What do you believe is "must travel" mileage today?

I have a family of four. What should they experience in the next few years that might not be available in the future?

I try to support every trip that operates in my area. They are too few and far between and if they are not supported we might have even less.

In my experience, the ones that you insist can't possibly survive another year or five will be there forever, while the operations you literally take for granted will disappear, or at least change irrevocably, with little or no notice.

Look at:
*Steam on the Grand Canyon RR--or, if you're an Alco-haulic, the now-retired MLW FPA-4's.
*The Ohio Central.
*if your memory goes back far enough, the Blue Mountain & Reading's Temple-Hamburg operation.

"Those were the days, my friend; we thought they'd never end..."

Given the way deficits are running, I might target any government-administered museums/operations, such as California State RR Museum, Nevada Northern, Cass, Cumbres & Toltec, and even Steamtown and Amtrak. (Seriously--you may just want to take Amtrak long-distance while you still can, like, say, over Raton Pass before someone in New Mexico government decides that main isn't worth maintaining for two Amtrak trains a day....)

Another suggestion: Keep an eye on any rail line that doesn't have any freight operation to help pay the bills and overhead. Lines like Steamtown's D-L main, Strasburg, and the Verde Canyon RR have an excuse to exist absent tourist dollars, something we can't say about some other lines. Extra demerits if a local or state government doesn't own/administrate the track/R-O-W.

I second the mention of the SW Chief over Raton.

Wesley

The CRHS is running another excursion in June that will have some rare mileage. We'll be leaving Washington, DC and run to Perryville, then the Port Road up to Enola Yard, Rockville bridge. We'll be doing a 4-5 hour stop in Harrisburg to explore the city and get lunch, then return via Middletown and the Roy Branch to DC. It covers some of the trip we did before, but the Roy branch is new for the trip and quite rare for passengers.

We plan on releasing tickets in January and will offer coach and First Class. I should note also that the coach class will be all Amtrak cars. No Commuter cars.

Russ

Awesome news Russ,

Do you have a date yet?

Will you be offering a discount to those of us who rode jammed like sardines in the 3-2 seating when we paid the same as other passengers who got to ride in regular Amtrak coaches?

Tom,
It's gonna be June, but a firm date isn't yet set. As far as the discount, that's still under discussion. Our previous passengers will certainly have priority ticketing though.

Hope to have you along!
Russ