 states. Service capabilities include railcar storage, transloading, railcar cleaning, and supporting engineering and real estate assistance for customers. Patriot Rail is also a direct partner in providing railcar repair and maintenance, railcar dismantling, and environmental services, including centralized wastewater treatment. For more information, visit https://patriotrail.com/.
CONTACT
David Bevins, David.bevins@patriotrail.com, T: 904-253-9319