This past few days, just after the Christmas holiday, my family and I spent a few days in the White Mountains of New Hampshire—a place that holds a special kind of magic for me. Loon Mountain has been part of my life since I was barely old enough to walk, and now I get to share it with my own boys. Returning there always feels like reconnecting with a piece of my childhood, a place where I can be as much a kid at heart as they are.
We got a few wintery days but, as is often the case in late December, the weather threw us a curveball. An early-season thaw rolled in, turning our final day into a soggy washout. Still, even with the rain dampening the slopes, it was a great couple of days.
That said, there was one bittersweet moment during our stay. The J.E. Henry Locomotive—a beloved fixture at Loon—wasn’t running. Rumor has it that the train won’t operate this season due to the lack of a conductor. I’m not one to put stock in the rumor mill so I’m chalking up its non operation due to holiday scheduling conflicts.
Most days, the J.E. Henry Locomotive oscillates back and forth between the resort’s Octagon and Governor Adams lodges. For families with young kids, it’s an easy and delightful way to skip the long walk through the parking lot. And for everyone else, it’s a nostalgic nod to the past—a chance to ride a piece of history.
This particular steam engine “is a narrow-gauge railway, which means its wheelbase is narrower than that of larger passenger or freight trains. Cheap to build and well-suited to mountainous terrain, narrow-gauge railways were used to haul timber out of the White Mountains during the early 20th century.”
Every time I’ve ridden the J.E. Henry, it’s felt like stepping into a snow globe. There’s something about the way it huffs and puffs through the snow, powered by neatly stacked firewood, that’s utterly captivating. The firebox glows with a warmth that draws you in, and the whistle—that sharp, clear call—seems to echo with the promise of adventure.
Here are a few photos of the J.E. Henry in action from seasons past. Hopefully, it’ll be back on the tracks soon to create some more magical moments.
Images:
- Black-and-white photo of the J.E. Henry Train in motion with snow-covered trees in the background.
- The J.E. Henry Train stopped at the station, surrounded by stacks of firewood.
- Close-up of the firebox glowing with orange flames inside the J.E. Henry Train.
- Close-up of the J.E. Henry Railroad logo painted on the side of the train.
- Detail shot of the train’s engine with blue and copper oil cans resting on its surface.
- Black-and-white photo of the J.E. Henry Train steaming by a snowy hill at Loon Mountain.
- Color photo of the J.E. Henry Train at Loon Mountain, steaming through a snowy landscape.
- Stack of neatly chopped firewood used to power the J.E. Henry Train.
Trains at Loon (n.d.). Loon Mountain Resort. Available at: https://www.loonmtn.com/visitors-guide/trains-at-loon (Accessed: 30 December 2024).
