Train Event

[plankmaker]

I'm thinking an event such as this would be fun. However, I think insurance might be a problem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJvKG...eature=related

Mark Campbell
Piney Flats, TN

[FloridaConfederate]

BTDT Parrish Train Raid

Twice a year in FL...ACW, Cowboys and WW2 (at different events).

A veritable onion of suckitude.

Chris Rideout

[sbl]

I'm thinking an event such as this would be fun. However, I think insurance might be a problem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJvKG...eature=related

Mark Campbell
Piney Flats, TN

We have The General on the Netflix list. My daughter wants to see The General because I told her it has a woman as one of the main characters. Keaton got some bad reviews on this one for joking about violence.

My daughter and I just watched Disney's Great Locomotive Chase that I hadn't seen un-cut since the 60s. I have been down to the area back in 1998, where the chase took place and saw The General engine in Kennesaw (Is "Wildman" still open) and The Texas in Atlanta.

They used to do a train event locally at Edaville Railroad that my unit always passed on. One member went and his photo ended up in the Boston Herald of him eating an ice cream cone in uniform.

[GaWildcat]

Yeah, Wildman's is still open. And I can tell ya that W&ARR Engine #3 (The General) still looks as pretty as ever. Just saw her a little bit ago when we helped out with an event the Musuem had. One of our members works there. I hate her. (not really, just jealous)

[plankmaker]

Scott,

They still have the Tweetsie RR around here. It is still a fairly fun time. I like old trains though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p175VVRSUKI

Mark Campbell
Piney Flats, TN

[sbl]

Thanks Bob, I never backed out of a store before.

Pretty country. I'd go back. REALLY nice people!

[sbl]

I had the train bug as a really little kid. They tell me that when I was in nursery school (aged 4) the teacher had us draw snowmen. (easy circles). I drew a train instead told the teacher a snowman was driving it. There were still steam locomotives on the Boston and Maine at that time.

[plankmaker]

Scott,

They still have some train activities here that go a long ways back tradition wise. The Santa Train is a biggie. I get to ride on it this year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDHBuSG1-ds

They also have a train association here that orgnizes train excursions on some of the older train routes through Appalachia several times a year. This shows some of the more well known ones.

http://www.johnsonsdepot.com/

Mark Campbell
Piney Flats, TN

[sbl]

Thanks. My daughter and I have a goal of riding on all 18th/19th century modes of transportion. (My son only cares for cars but he's been on most) We still have to take a balloon ride then we'll be caught up.

[plankmaker]

The train peeps are even having a couple of special rides for the leaf stompers this fall. Might be a good way to get a different perspective on the fall foliage.

Mark Campbell
Piney Flats, TN

By The Continuous News Desk

Published: August 16, 2009

SPENCER, N.C. – The North Carolina Transportation Museum Foundation and the Watauga Valley Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society offer a chance to see fall foliage and ride the rails this fall.
The museum is again hosting fall train excursions. In addition to its traditional Charlottesville, Va., day trip, the museum will also offer a day trip to Asheville N.C.
After hosting day trips through the 1990s, the museum revived rail excursions in 2007.
The “Virginia Autumn Special” will travel to Charlottesville on Oct. 31, while the “Blue Ridge Special” will travel to Asheville on Nov. 1. Each day’s trip will include views of fall foliage.
Departing Spencer at 7 a.m., the “Virginia Autumn Special” will again offer a second passenger pick-up at the Greensboro Amtrak Station at 8 a.m., allowing those living in the Triad a more convenient boarding opportunity.
Passing through the North Carolina cities of Thomasville, High Point and Reidsville, and the Virginia cities of Danville, Lynchburg and Oak Ridge, passengers will experience views of the Piedmont and rolling hills of the Carolinas and the western part of Central Virginia.
Views of the Dan, Roanoke and James rivers will be seen as the train crosses above. The train will even pass by Schuyler, the mountain town fictionalized in the television show “The Waltons.”
At noon, the “Virginia Autumn Special” will arrive in Charlottesville, home of the University of Virginia. Here, travelers will have nearly three hours to explore the historic downtown area. A short walk takes you to the downtown outdoor mall, considered one of the finest urban parks in the country. Shopping and dining opportunities can be found in boutiques, specialty wine, coffee and tea shops, and outdoor dining spots. Travelers may also enjoy walks. Departing Charlottesville at 3 p.m., the train will arrive back in Greensboro at 6:45 p.m. and Spencer at 8 p.m.
The “Blue Ridge Special” will travel through the western Piedmont into the foothills and on to the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Departing Spencer at 7 a.m., the train will roll through the cities of Statesville, Hickory, Morganton, Marion, Black Mountain and Swannanoa. The train will climb the famed “loops” of the Blue Ridge Mountains passing the Andrews Geyser and through several tunnels before arriving in Asheville at noon. Passengers will have nearly three hours for an outing at Biltmore Village.
Established in the late 1890s as a planned community, Biltmore Village stands near the entrance to Biltmore Estate. Shopping will be available. Passengers can dine in restaurants and take walks. All of this will be enjoyed alongside views of the North Carolina mountains.
Departing Asheville at 3 p.m., the “Blue Ridge Special” will return to Spencer at 8 p.m.
Several different levels of excursion tickets are available. Ticket prices are the same each day. Premium First Class tickets feature seating on restored private rail cars. Premium First Class passengers will also enjoy an early continental breakfast, newspaper and dinner in the diner on the return trip. Premium First Class tickets are $240 per person.
A new offering this year, Deluxe Coach Class tickets feature seating with windows, lunch on the dining car and light snacks during the trip. Deluxe Coach tickets are $170 per person.
Coach tickets feature seating, air conditioning and heat and restrooms. Coach tickets are $140 per person.
Another new feature, an optional box lunch will allow travelers to save time for shopping in Charlottesville or Asheville. The $14 box lunch, served in a souvenir lunch tote, includes a half turkey wrap, pasta, chips and salsa, a cookie and drink.
Passengers may also take advantage of a shuttle bus at each destination for an additional $2. Tickets are available online at http://www.nctrans.org or by calling (704) 636-2889 Ext. 232.
The North Carolina Transportation Museum, located in historic Spencer Shops, the former Southern Railway repair facility, is part of the Division of State Historic Sites, Department of Cultural Resources. The museum is located five minutes off I-85 at Exit 79 in Spencer, N.C., and about an hour from Charlotte, Greensboro or Winston-Salem. For information on the Department of Cultural Resources, call (919) 807-7385 or visit http://www.ncculture.com.