Each fall in Wilton, Lyndeborough, Greenfield and Bennington, a procession of mini-rail cars, also known as “speeders,” makes a round trip from Milford on the train tracks criss-crossed by Route 31.
During the trip, hundreds of fans cheer for the trains as they pass, including the volunteers from the Greenfield Historical Society, which is located near where the train tracks cross Forest Road past Greenfield Elementary School.
The mini-rail cars are operated by the Cotton Valley Rail Trail Club, an association of railway motorcar drivers founded in 1992 dedicated to preserving motorcar history and preserving access to the rails. The CVRTC is based in Wolfeboro.
On Saturday, Aug. 16, the CVRTC will host an open house for anyone who would like to learn more about mini-rail cars and how they operate and find out more about the club. The event is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 4 Fernald Crossing in Wolfeboro.
The event is free and open to the public, and all are welcome.
Cyrena Arnold of Francestown is a longtime “speeder” enthusiast and CVRTC volunteer.
“We get great local crowds that watch us pass by when we are in Greenfield,” Arnold stated. “People just love these little trains.”
The CVRTC will not be giving rides this year, but plans to offer rides again in 2026. The exact date and time of the CVRTC’s annual fall visit to the Monadnock region event is not yet known.
For information, go to cottonvalley.org/events-calendar.