Downeast Scenic Railroad
Scenic Train Rides in Ellsworth, Maine
Join us on the Downeast Scenic Railroad, the first tourist-passenger rail to grace the historic Calais Branch Line in decades, for the best day trip in Ellsworth!
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The Downeast Scenic Railroad was named Best Day Trip in this year’s poll of Down East Magazine readers’ favorites!
- See schedule for departure days & time Departure times See schedule for departure days & time
- Saturdays & Sundays Days Saturdays & Sundays
- 1.75 hours Duration 1.75 hours
- All ages Ages All ages
Established 2010
The Downeast Scenic Railroad offers a scenic ten-mile round-trip train ride from Ellsworth, Maine, on the historic Calais Branch Line. This is the first passenger train to run on the line in decades! Come join us for a beautiful ride.
While traveling this stretch of the line, we have observed many forms of wildlife, including osprey, blue herons, bald eagles, moose, deer, snapping turtles, foxes, beavers, and even bears!
Any day on the rails is a good one, and we look forward to having you join us! Book your ride today.







What People Are Saying About Us
The 1-1/2 hour narrated train ride was truly a step back in time. The conductor was extremely knowledgable and passionate. The rail car we rode in had a great background that was explained on a plaque that was highly visible. The ride, turn-around - and "Y" procedure make one appreciate how hard rail travel really was in time past.
– John P. | TripAdvisorWent on this with my dear friends! So glad we did. The crew was wonderful & informative. I’m so glad we didn’t miss this. It is a great ride for the children. Has some great history behind it, also a work in progress that I hope continues for years to come.
– Cathy B. | TripAdvisorFun Scenic and a historic train ride! for an hour and a half, you can tour the local area from the comfort of the seating on the train-let the engineer do the driving for a bit, slow down, and remember history.
– Nicole S. | TripAdvisorNice train ride through along a preserved train track. The turn around is particularly interesting. Families would have a fun time on this ride, just long enough-even for smaller kids
– Vicki S. | TripAdvisor