Announcing OTOL Missouri-Texas RailFest (MTRF) 2017: July 15-22, 2017
Missouri Texas RailFest (MTRF) 2017 happens between Saturday, July 15th and Saturday, July 22nd. This event starts with our departure from Chicago on the westbound Southwest Chief, and terminates after a Metra ride in the Chicago area on the following Saturday morning. In between, there will be 3 long distance Amtrak rides (one on the Southwest Chief and two on the Texas Eagle) and one shorter one on the Missouri River Runner. During our 8 day event we will visit three other cities, namely Kansas City, St. Louis, and Dallas. The latter two were part of the previous Eagle RailFest 2005; however in the past 12 years many new opportunities to ride transit lines have been added.
Here is a summary of each day's activities:
Saturday, 7/15/17
Leave Chicago westbound on Amtrak Train #3, Southwest Chief, arriving same evening in Kansas City.
Sunday, 7/16/17
Ride the RideKC Streetcar. Take Amtrak Train #316, Missouri River Runner, eastbound Kansas City to St. Louis.
Monday, 7/17/17
Monday's activities in St. Louis include Metrolink light rail, and the new Delmar Loop Trolley. Leave St. Louis southbound on Amtrak Train #21, Texas Eagle.
Tuesday, 7/18/17
Arrive in Dallas. Some DART light rail riding.
Wednesday, 7/19/17
In Dallas, more DART light rail, as well as Las Colinas Area Personal Transit System. A-Train commuter rail round trip.
Thursday, 7/20/17
Complete DART light rail riding, and also M-Line and Dallas Streetcars. Leave Dallas northbound on Amtrak Train #22, Texas Eagle.
Friday, 7/21/17
Arrive in Chicago.
Saturday, 7/22/17
Metra round trip to Harvard in the morning.
Hotels
⦁ Kansas City: 1 night, arriving 7/15/17, leaving 7/16/17.
⦁ St. Louis: 1 night, arriving 7/16/17, leaving 7/17/17.
⦁ Dallas: 2 nights, arriving 7/18/17, leaving 7/20/17.
⦁ Chicago: 1 night, arriving 7/21/17, leaving 7/22/17.
⦁ Plus any other hotels needed during your trip to & from Chicago or wherever else you join or leave the Fest.
Amtrak Trains
⦁ Train #3, Southwest Chief, departing Chicago and arriving Kansas City 7/15/17.
⦁ Train #316, Missouri River Runner, departing Kansas City and arriving St. Louis 7/16/17.
⦁ Train #21, Texas Eagle, departing St. Louis 7/17/17, arriving Dallas 7/18/17.
⦁ Train #22, Texas Eagle, departing Dallas 7/20/17, arriving Chicago 7/21/17.
⦁ Plus any other trains needed to get between your home station and Chicago before and after the official Fest.
More information is available on the
MTRF homepage. It will index all information you should need for details and updates related to this event. All changes to it will be mentioned on the OTOL board between this annoucement and the days leading up to the event. As always there are links to tourist information, lists of hotel rooms & restaurants near transit in the cities we will visit, lists of rail transit and commuter rail lines, and railroad scanner information.
Always expect updates to the
itinerary. Itinerary start & end locations may be adjusted once it is known where people will be staying and having dinner.
Transit cost estimates for our activities in the cities being visited are being worked on; some are complete and others will be coming shortly. They can be accessed from the homepage. You may wish to obtain fare media by mail well in advance of your trip if you don't already have it.
As can be expected, train charts and the confidential contact listing will be provided closer to the event. At this time while you will start making your plans, please do not send this to me until requested.
If you do plan to attend, please e-mail me your intentions, as well as which (if not all) days you can participate. It is always understood that some may not be able to partake of the events from start to finish.
Updates will be found under the appropriate threads on the OTOL forums. Those receiving this one-time message via e-mail will need to visit the forums to keep up with the latest updates.
Looking forward to another educational and exciting summer rail event!
Edited by KevinKorell, 08 May 2017 - 10:49 AM.
Strike Delmar Loop Trolley