Railroad Nation

Ales on Rails is Verde Canyon Railroad’s way of toasting the German Oktoberfest tradition that has been interwoven into the American tapestry for over 200 years. It is a time to extol autumn’s flamboyance and bounteous harvest. The Verde Canyon Railroad’s Ales on Rails is an event to match nature’s exuberance and begins even before your scenic train ride departs, on the station’s patio. Festivities include a lively band, raffle give-a-ways; and a hearty feast of brats, pretzels and strudel.  Local breweries will be showcasing their craft ales that are as amber as the leaves drifting in the crisp autumn breeze. And the sounds of polka music and the aroma of brats sizzling on the grill tell you its Oktoberfest.
The revelry continues aboard your train which departs the station at 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays and 1:00 p.m. on Sundays throughout October for a four-hour round-trip to Perkinsville Ranch. Soak up the sights and suds, as the autumnal glory unfolds outside the panoramic windows of the deluxe climate-controlled coaches.  As your scenic train ride rolls along at a  leisurely 12 mph, you will be  treated to one of the most colorful shows in Arizona.

Be sure to visit  the open-air viewing cars and bring your camera. You will surely be rewarded by Arizona’s natural wildlife amid the valley ablaze with autumn’s vivid colors of gold, crimson, ruby, scarlet, amber, vermilion, violet and orange.

The Verde Canyon Railroad depot is located in Clarkdale, Arizona, 25 minutes from Sedona and two hours north of Phoenix. For reservations call 800-293-7245 or book on-line at www.verdecanyonrr.com.
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The first fall scenic excursion will be  to Cadillac, Michigan,  with a  9 a.m.  departure from Alma, Mich., on Oct. 16:,  and a planned arrival  at 12:30 p.m.  After a 2  1/2 hour  visit of downtown Cadillac,  passengers will board at 3 p.m. for a scheduled 7 p.m. return to Alma.  Coach tickets start at $125 each. First Class tickets are $200.

The second fall scenic train ride will take place on Oct. 23.  The Nickel Plate 765 will power the “Autumn in Alma” special from Owosso,  scheduled departing time  of 9 a.m. from Alma and returning that afternoon. Coach seats are $99.

Photo run-bys planned for both of these fall scenic train rides have been strategically located for passenger photography only.

Built in 1944, the Berkshire class NKP 765 will be on loan from the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society.

Before leaving Indiana, the 765 will be fired up and under steam for the public during the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society’s annual open house August 20-23rd.

For more information, go to Michigan train rides.

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The 28th annual Portola Railroad Days Festival in the beautiful Feather River Canyon of the High Sierra runs from Fri, 8/20/2010 – Sun, 8/22/2010. Travel aboard the Feather River Express 14 car train, the Domes to Feather River Rail Days, departing from Emeryville with stops to pick-up passengers in Martinez, Davis and Sacramento. After departing Sacramento the train swings onto the former Western Pacific Route. This route has been used for freight only traffic since 1970. Only a few private charters have been approved to travel in the Feather River Canyon since then.

This will be the first time a charter train has run directly to Portola, for the annual Portola Railroad Days Festival. This three day tour is packed full of exciting fun for the entire family and the rail fans wanting the unforgettable experience of traversing the Feather River Canyon. We are offering several classes of tickets for every budget with round trip fares starting at only $298 for adults and $148 for children. Come join the party!

Passengers in Pullman Sleeping car class will stay on board the train that will be parked at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum during the Portola Railroad Days Festival. This will give these passengers full access to the festival and the museum grounds from their sleeping car. For passengers in all other ticket classes we are offering several options for local lodging, and transfers in the Portola-Graeagle area. Transfers to Reno are also being offered.

A PBS TV crew will be filming a segment of their popular and long running “Tracks Ahead” program. They will include the Portola Railroad Days Festival, Western Pacific Railroad Museum and will travel aboard our train August 20 Emeryville to Portola to capture this exciting train ride in the Feather River Canyon.

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Nobody was injured Saturday when the Secret City Excursion Train derailed four miles from its starting point at Oak Ridge. However, the Alco  C420 No. 1315 tipped and landed on its side, while a caboose was only tipped partway over.

By theoakridger at 06/21/2010 19:08

Train back on track, no injuries reported | Twitravel | Best …

Train back on track, no injuries reported The Secret City Scenic Excursion Train partially derailed Saturday afternoon at the height of the Secret City.

Publish Date: 06/21/2010 22:14

http://twitravel.com/best-destinations/train-back-on-track-no-injuries-reported.html

‘Secret City‘ train derails with passengers on board

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. (WVLT)– A Secret City train gave passengers a jolt after it jumped the track and spilled onto the street Saturday afternoon. About 3:20 p.m., an excursion train in Oak Ridge derailed on the tracks along Blair Road not …

Publish Date: 06/19/2010 23:56

http://www.volunteertv.com/home/headlines/96730034.html

Manhattan Project’s secrets no longer shrouded at Oak Ridge, Tenn.

The birthplace of the atomic age.

Get the latest on  Scenic Train Rides in Tennessee.

Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad has announced  one of the first scenic train rides out on the newly reopened line from Elbe, WA across the Nisqually River bridge on June 12. This exclusive  charter aboard will feature two steam locomotives-in  a doubleheader configuration. This scenic train ride will  run past Mineral and Divide to a turnaround at one of the largest wooden trestles in the Northwest. They are expected to feature both the Rayonier #2, a Willamette geared engine which just returned to service last summer, as well as another of the MRSR collection. If it completes its restoration in time, they may be taking out the Rayonier #70, a Baldwin 2-8-2 rod locomotive. Backup will  most likely be the Hillcrest Lumber #10, a Climax geared engine, but final motive power is at the discretion of railroad personnel.

A minimum of three photo runbys have been scheduled and more will be added if time permits. A full catered BBQ meal is included on the return trip to complete your day at the Mineral Lake pavillion. An open car will be part of our consist to enjoy the fresh air and unparalleled views.

As this trip is limited to less than 100 passengers, and it is  highly recommended that you make your reservations ASAP.

For more on scenic train rides in Washington, be sure to visit www.ScenicRailExcursions.com/washington_trainrides.php

Oregon Coast – There’s a bit of living history coming up as an antique railroad car takes to the coastal rails for special trips, while a new park on the central coast is tied to a stunning hotel renovation.

On the north coast, Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad is offering two types of old school excursions for 2010. The group is a non-profit museum group established to preserve antique railroad equipment for the enjoyment of future generations, and it’s creating a unique opportunity for time travel on the rails aboard a 1910 Heisler Steam Locomotive.

The first is a shorter coastal excursion which travels between Garibaldi and Rockaway Beach. This hour and a half round trip gives you views of Tillamook Bay and the ocean. These trips begin operation Saturday, May 29 and run through the end of September.

The second trip is a three-hour Sunset Dinner Train excursion. While enjoying sights of Tillamook Bay, the Pacific Ocean, and Nehalem Bay, passengers dine on a four-course meal. Dates for this excursion are Mother’s Day, May 9, and May 29, June 19, July 17 and 31, August 14 and 28, September 18, October 23, and December 4.

2010 will also bring an addition to the fleet. A 1924 ex-Southern Pacific Pullman Coach car slated to be ready for service this summer will increase seating capacity by 96 almost doubling the current capacity. Passengers will now be able to choose indoor or open air seating.

For more on Oregon train rides, visit: www.scenicrailexcursions.com/oregon_trainrides.php

A very difficult decision has been made by Durand Union Station, Great Lakes
Central,and the Steam Railroading Institute to cancel the upcoming excursions
for the 35th Annual Durand Railroad Days, to be held May 15th and 16th.

After initial approval and much discussion with Canadian National about being
able to board at the Durand Union Station as a Great Lakes Central excursion,
it was determined that the liability insurance policy required by CN to allow
the excursion to carry passengers was more than the parties felt they could
justifiably afford. This would have been the first train excursions for
Railroad Days in nearly a decade, and all involved are disappointed, but in the
end it was felt this was the only remaining course of action.

It should be noted that every possible option was looked upon by the parties
involved for providing an alternative that would allow the excursions to continue.
Discussions were held about the potential of running the trips from Pitt Junction
and continuing south as planned to Cohoctah.The distance from the Durand Railroad
Days event (over one mile),not to mention the logistics and costs of the busing,
quickly eliminated this as an option. Brief discussions were also held with
RailAmerica as well about boarding northeast of the diamond, however similar
issues arose and the parties involved decided it was best to cancel the excursions.

Durand Railroad Days was established in May of 1975 to pay tribute to the rail
industry that helped develop the nation and was responsible for the settlement of
Durand, Michigan late in the 1870's. 

For further info on the event, please check out Durand Railroad Days website at
http://www.durandrailroaddays.com, or the Durand Union Station website at
http://durandstation.org/

For more on train rides in Michigan, visit: 
www.scenicrailexcursions.com/michigan_trainrides.php

EUSTIS, Fla. – Just when we need “shovel ready” projects to receive stimulus money to create jobs, this sure sounds like one to me.  The Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel has reported that Florida Rail Adventures is having to  shut down its Mount Dora Meteor  due to inadequate tie condition.  The train, which operates over Florida Central Railroad tracks, is shutting down in the middle of its tourist season.

Owner and general manager Neil Bagaus said at least 1,000 ties need to be replaced before the branch between Mount Dora and Tavares, Fla., could meet Federal Railroad Administration standards. Bagaus said the railroad replaced 400 ties at a cost of $30,000, but said it doesn’t have the money to replace the rest. So, let’s see. To replace  the 1000 ties, at $75 per tie, they will need about $75000. Almost sounds like a bargin.

“This is our season,” he said. Unfortunately, “we just cannot afford the cost.”

Trains over the main line between Eustis and Tavares and on to Orlando will continue to operate as normal. Those trains include the dinner train, rail rambles, Gunfight at the OK Corral, trips to the Orlando Magic games, and a lunch train.

Mount Dora Mayor Melissa DeMarco said the town plans to look for ways to assist Bagaus restart the train.

Floridians and tourists don’t often get to ride live steam trains outside of Disney World.  So during the month of February, for a steam train ride experience outside of the Magic Kingdom,  a little railroad that could and will, the Florida Railroad Museum in Parrish, Fl will be running steam excursions for four weekends. Pulling the steam train rides will be the 1930 Flagg Coal Company’s  No.75 Vulcan 0-4-0T coal burning tank engine. This is the fourth year the FRM has run these excursions.
After acquiring the #75  in 1991 and performing a 10 year restoration,  the this little steamer has now traveled all over the country to various museums and tourist railroads.

The #75 participated in TrainFestival 2009 in Owsso, Michigan and appeared again last fall  double heading steam train excursions in October on the scenic Hope Valley Railway in North Carolina.

This is a truly a unique chance to get up close and experience a live steam train ride in central Florida for the whole family.

Lots of extra activities are planned this year including the Party Caboose, Rent-a-Freight Train and the NEW opportunity to be a Steam Engineer.

Party Caboose – available for charter on every trip

Rent-a-Freight Train – Take charge of a 1,500 horsepower diesel locomotive and five car train for one hour.

Steam Engineer – NEW for 2010! At the end of each day, a limited number of participants will be able to operate the throttle and run the #75 on our railroad for 15 minutes.

The Museum is located 25 miles north of Sarasota and 35 miles south of Tampa off Interstate 75 at exit #229.

For more on Florida Train rides, visit: http://www.scenicrailexcursions.com/florida_trainrides.php

Begin the  2010 New Year with this  photographers’ special train, featuring  steam locomotive #7470, operated in conjunction with the Massachusetts Bay Railroad Enthusiasts, Inc. The 4-hour trip includes numerous scenic “run-bys” for photo opportunities.

The #7470 is coal-fired, steam locomotive  (0-6-0) that was built in the Montreal shops of the Grand Trunk Railroad in 1921. It was acquired by Dwight Smith in 1968 and joined the start-up Conway Scenic Railroad in 1974.

This annual Steam in the Snow rail excursion will run January 2, 2010.

Reservations are strongly recommended. This event sold out last year.

For reservations, visit: http://www.conwayscenic.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.welcome
For more on New Hanpshire train rides, visit: www.scenicrailexcursions.com/newhampshire_trainrides.php