63 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

Please note that I have now added the following to the list of future fests:

• Memphis & Missouri (or the M&M Fest!), which will include rides on the CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, ANN RUTLEDGE, SOUTHWEST CHIEF, Memphis streetcars, and the new segment of Metrolink light rail in St. Louis. So far, only an itinerary is available.
• Keystone Excursion: This is a one-day round trip from Northeast Corridor points to Harrisburg, in order to try out the faster, electrified Keystone Service.
• Vermont Excursion: This is a two-day round trip on the VERMONTER from Northeast Corridor points to St. Albans, VT. This should satisfy those who have never ridden this route, including those who have not taken the Shuttles between New Haven and Springfield.

One of the eastern trips (either St. Albans or Harrisburg) might be taken as early as the second week of November 2006.

[Sloan]

Kevin, You might want to add the Alva Hotel to your list of restaurants for the Keystone Corridor Fest. The Alva is a few steps across the station's plaza. It's family dining (mashed potatoes and gravy etc.), and the food's pretty good and reasonably priced. Sloan P. S.: Sorry, no website.

[KevinKorell]

Thanks for the tip, will add the Alva.

[KevinKorell]

Recent updates:

The above-mentioned Memphis & Missouri Fest I am taking down, because I've been told that a bus ride between 4 AM and 6 AM is not too popular. Memphis would therefore not be coupled with St. Louis since there is no other quick connection.

I have however added a Garden State RailFest. Most likely this will be our March 2007 activity. However, since St. Patrick's Day falls on a Saturday, most likely it won't be held over the third weekend of the month. This one will include:

• A round trip to Hackettstown, NJ on Friday (via Montclair-Boonton Line outbound and Morristown Line inbound)
• A round trip to Gladstone, NJ on Saturday (via the Gladstone Branch and making use of the new Newark LRT between that city's two rail stations)
• An Amtrak ride to Philadelphia on Saturday afternoon
• A round trip to Atlantic City on Sunday (via Atlantic City Line)
• A round trip on SEPTA to Elwyn, also on Sunday

We have not been out to Elwyn officially as a major group fest. We only went as far as Media in 2001 and rode a small portion of that line between Angora and Clifton in 2005. In March of 2004 we did make it to Elwyn as part of a minifest.

While not yet officially chosen, I'm leaning towards our July 2007 trip to being Northern California. This is preferred over SoCal because the latter has more lines under construction that we could ultimately ride in a few years when we finally get out there, such as the Sprinter (Oceanside-Escondido), and the Expo Line, and extensions of the current MTA Gold Line (both in Los Angeles).

Northern California has 5 BART lines, 5 MUNI Metro LRT Lines in San Francisco, a MUNI Surface streetcar line, three MUNI cable car lines, CalTrain commuter rail, ACE commuter rail, AirTrain SFO, 3 VTA LRT lines in San Jose, 2 RT LRT lines in Sacramento, Amtrak's Capitol Corridor and the San Joaquins. Is that enough?

Anyhow, thanks to Google Earth I've been updating hotel and restaurant guides for that neck of the woods lately.

I've figured out that if everything works as planned with the proposed Garden State RailFest (again most likely March 2007), BARF 2007, BARF 2008, and Metro New York RailFest (most likely August 2008), we can basically say we've done every transit and commuter line in the New York City area, New Jersey, and the Philadelphia area.

I'm also looking at Boston for August 2007, provided that Greenbush opens on time. If it doesn't, then we do Boston in August 2008 and swap it for Metro NY Fest moving that up a year.