68 replies to this topic

[pennyk]

It is way, way too early to make any commitments as to where. I cannot at this point put in for days off from my job as it's too far in advance. As for the "when", we usually aim for the MLK weekend, and you can assume it will be then unless something changes before then. It very well could.

Anyone is free to make advance Amtrak reservations, but be mindful of the refund and voucher policies just in case a change is necessary. Same goes for hotel rooms, usually easier to cancel than Amtrak. I appreciate the excitement over future Fests, but please understand that I cannot be definite about anything this soon. Nor can I be definite about when I can make any final decisions.

Thanks Kevin. I just went ahead and booked WPK to PHL for 1/16/14. I tried ORl-PHL, but could not get a low bucket, but saved $80 by leaving from WPK. I will certainly know at least 15 days prior to the trip whether I need to cancel or change.

BTW, it is never too early for me to jump the gun and make train reservations.
FYI, it is raining outside and I will not be walking to the tracks to wave to 92 tonight, so don't hold your breath waiting for my text message.

[saxman]

I'm here in Reno staying at the Circus Circus casino, just 3 blocks from the Amtrak station. There's a free monorail ride to get between the two towers. It's a 2-3 minute ride, and honestly you can walk between the towers quicker, but it might be something to schedule into during our Reno layover.

[KevinKorell]

I'm here in Reno staying at the Circus Circus casino, just 3 blocks from the Amtrak station. There's a free monorail ride to get between the two towers. It's a 2-3 minute ride, and honestly you can walk between the towers quicker, but it might be something to schedule into during our Reno layover.

I'm game for that. We'd have 8 hours to fill (including the all important lunch) assuming we arrive in town on time. For something like that, there's probably no schedule but the thing more than likely runs continuously.

[steve4031]

This place might solve the lunch issue for Reno.

http://www.yelp.com/...the-buffet-reno

[KevinKorell]

This place might solve the lunch issue for Reno.

I didn't realize we had an issue! We're still 10+ months away. There's also a Harrah's casino there, which brings back memories of New Orleans in 2011 as it's got something similar to the El Dorado.

[steve4031]

There is definitely no issue in Reno now that we have this. Prices are 9.99 for lunch. Any news or thoughts on January?

[KevinKorell]

There is definitely no issue in Reno now that we have this. Prices are 9.99 for lunch.

There's plenty of free time in Reno outside of lunch... so people can feel free to go into the casinos, walk around town, or get a quickie divorce.

Any news or thoughts on January?

No.

[KevinKorell]

I've toyed with the Denver part of the Rockies Itinerary once more. To ensure we get to ride the Platte Valley Trolley (which I understand is not much right now, only about 25 minutes round trip), I placed that into the middle of the day between lunch and the afternoon light rail riding). I have us starting around 8 AM, finishing for the morning at around 11:30, 2 hour lunchtime, then walking over to Confluence Park where the heritage trolley is. Following the trolley, back to Union Station's light rail platform to ride the remaining route to Golden and back. We'd be done by 4:30 PM, which leaves us under 3 hours before departure of the eastbound California Zephyr. During that time people can pickup their luggage from hotels, and perhaps eat dinner in town if they don't want to wait for the late dinner seating on the train.

[Sloan]

.....back to Union Station's light rail platform to ride the remaining route to Golden and back. We'd be done by 4:30 PM, which leaves us under 3 hours before departure of the eastbound California Zephyr.

Kevin,

Just out of curiosity I did a Google Maps search of Golden and the Colorado Railroad Museum. The railroad museum is way out of town. Presumably a bus transfer* would be necessary if fest allowed time for visit, which based on the schedule would not be possible. The RT (light rail) terminates at Jefferson county Courthouse, a huge complex but not located in the downtown nor near any shopping areas. Google Maps is out of date as aerial view shows the line under construction.

Sloan

*Museum's website gives driving directions, no transit references.

[KevinKorell]

All this assumes that it will stop raining in the Denver area, and that no further damage is done. The flooding that took place was primarily north of downtown Denver, more towards Boulder, Lyons, and Longmont. I have not heard therefore of any issues with the existing light rail system, or the under construction commuter rail lines. Remember, for now they are settling on some combination of commuter rail and bus rapid transit to get up the US 36 corridor to Boulder. Whether the corridor had rail or bus transit, it would have been interrupted when 36 was washed out last week. Thanks Sloan for the suggestion. Allowing only one day (24 hours from arrival until departure) in town does not provide us much time for side trips such as museums as there is not that much idle time to play with. Without frequent dependable transit between downtown and a site removed from that general area there would be too much risk in possibly missing our Amtrak trip out of town that evening, or in missing coverage of rail transit lines.