David Swirk Brings Conway Scenic to Our 35th Annual Meeting

David Swirk, President and General Manager of Conway Scenic Railroad, headquartered in North Conway, runs a successful heritage train system in New Hampshire. With multiple trainsets and engines, including a steam locomotive, utilizing the NH portion of the Mountain Division that B&M operated from Portland to North Conway, the railroad hauls 160,000 tourists annually through the breathtaking White Mountains.

Rehabbing the NH section of the Mountain Division was a challenging but successful undertaking. Battling this year's ferocious storms that left deep scars in the well-maintained trackage was another challenge overcome by Mr. Swirk and his team at  Conway Scenic. Adding the winter Snow Train has kept North Conway on the visitor's list year-round. At our meeting, Mr. Swirk showed a video about the winter train and the impressive work of keeping the tracks up-to-snuff, something that the railroad did primarily with its own equipment and employees.

 

Mr. Swirk is always on the lookout for expansion opportunities. Recently, Conway Scenic acquired VIP Tour & Charter Company to, among other things, move cruise ship passengers from Portland Harbor to North Conway for a rail excursion and return.

The Maine section of the Mountain Division had been in Mr. Swirk's sights as well. But recently, Maine's governor signed legislation that would rip up those tracks for a trail. The state is waiting for removal cost proposals. TrainRiders testified in opposition to that legislation, seeking to preserve the rail right-of-way for future use with the trail located alongside the tracks, not replacing them. That was not to be, but both TrainRiders and Mr. Swirk continue in their attempts to return rail operations to that line before the tracks are torn up away.

TrainRiders/Northeast - Changing the Way New England Travels.
Renew, join or provide special financial support by going here!

• Prev
• Next