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 Post subject: Christmas Trains Update
PostPosted: Fri Nov 19, 2021 2:45 pm 

Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2004 1:51 pm
Posts: 11482
Location: Somewhere east of Prescott, AZ along the old Santa Fe "Prescott & Eastern"
Since I can't seem to find Brother Hadder's query as to how heritage railways are handling "winter holiday" trains in 2021:

*Wilmington & Western has announced its schedule for both their Santa Claus Express and Holiday Lights Express, but has imposed assigned seating, and asked that groups wanting to sit together act accordingly:
https://www.facebook.com/WilmingtonWest ... 8172031676
"Mask Requirement Update: Face coverings are no longer required on the Open Air Car (Hayrides) and in the parking lot and on the platform of the Greenbank Station."

*Verde Canyon RR in Arizona has a full schedule with "Magical Christmas Journeys" short out-and-back runs at 5:30 and 7:30 pm Thursdays through Sundays from Dec. 3 to Dec. 23, a special run on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve, and regular runs Tuesdays.Wednesdays and the 26th-30th:
https://verdecanyonrr.com/train-schedule/
And I'm not finding a peep about the pandemic or masks on their website.


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 Post subject: Re: Christmas Trains Update
PostPosted: Fri Nov 19, 2021 4:06 pm 

Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2004 5:19 pm
Posts: 2557
Location: Sackets Harbor, NY
We at New Hope ( www.newhoperailroad.com) are offering a full schedule of steam and diesel version Christmas season trains.

Response has been very strong and based upon reservations to date it looks like a great year in the making.

Let's hope everyone enjoys strong ridership and safe operations.

Sadly we can not offer steam cab rides due to social distancing so I will miss hosting some of my RyPN friends as in years past. Maybe next year Covid willing.

Here's wishing everyone a blessed Christmas and a healthy, rewarding, steam filled 2022.

Ross Rowland


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 Post subject: Re: Christmas Trains Update
PostPosted: Fri Nov 19, 2021 5:16 pm 

Joined: Tue Jul 02, 2013 10:45 pm
Posts: 300
The Arkansas & Missouri Railroad is operating various holiday trains from November 27th through December 19th. They will operate out of Springdale and Van Buren, Arkansas, and Monett, Missouri.

The trips are all about 1 hour in length and feature Santa, hot chocolate and cookies at the station location. We will be using 3 coaches, 1 dome car, 1 dining car, and 1 lounge car, plus those famous ALCO C-420s!

Many of the trips are close to being sold out, and all information is available on the railroad's website (https://amtrainrides.com/).

Bart


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 Post subject: Re: Christmas Trains Update
PostPosted: Fri Nov 19, 2021 5:49 pm 

Joined: Wed Feb 08, 2006 10:56 am
Posts: 43
Location: Bonsal, NC
We at the other New Hope, the New Hope Valley Railway (http://www.triangletrain.com) are offering Santa themed diesel train rides on Saturdays and Sundays in early December.

The first 5 days are already sold out, and we've recently added a 6th day of rides to the schedule which is selling well. We are thankful for a strong season this year and are on track to break our all time ridership record. This is especially gratifying as we have done so following all covid protocols.

Best wishes to all for a healthy and safe holiday season. May your trains be full, your riders happy, and your projects funded.

Best,
Mike
New Hope Valley Railway
http://www.triangletrain.com


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 Post subject: Re: Christmas Trains Update
PostPosted: Fri Nov 19, 2021 6:33 pm 

Joined: Sun Jan 08, 2017 12:39 am
Posts: 90
The Three Rivers Rambler in Knoxville, TN will be running 4 weekends of trips, beginning Thanksgiving weekend.

131-year-old Southern Railway #154 will be powering trips on Dec 11/12 and Dec 17/18.

https://www.threeriversrambler.com/christmastix


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 Post subject: Re: Christmas Trains Update
PostPosted: Sat Nov 20, 2021 7:58 pm 

Joined: Thu Apr 14, 2005 9:34 pm
Posts: 2758
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Conditions in Denmark are much better, and we are running without any restrictions. Four weekends of mainline steam trains, plus some extra diesel excursions to Christmas markets.

https://veterantoget.dk/

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Steven Harrod
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Danmarks Tekniske Universitet


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 Post subject: Re: Christmas Trains Update
PostPosted: Sun Nov 21, 2021 2:43 pm 

Joined: Wed Feb 24, 2010 8:21 pm
Posts: 534
Location: Danbury, CT
At least 40 of the 48 scheduled Christmas trains are sold out at the Railroad Museum of New England’s Naugatuck Railroad. rmne.org

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Randy Patterson
RMNE/NAUG


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 Post subject: Re: Christmas Trains Update
PostPosted: Sun Nov 21, 2021 8:17 pm 

Joined: Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm
Posts: 6400
From what I heard at the museum yesterday, all of Hoosier Valley's Santa train runs have been sold out and we had to pull our radio and newspaper advertisements.

Les


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 Post subject: Re: Christmas Trains Update
PostPosted: Mon Nov 22, 2021 11:02 am 

Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2004 5:19 pm
Posts: 2557
Location: Sackets Harbor, NY
We've ( www.newhoperailroad.com) encountered a good problem in that quite a few of our December Santa trains were sold out early. We've added an additional coach to those trains to accommodate the demand.

I hope others in the industry are also experiencing strong sales.

Thanks, Ross Rowland


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 Post subject: Re: Christmas Trains Update
PostPosted: Mon Nov 22, 2021 12:18 pm 

Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2004 7:25 pm
Posts: 2329
Location: The Atlantic Coast Line
As of today, National Capital Trolley Museum has sold over 500 of 900 available seats covering four dates of Holly Trolleyfest.

Wesley


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 Post subject: Re: Christmas Trains Update
PostPosted: Mon Nov 22, 2021 12:26 pm 

Joined: Tue Jul 14, 2020 12:17 pm
Posts: 90
wesp wrote:
As of today, National Capital Trolley Museum has sold over 500 of 900 available seats covering four dates of Holly Trolleyfest.

Wesley

Paul (the Santa) said they would be busy this winter.


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 Post subject: Re: Christmas Trains Update
PostPosted: Mon Nov 22, 2021 3:18 pm 

Joined: Fri Dec 03, 2004 9:42 pm
Posts: 2875
Les Beckman wrote:
From what I heard at the museum yesterday, all of Hoosier Valley's Santa train runs have been sold out and we had to pull our radio and newspaper advertisements.

Les


I'm curious as to why they wouldn't add more trains or run on additional days if they're already sold out?


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 Post subject: Re: Christmas Trains Update
PostPosted: Mon Nov 22, 2021 7:04 pm 

Joined: Thu Apr 14, 2005 9:34 pm
Posts: 2758
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Bobharbison wrote:
Les Beckman wrote:
From what I heard at the museum yesterday, all of Hoosier Valley's Santa train runs have been sold out and we had to pull our radio and newspaper advertisements.

Les


I'm curious as to why they wouldn't add more trains or run on additional days if they're already sold out?


Lack of volunteer labor. From a pure financial standpoint - we should add trains during Christmas week, and maybe on Friday evening. But, we don't have the volunteer labor to staff and clean all those trains.

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Steven Harrod
Lektor
Danmarks Tekniske Universitet


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 Post subject: Re: Christmas Trains Update
PostPosted: Mon Nov 22, 2021 7:08 pm 

Joined: Fri Nov 11, 2016 10:17 pm
Posts: 246
Curious to hear from others regarding what scheduling of trains is the most popular.

For example weekday daytime trains vs week day evening vs weekend day vs weekend evening.

I'd think week day daytime would obviously be the least popular but maybe during this time of year there is so much demand based on location etc that weekday daytime runs make sense.


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 Post subject: Re: Christmas Trains Update
PostPosted: Mon Nov 22, 2021 10:26 pm 

Joined: Tue Jul 02, 2013 10:45 pm
Posts: 300
We are operating a lot of weekday trains - both morning and evening. Many of the morning weekday trains are sold out with large student groups from local schools, teach-at-home groups, etc. These groups have basically bought entire cars, and multi-cars. They get a bit of education in addition to the holiday fun.


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