If you’re looking for a quintessential Upstate New York evening—mountain air, small-town scenery, and a relaxed ride behind vintage passenger equipment—the Adirondack Railroad delivers that “step back in time” feeling in a very modern way. Among its most popular special outings is the Beer & Wine Train Series, an adult-oriented excursion built around the simple pleasures of rail travel: steady rhythms on jointed rail, window-side views, and a drink in hand as the countryside slides by.
Operated by the Adirondack Railway Preservation Society (ARPS), the Adirondack Railroad runs on track owned by New York State, with a mission focused on preserving rail service and using the corridor as a driver for heritage tourism and local economic activity. In other words, it’s not just a train ride—it’s a rolling introduction to one of the state’s most storied travel corridors.
A Brief History
Today’s Adirondack Railroad is the product of a long arc of Adirondack railroading. After Penn Central-era decline and abandonment approvals in the early 1970s, New York purchased the corridor and briefly saw it revived for passenger service connected to the 1980 Winter Olympics era, before the line again went dormant.
The modern preservation-era operation began in 1992, when a small section was approved for tourist service out of Thendara. The response was strong—enough to expand operations and formalize what would become today’s Adirondack Railroad (renamed in the mid-1990s and again later)…