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8/22/2023
Patriot Rail Co. LLC today announced it has assumed ownership and operations of the Hobo Railroad and the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad in New Hampshire.
Both scenic railroads operate 54 miles of track through the White Mountains and lakes region. The railroads serve Lincoln, Plymouth, Meredith, the Weirs Beach on Lake Winnipesaukee, and the Laconia Railroad Station. Included in the transaction is Rail Bike Adventures, which offers patrons visiting Laconia a rail bike ride alongside Lake Winnisquam.
Financial terms were not disclosed in a press release.
Brenda Clark, Ben Clark and Jennifer Franz — whose family has operated the trains over the past 36 years — said in a joint statement: "It has been our passion to sustain the joy that Ed Clark first created in the late 1980s for the thousands of smiling faces who rode our historic trains and enjoyed the White Mountains and the beautiful Lakes Region. Now it is time to pass this extraordinary legacy on to Patriot Rail, which has the experience, commitment and ability to take this wonderful tourist operation to even greater heights."
Patriot Rail will work in close partnership with the state to continue the scenic rail tradition, said Patriot Rail CEO John Fenton.
"We welcome the Hobo, Winnipesaukee and Rail Bike Adventures employees to our Patriot team, and together we aim to further elevate the Clark family’s treasured service for rail patrons and riders," Fenton said.