Excursion trains show off Connecticut with old-fashioned luxury

Excursion trains in Connecticut can take you to and through wonderfully beautiful places -- along rivers, across gorges, through mountains -- in a gloriously luxurious setting. This old-fashioned and relaxed way to see the beauty of Connecticut is a real treat for people on vacation. A great activity for children, parents, and older people. Seasonal train excursions are offered for fall foliage, Christmas season, and others.

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Essex Steam Train & Riverboat

One Railroad Avenue Essex, CT 06426 Phone: 860-767-0103 Toll-Free: 800-377-3987 Fax: 860-767-0104

Gather family and friends for a sightseeing journey...
aboard the only steam train and riverboat connection in the United States!

Essex Steam Train offers unique access to several coves and preserves, immersing passengers in an on-board eco-excursion. The train travels near the tidal wetlands of Pratt Cove and Chester Creek - - bountiful, natural habitats for birds. Among those typically spotted are Cormorants, Ducks, Swans, Greenland Geese, Blue Heron, Egrets, and Red-winged Blackbirds. In February and March, the majestic Bald Eagle is the star of the show, when it migrates south to the Connecticut River Valley from Canada and Maine.

At Deep River Landing, passengers are escorted onto the Becky Thatcher riverboat for a 1¼- hour Connecticut River cruise. The deep water coves, inlets, marshes, wildlife, and rocky shoreline are simply breathtaking! Equally impressive are historic Gillette Castle, Goodspeed Opera House, and the Haddam Swing Bridge. Back at Deep River Landing, the steam train welcomes passengers for the trip back to Essex Station.