One of the Hobo Railroad’s excursion trains crosses Route 112, the Kancamagus Highway, in Lincoln, during a round-trip journey to Woodstock and back along the banks of the Pemigewasset River.
One of the Hobo Railroad’s excursion trains crosses Route 112, the Kancamagus Highway, in Lincoln, during a round-trip journey to Woodstock and back along the banks of the Pemigewasset River.
Tim Stockwell/File
One of the Hobo Railroad’s excursion trains crosses Route 112, the Kancamagus Highway, in Lincoln, during a round-trip journey to Woodstock and back along the banks of the Pemigewasset River.
From Facebook
A young girl waits to board the Hobo Railroad in Lincoln.
A POPULAR tourist destination in Lincoln now has a new identity after more than three decades.
Hobo Railroad will take on the name Granite State Scenic Railway this spring.
The Clark family, of Clark’s Bears fame, sold the beloved tourist attraction to Florida-based Patriot Rail Company LLC last year.
Patriot Rail operates more than 30 regional short line freight railroads and two scenic rail excursion trains, including Blue Ridge Scenic Railway in Blue Ridge, Georgia. The sale included Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad and Granite State Rail Bikes.
As for the Hobo Railroad, the company is in the “early to middle stages of rebranding,” and preparing to unveil a “new look and feel on the railroad” later this spring, a spokesperson said.
The new name now appears on social media accounts and its website and has received a split reaction online.
“What is up with the name change?? Doesn’t have the same vibes now,” one wrote on the post.
Another said, “I really like the new name. Thank goodness the silly Hobo Railroad name will finally be gone!”
A railcar parking at Hobo Junction Station in Lincoln. The name of the popular tourist attraction has changed to Granite State Scenic Railway.
From Facebook
Edward “Eddie” and Brenda Clark opened the Hobo Railroad in 1987 with one locomotive and two passenger cars. The family has worked since to make sure more than 50 miles of track have remained open during the years, especially after a local paper mill closed.
The train rides are especially popular as the fall foliage begins to appear, and Santa Express trains run in December.
The Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad opened in 1991.
Leaving its mark
The highly visible “Ray the Mover” sign seen from Interstate 293 in Manchester is gone after the company packed up its own stuff and moved out.
Sanford Temperature Control Inc. will now occupy the 35,740-square-foot high-bay warehouse as its new headquarters. The plumbing and HVAC contractor is located in Milford right now.
The famous Ray the Mover sign along Interstate 293 has been taken down after the company moved out.
Jonathan Phelps/Union Leader
This month, Sanford announced it “joined forces with” Bill Trombly Plumbing Heating Cooling Electric. The company will operate under the Sanford name and be led by Sanford owner Rich Jordan.
As for the transition and move, “customers can expect a seamless transition and continued excellence in service delivery.”
Ray the Mover has been a staple of the Queen City since 1937 when it was started by the Allard family and later sold.
As of Thursday, part of a palm tree portion of the sign remained along with the outline of the former letters.
Rage Cage on the move
Also on the move is Rage Cage NH in Nashua.
The business known for its paint splatter experiences and smash rooms will move from its spot on West Hollis Street to the former Headlines Boutique space (a smoke shop) at 37 E. Hollis St.
A post on Facebook says the space is five times larger and will offer larger rage rooms, two paint splatter rooms, party party and function space.
Previously, owner Tedd Cherry sought permission from Nashua’s Zoning Board of Adjustment to move to 55 Lake St. The plan was withdrawn.
New arcade gets OK
A new arcade on Manchester’s West Side received a variance from the city’s zoning board to open at Mill West, 195 McGregor St., Suite 201.
The old mill building is home to medical offices and other businesses, including Loon Chocolate.
The space was used previously as office space for Tabletop Tycoon. The space is now decked out with 100 pinball machines and more than 100 arcade games.
Tycoon Arcade is being described as a “family-friendly, upscale arcade” with all sales benefiting Toys for Tots, according to its website.
A grand opening will be announced at another time.
Donut Love closes down
Sometimes, you have to say goodbye.
That time has come for Donut Love. All three locations have closed, less than two months after its grand opening in Newmarket. The other locations are in Exeter and North Hampton.
Former Stratham police officer Michael Oliveira opened Donut Love in 2017 and sold it to Goodwin Family Management, which operates The Friendly Toast brand, last year.
The shops closed on April 12.
“While brief, we are proud of our tenure as owners of Donut Love. We made significant investments to create top-notch spaces for our teammates to work and our guests to enjoy delicious baked goods. We tried to spread the Donut Love as best we could, and we are saddened that things did not work as originally planned. Moving forward, we will be refocusing our efforts on our other brands,” Eric and Tyler Goodwin said in a statement.
If you have an interesting business or commercial real estate story idea email reporter Jonathan Phelps at jphelps@unionleader.com.
