Essex Steam Train and Riverboat
1 Railroad Ave
Essex, CT
A restored steam locomotive that carries you up the lower Connecticut River Valley, where you can step off the train and onto an old-style riverboat.
The Essex Steam Train and Riverboat offers one of the most charming excursions in Connecticut: a ride behind a genuine restored steam locomotive up the wooded lower Connecticut River Valley, with the option to step off the train at a riverside landing and continue the journey aboard an old-fashioned riverboat. The combination of rails and water, both powered by vintage machinery, makes for a nostalgic half-day trip through some of the state's prettiest country.
Operated by the Valley Railroad Company, the excursion runs on a historic rail line and departs from the postcard-perfect village of Essex. As the train chuffs north through forest and marsh alongside the river, and the riverboat glides past the same landscape from the water, passengers get a leisurely, two-part tour of a valley that has changed remarkably little in appearance over the generations.
What Guests Love
- Riding behind a genuine restored steam locomotive, whistle and all
- The train-and-riverboat combination, rails one way and water the next
- Rolling views of the wooded lower Connecticut River Valley
- Seasonal specials, from fall foliage runs to holiday themed trains
Worth Knowing
- The riverboat connection is seasonal, so confirm which trips include the cruise
- Themed events like the holiday trains sell out, so book popular dates ahead
- The train runs on the historic Valley Railroad line dating to the 19th century
- Essex village itself is worth arriving early to explore on foot
Details
Essex, CT
Learn about Essex Steam Train and Riverboat
The Valley Railroad revived
The line the train runs on has deep roots, part of the Valley Railroad that served the Connecticut River towns in the 19th century. After regular service ended, preservationists revived a stretch of the route as a heritage railroad, restoring locomotives and coaches and bringing steam back to the valley in the 1970s.
Today the Valley Railroad Company operates the steam train as a working piece of living history. The locomotives are genuine steam engines, maintained and fired to haul passengers just as they once hauled freight and travelers, and the sound of the whistle echoing up the valley is part of the experience.
Train to riverboat
The signature trip pairs the steam train with a riverboat cruise. Passengers ride the train north from Essex to a landing at Deep River, where they can transfer to a riverboat for a narrated cruise on the Connecticut River before returning by train.
From the water, the trip offers a different view of the same scenery: forested hillsides, the occasional grand house, and landmarks like Gillette Castle standing on its bluff above the river. The two modes together turn a simple train ride into a loop through the valley by both rail and water.
Scenery of the lower valley
The lower Connecticut River Valley is unusual for the Eastern Seaboard in how undeveloped its river mouth remains, a rarity that has earned it recognition as an internationally important natural area. The train and boat carry passengers through woods, tidal marshes, and coves that host ospreys, eagles, and, in season, migrating birds.
Because the route hugs the river and its wetlands, the ride is scenic in every season, from spring green and summer haze to the vivid foliage of autumn, which is one of the most popular times to ride.
Seasonal trains and Essex village
The railroad runs a full calendar of themed excursions through the year. Fall foliage trains time the ride to peak color, and the winter holiday trains, with their festive themes, are especially popular with families and often sell out well in advance. These special runs have made the railroad a seasonal tradition for many Connecticut families.
The departure point adds to the appeal. Essex is one of the best-preserved colonial river villages in New England, its Main Street lined with 18th and 19th century homes leading down to the water and the Connecticut River Museum. Arriving early to walk the village and see the waterfront rounds out a visit to the train.
Closest Boutels
The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.
Things to Do Near Essex
Connecticut River Museum
About 1 mile, a 4 minute drive
A waterfront museum at the foot of Essex Main Street telling the story of the river, including a replica of the Turtle, the first submarine used in warfare.
Gillette Castle State Park
About 8 miles, a 20 minute drive
The eccentric stone castle built by actor William Gillette on a bluff above the Connecticut River, surrounded by trails and river views.
Chester
About 5 miles, a 12 minute drive
A small, artistic river village with galleries, restaurants, and a seasonal ferry across the Connecticut River.