ALC Rail Writer
Engineer
Ohio! Run a train during the day for once, the scenery on the CL route through the Cuyahoga Valley is beautiful… when lit.
Amtrak Excursion Ideas for 2014: Add your ideas!
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Philadelphia 30th Street Station to Cynwyd and return on rare SEPTA trackage. A test run has already been completed. :lol:
:lol:
ALC Rail Writer
Engineer
While I dream of catching a super late 29 in ALC one day and riding through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park during the day, I will offer these more practical excursions connected to major markets:
1. Fall leafer trains throughout the NEC. You could have them in alternating weeks out of BOS, NYP, PHL and WAS between October and November. I bet you could put together a "program" of excursion trains like this, which may be worthwhile... when do the numbers for ridership and revenue come in for the specials? How did stats like farebox recovery compare to other trains?
2. Canyon trips out of Denver. This one may be connected to a smaller market but I think the region has much more beautiful scenery than the CZ hits.
3. Great Lakes lakefront trains. Perhaps out of CHI and into Michigan, the Lake Erie shoreline has awesome places that the LSL hits during the night, perhaps they could run excursions of the LSL and CL where they just flipped the schedule so people could see Ohio in the daytime. Sorry it just pains me that my state does have pretty decent scenery that an Amtrak train hardly ever sees!
1. Fall leafer trains throughout the NEC. You could have them in alternating weeks out of BOS, NYP, PHL and WAS between October and November. I bet you could put together a "program" of excursion trains like this, which may be worthwhile... when do the numbers for ridership and revenue come in for the specials? How did stats like farebox recovery compare to other trains?
2. Canyon trips out of Denver. This one may be connected to a smaller market but I think the region has much more beautiful scenery than the CZ hits.
3. Great Lakes lakefront trains. Perhaps out of CHI and into Michigan, the Lake Erie shoreline has awesome places that the LSL hits during the night, perhaps they could run excursions of the LSL and CL where they just flipped the schedule so people could see Ohio in the daytime. Sorry it just pains me that my state does have pretty decent scenery that an Amtrak train hardly ever sees!
My dream sightseeing train (hopefully Amtrak) would be to leave Chico, CA at dawn following several hours behind the northbound CS. I have seen Mt. Shasta in daylight when the CS was running late.
When the sightseeing train gets to Chemult OR, it continues north on the BNSF tracks with stops in Bend, Redmond and Madras. North of Madras the tracks go through the northern Deschutes River Canyon which is some of the best wild territory in Oregon. Once you reach Biggs Junction the rails follow the old Pioneer route along the south side of the Columbia into Portland.
When the sightseeing train gets to Chemult OR, it continues north on the BNSF tracks with stops in Bend, Redmond and Madras. North of Madras the tracks go through the northern Deschutes River Canyon which is some of the best wild territory in Oregon. Once you reach Biggs Junction the rails follow the old Pioneer route along the south side of the Columbia into Portland.
oldtimer
OBS Chief
After last nights Wolverine It just might be an excursion train from Chicago Union Station!
The Wolverine is my home train, so I'm curious: what happened?
Devil's Advocate
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I'd give my left walnut for a daytime trip through the Feather River Route. Seen it in photos since I was a little boy and always wanted to see it in person. Unless I'm mistaken it's not a standard reroute so this would presumably have to be a one off trip operated under special circumstances.
I'd say Big Bend is the best scenery in Texas by far, but I'm not aware of any tracks that go through either the SP or NP.In all Honesty, the Best Scenery in Texas is the Piney Woods in East Texas and the Eagle Route doesnt go through the Best Part of that!Jim, why not AUS - TAY - AUS? Or have you already suggested it?
I guess that kills off the Feather River Route. Oh well. Incidentally much of the national rail network is now accessible by car through service roads requiring nothing more specialized than an Audi sedan.
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abcnews
OBS Chief
In the past the NRHS have tried steam runs along the CSX River - between Richmond and Gladstone Virginia. Very scenic stretch too. But that was years ago - in the good ole days of (excursion) steam.
Another option…. Greensboro to Asheville, NC...
Not sure if an area like Richmond has the population to support something like this with Amtrak. Philadelphia seems like a good pick for the origin - with 4 million or so people, and many are looking for day trips from the city. Plus another 10 million living nearby in NY, PA, NJ and Maryland/DC.
I also think that Greensboro is right smack in an area with about 8 million people (NC/SC/VA), so the Asheville run could gain a lot of support.
Another option…. Greensboro to Asheville, NC...
Not sure if an area like Richmond has the population to support something like this with Amtrak. Philadelphia seems like a good pick for the origin - with 4 million or so people, and many are looking for day trips from the city. Plus another 10 million living nearby in NY, PA, NJ and Maryland/DC.
I also think that Greensboro is right smack in an area with about 8 million people (NC/SC/VA), so the Asheville run could gain a lot of support.
abcnews
OBS Chief
Hereis an idea...
Greensboro, NC to Asheville, NC. Leave Greensboro around 8 AM - return from Asheville around 3 PM...
Option one - Roundtrip train.
Option two - One way on train, return via an afternoon charter bus from Asheville to Greensboro, NC.
Option three - One way, Asheville to Greensboro on the afternoon train, and return to Asheville via evening bus (same bus company).
The one way tickets allow folks from Asheville and the Tennessee area to take the train from Asheville to Greensboro (one way), and have return transportation back to Asheville.
Asheville, NC is a very cool destination too. Art, music, food, and mountains, etc.. A great day trip for folks in Raleigh/Durham, Greensboro and Charlotte (and Central Virginia and Northern SC).
Greensboro, NC to Asheville, NC. Leave Greensboro around 8 AM - return from Asheville around 3 PM...
Option one - Roundtrip train.
Option two - One way on train, return via an afternoon charter bus from Asheville to Greensboro, NC.
Option three - One way, Asheville to Greensboro on the afternoon train, and return to Asheville via evening bus (same bus company).
The one way tickets allow folks from Asheville and the Tennessee area to take the train from Asheville to Greensboro (one way), and have return transportation back to Asheville.
Asheville, NC is a very cool destination too. Art, music, food, and mountains, etc.. A great day trip for folks in Raleigh/Durham, Greensboro and Charlotte (and Central Virginia and Northern SC).
abcnews
OBS Chief
Option one - Roundtrip train.
Option two - One way on train, return via an afternoon charter bus from Asheville to Greensboro, NC.
Option three - One way, Asheville to Greensboro on the afternoon train, and return to Asheville via evening bus (same bus company).
Option four - one way train, no return. That would be good for out of town folks. Get to Greensboro, take the train one way, enjoy rare miles, and catch a flight home from Asheville. Or vice versa. Fly into Asheville, take the train over rare miles to Greensboro, and catch the Amtrak Crescent to get back home. Or via the Carolinian the next morning. Or catch a flight...
Option two - One way on train, return via an afternoon charter bus from Asheville to Greensboro, NC.
Option three - One way, Asheville to Greensboro on the afternoon train, and return to Asheville via evening bus (same bus company).
Option four - one way train, no return. That would be good for out of town folks. Get to Greensboro, take the train one way, enjoy rare miles, and catch a flight home from Asheville. Or vice versa. Fly into Asheville, take the train over rare miles to Greensboro, and catch the Amtrak Crescent to get back home. Or via the Carolinian the next morning. Or catch a flight...
The above reminds me of The Southern's 'Skyland Special'....a neat little domeliner they operated regularly between Salisbury and Asheville at the twilight of their passenger service....believe it connected with their 'Piedmont'.......
abcnews
OBS Chief
I hear that it is quite scenic along that stretch, from Salisbury to Asheville.
Ryan
Court Jester
True, but there are only like 9 people that live there.
Hmm, myself, my 2 daughters, my son-in-law, my grandson. Who might be the other 4 people? :lol:
L
Lyle
Guest
The Central Coastal Railroad Club in California routinely organizes excursions through the Feather River Canyon. In 2011, I took one to Keddie Wye, then north on the High Line to Klamath Falls, then back South to Emeryville along the Coast Starlight route, but in the daytime. Three days, but what a trip it was!
Devil's Advocate
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You. Just. Made. My. Day.
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abcnews
OBS Chief
Wow - This really happened? What a scenic trip...
L
Lyle
Guest
They called it the Northern California Explorer. June 3-5, 2011. Go to www.traintrips.biz. This is a business that organizes trips in cooperation with the Central Coastal Chapter of . . . I get a regular email from these guys. They don't do everything they float, because sometimes there is not enough interest. But, in 2014, they want to go up the Feather River Canyon twice, take domes over Donner Pass, and tack some private varnish on the Empire Builder and the Southwest Chief. One of the Feather River trips will involve Pullmans. They also provide information about repositioning moves of former California Zephyr cars. Some pretty luxurious stuff, and some of it quite expensive.
The 2011 trip was great. We parked on the Keddie Wye for 10-15 minutes. We had to have a pickup on steel wheels escort us up the High Line. We stayed at Oroville the first night and Klamath Falls the second night. Our tickets were in a full length dome, but there were Amfleet coaches, as well as an observation car with gourmet food. Lots of different price options. The train was pulled by Amtrak engines.
This may be a bit of a stretch, but would it be feasible to outfit a steam engine with the cab signals needed for running on the Northeast Corridor to see how fast it will go? Say, a steam engine that will soon be restored to operation? I'm just thinking that a steam locomotive hasn't (officially) run at 100 mph for quite while on this continent, so I'd imagine there would be a fair amount of people willing to pay for such an excursion.
Even if it could be done, I kinda doubt that any current owners of tenderly restored and maintained steam locomotives would want to risk the consequences of such a severe test of their revered machine.......
Devil's Advocate
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Sweet!
Those are actual domes people.
Glorified snack cars with zero visibility ahead of or behind you have nothing on an actual dome.
Those are actual domes people.
Glorified snack cars with zero visibility ahead of or behind you have nothing on an actual dome.
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It's my understanding that both Strassburg and Wilmington, Delaware, & Western (If I recall the name correctly) have steam locos outfitted with the needed cab signaling for the NEC. I know that Strassburg has run steam excursions on the Keystone line; not sure if they've gone out on the NEC proper. But then getting permission to run anything on the NEC proper can be a real chore.
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