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Essex Steam Train & Riverboat Essex Steam Train & Riverboat Essex Steam Train & Riverboat Essex Steam Train & Riverboat

Timeless. Beautiful. Captivating. This year, step back in time to historic 1892 Essex Station and embark on an unforgettable 2.5-hour journey into the heart of the unspoiled Connecticut River Valley. A steam locomotive pulls vintage coaches on a narrated round-trip through the quintessential New England towns of Deep River and Chester.

It's fun for everyone... with all the bells and whistles. 

Essex Steam Train offers unique access to several coves and preserves, immersing passengers in an onboard eco-excursion. Don’t forget your camera. When you arrive at Deep River Landing, your steam train & riverboat excursion continues aboard the multi-deck, Becky Thatcher riverboat for a relaxing 1-1/4-hour cruise along the Connecticut River before returning to Essex Station via steam locomotive.

Essex Station is more than a family railroad attraction with a train-themed gift shop. We’re a destination for your special events, weddings, and other facility rentals with plenty of parking. Need your event catered? We do that, too. Visit our website for details. 

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essex steam train and riverboat connecticut

essex steam train and riverboat connecticut

essex steam train and riverboat connecticut

essex steam train and riverboat connecticut

essex steam train and riverboat connecticut

essex steam train and riverboat connecticut

1 Railroad Ave. Historic Essex Station Essex , CT 06426 United States

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EXPERIENCES

essex steam train and riverboat connecticut

Bunny Breakfast

March 23, 24, 29, & 30

Families will delight in a spring train ride through the beautiful Connecticut River Valley as they enjoy a family style platter of breakfast items suitable for all ages. An abundant family style platter for the whole table will include french toast, scones and pastries, fresh fruits, hard boiled eggs and breakfast sandwiches. The Easter Bunny will greet all guests as he passes through the train cars along the route. Photo opportunities will be available on the platform after the train ride.

essex steam train and riverboat connecticut

Essex Steam Train Easter Egg Hunt

SOLD OUT- Saturday, March 30, 2024

The Easter Bunny will join you as you enjoy a 45 minute train ride in the Connecticut River Valley. Before returning to Essex Station he will have the engineer stop the train in a secluded meadow for an Easter Egg Hunt and photo opportunities! All children will get a small basket to fill with the eggs they collect during the hunt. It’s going to be an egg-cellent time, so get your tickets today!

essex steam train and riverboat connecticut

Wine & Chocolate Dinner Train

Friday, April 5, 2024

You are cordially invited to board our vintage train for a specially created 3 course dinner while you sample a selection of wines sourced for you by our guest wine steward. The experience will become even more decadent when our guest chocolatier from Fascia’s Chocolates joins the conversation and introduces you to some amazing chocolate pairings.

essex steam train and riverboat connecticut

Day out With Thomas

April 27-28 & May 4-5

‘Pop’ on board a train ride adventure with Thomas the Tank Engine! Day Out With Thomas “Bubble Tour” is heading to Essex Station! We encourage you to purchase your tickets in advance as these events sell out each year!  Arrive early to enjoy all the included activities!

essex steam train and riverboat connecticut

Mommy & Me Tea

May 11 & 12, 2024

Take in the beautiful spring scenery on this 1 ½  hour round-trip train ride through the Connecticut River Valley, as you enjoy this intimate family excursion. Delight in an assortment of teas, finger sandwiches, pastries, sweets and more, aboard a beautifully restored 1920s era Pullman Dining car. Your car hosts will be providing top of the line care and service for you and your family and friends. Relax as the rhythm of the rails, accompanied by classical melodies, transports you to a simpler time of elegance that only we can provide.

essex steam train and riverboat connecticut

Princess Academy & Royal Tea

SOLD OUT- June 15, July 20, July 21 & August 17, 2024

Let us make all of your wishes come true on June 15, July 20 and August 17, 2024 when you attend our first Princess Academy and Royal Tea. Dress your Princess in training in her prettiest dress or gown and join our beautiful Belle of the Valley and her regal companions in the Grand Ballroom at Essex Station for an unforgettable and magical afternoon.

essex steam train and riverboat connecticut

Brick Brunch

July 27, 2024

Brick Builders Unite! Engage your imagination and join us July 27 for our first Brick Brunch aboard the Essex Steam Train!

PREMIUM EXPERIENCES

essex steam train and riverboat connecticut

Murder Mystery Train

April 13, 2024

Lucky you! You’ve been invited to the Dunn Speakeasy for the wedding of the year! In this “married to the mob” event, you’ll never know who to trust. With the two families merging together, someone is bound to lose power, which means someone else will lose their life! Get on the train and solve this case with your fellow detectives.

essex steam train and riverboat connecticut

2024 Hand on the Throttle

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn about and actually operate a full size steam locomotive! Registrants receive home study materials covering railroad and steam locomotive safety as well as basic steam locomotive theory and operation.

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Attractions | Restaurants and Specialty Foods

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1 Railroad Avenue,Essex,06426

(800) 377-3987

http://essexsteamtrain.com

Are you an Essex business Interested in becoming a member of the Essex Board of Trade?

CONTACT US TODAY!

essex steam train and riverboat connecticut

Essex Board of Trade, Inc., P.O. Box 322 Essex, CT 06426 or email [email protected]

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Essex Steam Train & Riverboat

essex steam train and riverboat connecticut

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essex steam train and riverboat connecticut

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essex steam train and riverboat connecticut

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Ello4977

Essex Steam Train & Riverboat - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024) - Tripadvisor

essex steam train and riverboat connecticut

Essex Steam Train & Riverboat

essex steam train and riverboat connecticut

  • See all photos

essex steam train and riverboat connecticut

Similar Experiences

essex steam train and riverboat connecticut

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Ello4977

Essex Steam Train & Riverboat - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Essex Steam Train & Riverboat

essex steam train and riverboat connecticut

  • See all photos

essex steam train and riverboat connecticut

Similar Experiences

essex steam train and riverboat connecticut

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Ello4977

ESSEX STEAM TRAIN & RIVERBOAT - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

essex steam train and riverboat connecticut

3 Reasons Why You Will Love a Ride on the Essex Steam Train and Riverboat

New England offers some of the most magnificent nature on the East Coast, and you want to make sure you witness most of it during your stay. Figuring out an itinerary can be challenging, especially if you are unfamiliar with the area. Don’t despair! The Essex Steam Train and Riverboat is the perfect solution for you. Board the authentic train and discover beautiful landscapes. Go on a Connecticut River adventure on the riverboat and learn about the rich heritage of the region surrounded by your family and friends! The Essex Steam Train and Riverboat is the perfect day trip activity for your vacation at the Stonecroft Country Inn. Don’t wait any longer! Start planning your trip today and live out the New England adventure you’ve always dreamed of.  

If you like your experience on the Essex Steam Train and Riverboat , you will love all the other activities around Mystic, CT! Download our free Vacation Guide and get our top recommendations for outdoor trips, fun events, gourmet restaurants, great museums, and more!

Go on a Historic Adventure on the Essex Steam Train and River Boat

A vintage ride through the deep connecticut forest.

Travel through time and nature with the Essex Steam Train . This spectacular vintage train takes you on a fully narrated, 12-mile round-trip into the stunning Connecticut River Valley and features some breathtaking views. Ride on the original Valley Railroad founded in 1868 and get exclusive access to coves, preserves, and the wetlands of Pratt Cove and Chester Creek. Admire diverse wildlife on your journey, such as cormorants birds, ducks, swans, Greenland geese, blue herons, egrets, and more. If you go in February or March, you might even see some bald eagles!

A Cruise Through Time

Change the scenery and board the Becky Thatcher Riverboat for a relaxing cruise along the Connecticut River! Start your journey at the Deep River Landing and get ready for almost an hour and a half of picturesque deep water landscapes, inlets, marshes and rocky shoreline. Discover historic sites along the way, like the Gillette Castle , Goodspeed Opera House, and the Haddam Swing Bridge. The whole expedition is narrated and the team is more than happy to answer every question you have. It’s an ideal way to discover the secrets of beautiful New England.

An Exclusive Dinner Experience

For an extra dose of magic, take your family or significant other on a dinner date aboard the Essex Clipper Dinner Train ! There’s no better way to end the day than with a ride back to the 1920’s. A gourmet four-course meal is offered to each passenger in the classy atmosphere of an original locomotive Pullman Diner.

This two-hour journey through time will make you feel like the Great Gatsby himself. The phenomenal menu includes chicken a la Francaise, salmon with grilled vegetable ravioli, ribs, and a top selection of some of the best wines. Treat yourself to an unforgettable meal aboard the Essex Steam Train and Riverboat and experience New England like never before!

Have an Authentic New England Stay at Stonecroft Country Inn

Essex Steam Train and Riverboat

Book your stay at Stonecroft Country Inn today and have a real New England adventure!

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  1. Essex Steam Train and Riverboat, Connecticut River Valley, Connecticut Aerial Photography & Video

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  2. Essex Steam Train and Riverboat in Essex, Connecticut

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  3. Essex Steam Train and Riverboat

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  4. 4 Incredible Train Excursions In Connecticut You Need To Take

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  5. Essex Steam Train & Riverboat

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  6. Cruisin’ Connecticut

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COMMENTS

  1. Essex Steam Train & Riverboat

    The Valley Railroad Company. The Valley Railroad Company - operating the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat - has been serving the lower Connecticut River Valley since 1971. Our company's mission is to keep alive the rich mechanical, industrial, and transportation heritage of our state through the continual operation of our vintage steam and ...

  2. About

    The Valley Railroad Company The Valley Railroad Company - operating the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat - has been serving the lower Connecticut River Valley since 1971. Our company's mission is to keep alive the rich mechanical, industrial, and transportation heritage of our state through the continual operation of our vintage steam and diesel locomotives and passenger coaches,

  3. Essex Steam Train & Riverboat

    When you arrive at Deep River Landing, your steam train & riverboat excursion continues aboard the multi-deck, Becky Thatcher riverboat for a relaxing 1-1/4-hour cruise along the Connecticut River before returning to Essex Station via steam locomotive. Essex Station is more than a family railroad attraction with a train-themed gift shop.

  4. Essex Steam Train & Riverboat Excursions

    Essex Steam Train's 2.5 hour Train & Riverboat Excursion and 60 minute train journeys begins at the historic 1892 Essex Station for a 12-mile, narrated round-trip into the heart of the unspoiled Connecticut River Valley - designated 'one of the last great places on earth' by the Nature Conservancy.

  5. Essex Steam Train & Riverboat

    By train and by river. Sep 2020 • Family. Essex offers the best of both worlds a train ride along and boat ride on the Connecticut River. We started with a fun ride on the train with a live narration of the trains history and then we climbed aboard the riverboat that was also narrated whimsically with history.

  6. Experiences

    March 9 & 16, 2024. Follow the rainbow, wear your Irish green, and hop aboard the Essex Steam Train with your wee ones for a festive Leprechaun Tea! Moms, dads and kids of all ages will have a memorable experience riding through the picturesque Connecticut River Valley aboard this celebratory St Patrick's excursion. LEARN MORE.

  7. Essex Steam Train & Riverboat

    Take the family on a two and a half hour narrated journey through the scenic Connecticut River Valley—named one of the "last great places on Earth" by the Nature Conservancy—aboard the only steam train and riverboat connection in the U.S.! Board the train at Essex station and ride to Deep River Landing, where the Mississippi-style ...

  8. Valley Railroad (Connecticut)

    The Valley Railroad, operating under the name Essex Steam Train and Riverboat, is a heritage railroad based in Connecticut on tracks of the Connecticut Valley Railroad, which was founded in 1868.The company began operations in 1971 between Deep River and Essex, and has since reopened additional parts of the former Connecticut Valley Railroad line.It operates the Essex Steam Train and the Essex ...

  9. Essex Steam Train & Riverboat

    About. Take one or both tours in combination for a delightful sightseeing excursion through some of the most scenic areas of Connecticut: scenic train ride in restored railroad cars pulled by a coal-fired locomotive and a ride up the Connecticut River by riverboat. Suggest edits to improve what we show.

  10. Essex Steam Train & Riverboat

    Essex Steam Train & Riverboat, Essex, Connecticut. 70,929 likes · 513 talking about this · 115,223 were here. Share your favorite pictures & memories from the only steam train+riverboat connection in...

  11. Essex Steam Train & Riverboat

    GREAT WAY TO SPEND THE DAY. The Essex Steam Train, located in Essex Connecticut, offers a variety of options. We chose the 2.5 hour steam train & riverboat ride, which made for a pleasant, entertaining ride. Also available, however, is a slightly longer lunch train, a Gillette Castle trip, a romantic dinner train, as well as special events and ...

  12. Essex Steam Train & Riverboat

    About. Take one or both tours in combination for a delightful sightseeing excursion through some of the most scenic areas of Connecticut: scenic train ride in restored railroad cars pulled by a coal-fired locomotive and a ride up the Connecticut River by riverboat. Essex, Connecticut. Contact.

  13. The Essex Steam Train & Riverboat in Central Connecticut Travel Guide

    Since 1971, Connecticut travelers have been able to combine two excursions in a single trip aboard the Essex Steam Train and Riverboat's vintage transports. The company's boat and train rides ...

  14. Essex Steam Train & Riverboat

    ESSEX STEAM TRAIN & RIVERBOAT - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos) Nov 28, 2023 - Take one or both tours in combination for a delightful sightseeing excursion through some of the most scenic areas of Connecticut: scenic train ride in restored railroad cars pulled by a coal-fired...

  15. Essex Steam Train & Riverboat

    Specialties: The Essex Steam Train & Riverboat is a nostalgic and exciting tourist destination operating live steam trains in the Connecticut River Valley since 1971. Our regular operating season is May through October. In addition to our venerable Steam Train & Riverboat excursion, we operate a Dinner Train (weekends), and special events such as Day Out with Thomas, Your Hand on the Throttle ...

  16. Essex Steam Train & Riverboat Review

    This excursion offers some of the best views of the Connecticut River Valley from a vintage steam locomotive pulled by 1920s-era coaches and an old-fashioned riverboat. The train, traveling along ...

  17. Essex Steam Train & Riverboat

    About. Take one or both tours in combination for a delightful sightseeing excursion through some of the most scenic areas of Connecticut: scenic train ride in restored railroad cars pulled by a coal-fired locomotive and a ride up the Connecticut River by riverboat. Essex, Connecticut. Contact.

  18. Essex Steam Train & Riverboat

    Connecticut River Valley Journey Video for the Essex Steam Train and Riverboat, Essex, CT. Created for the 2011, 40th Anniversary operating season.

  19. Essex Steam Train & Riverboat

    Take one or both tours in combination for a delightful sightseeing excursion through some of the most scenic areas of Connecticut: scenic train ride in restored railroad cars pulled by a coal-fired locomotive and a ride up the Connecticut River by riverboat. ... Appreciated a nice day aboard the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat - Saturday before ...

  20. 3 Reasons Why You Will Love A Ride On The Essex Steam Train And Riverboat

    A Vintage Ride Through the Deep Connecticut Forest. Travel through time and nature with the Essex Steam Train. This spectacular vintage train takes you on a fully narrated, 12-mile round-trip into the stunning Connecticut River Valley and features some breathtaking views. Ride on the original Valley Railroad founded in 1868 and get exclusive ...