Last updated - 08/29/2010
Motorcar Operators West
Vancouver Island by speeder (REINSTATED)
September 11 – 18, 2010
The Vancouver Island Excursion has been reinstated. We will set on in Port Alberni on Saturday, September 11 and run the Alberni Pacific Railway to the end of track and return. We will then reposition to Nanaimo for 3 days running the Southern Railway of Vancouver Island that extends from Victoria to Courtney. Finally, we will run the last logging railroad in North America, the Englewood Railway of Western Forest Products from Beaver Cove to Woss and return. Included will be a day off in Victoria, BC to explore the beauty of this great city. The cost will be approximately $1600 for the tour. For further information contact one of the Co-Excursion Coordinators, Bill Schertle at bschertle@sbcglobal.net cell # 714-743-0804 or Dave Balestreri at dbalestreri@softcom.net cell # 916-531-7536. We still have room for several more cars so let one of us know if you are interested.
PLACERVILLE BRANCH
September 17 – 19, 2010
Help the City of Folsom celebrate 2010 Rail and Transportation Fest on September 17 – 19, 2010. As part of the festivities MOW will be hosting a motorcar run on the former Placerville Branch of the Southern Pacific RR. This line was part of the Sacramento Valley Railroad, the first railway west of the Mississippi, which ran between Sacramento, Folsom, Latrobe and Placerville, and was originally considered for the western starting point for the Transcontinental Railroad. The Sacramento – Folsom portion is now the Regional transportation light rail “Gold Line”. Participants will travel approximately 18 round-trip miles starting at the Folsom City limits where Hwy 50 crosses the line at East Bidwell Street. Several round trips will be made each day including a twilight run on Saturday night. The cost is $35 and includes all railroad costs and incidental MOW fees. This is a NARCOA insured excursion and all NARCOA rules will apply. Spark arrestors are mandatory.
We will be hoping to offer rides to VIPs, politicians and the media. Please notify the meet coordinators if you have an empty seat. FEDSHRA will be operating their gang car the “Skagit” and Light rail will have a restored trolley car in attendance. A historic Wild West equestrian group will “rob” the Skagit from horseback and then be chased off as the sheriff’s posse comes to the rescue with guns blazing. There will also be hot rods, model railroads and food and retail vendors.
Registration will be at the set on, 5PM on Friday evening. You may also be setting on first thing Saturday morning. Meet coordinators are Glen Ford (530)432-5487, Dave McClain (530)908-8296, and Mike Mitchell (530)796-2350. Dry RV camping available. The set on site is right across the street from the Hampton Inn & Suites, Folsom. 155 Placerville Rd., Folsom, CA 95630. (916)235-7744, Toll free (888)336-3098. www.folsomsuites.hamptoninn.com.
Pre-registration is not required. Registration and payment will be on-site before you set on.
We got a great rate for the Hampton Inn. $89 for a single and $99 for a double. Just mention "MOW PARTICIPANT" when making reservation
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AT THE VIRGINIA & TRUCKEE RAILROAD
OCT 2, 2010
Oct 2, 2010 our meeting will be at the Historic Fourth Ward School in Virginia City NV. Starting at 11:30am. We have made arraignments to stay Friday and Saturday nights at the Plaza hotel in Carson City NV. 775-883-9500 their will be a charge of $96.80 for both nights. A member of MOW has offered to let people camp/RV on his property - he lives just outside of Virginia City. Email him to make arrangements and get directions at KIM@jackrabbitFlats.com You must make your own reservation with the Plaza and tell them you’re with MOW to get that rate. We will set-on Saturday Morning early and follow the Train up to Virginia City. We will walk up to the Fourth Ward School, have our meeting and then visit the historic city have lunch and meet back at the cars at 3:00pm. Lunch is on your own and their will be a $25.00 charge for the run. Send your checks for the run to, Glen Ford, PO Box 129 Rough & Ready CA. 95975. Exact time of set-on and further information will come later. If you have any questions call Mike Mitchell 707-249-1974 or 530-796-2350.
Alaska Railroad by Speeder for the Pacific Northwest Tour 2011?
Chris Baldo has done all the preliminary planning for the Alaskan tour in Sept 2011. Exciting? Oh, yes! I believe that for most of us this will be a “once in a lifetime” tour covering virtually every piece of rail in the Alaskan Railway system and giving us sufficient time to explore the state.
If you would like to receive an invitation to register, please contact Margaret Hope mhope@lionsgate.ca and ask to be added to the list of those considering participating. We need 20 cars to proceed. Approximately 50 participants have asked to be on this list.
This is not a request for money or registration. We want to give you time to consider your interest and if you do want to travel with us, to give you some idea of the costs and challenges we’ll face in doing this amazing tour. Some of you will want to look for a partner to help with expenses. Now is the time to do that.
We anticipate an October 1, 2010 date for registration. We’ll send out a notice. We’ll ask for $1000 deposit then of which $350 will be non-refundable because that’s the amount that will be non-refundable from our lodgings provider. Alaska isn’t like anywhere else we travel. We have to guarantee the rooms. We anticipate a June 1, 2011 date for the balance of the lodging money.
If you find you are still interested but can’t commit by October, you can remain on our contact list and hope space is available when you are able to commit to attend.
Here are the details:
Alaska Railroad
Almost Firm Itinerary
9 Days on Rail
Revised 8/6/10
Tentative Cost Estimates – based on 20 motorcars
Lodging - $3,500. includes shuttle from railroad to accommodations.
Might change slightly with 2011 rates.
Railroad Fee - Nine days on the rails. $2,850/car. Firm.
Car Transport to Alaska – This can be a major expense. The 2008 Tour found that shipping via container was about $2800/car Round-Trip if you got enough cars to fill a container.
Alternatives are:
1) To drive to Alaska on the Alcan Highway, an adventure but
time consuming.
2) Arrange for one of the participants to take additional cars to
Alaska, and pay an agreed-upon fee. We have had some offers
to carry a small number of cars to Anchorage.
3) Take the Bellingham, WA – Haines, AK car ferry. Expensive
with trailers and a significant drive from Haines to
Anchorage. This is a scenic 3-day alternative to (1) above
for one leg of the trip.
Incidental Expenses – You will need to pay for all meals, lay-over day
activities, other incidentals. With lay-over days, we will spend 16
days on the trip, so plan for a per-day cost that matches your
lifestyle.
MOW Excursion Expenses – The traditional PNW Tour Guide, t-shirts, and group meals normally add up to about $150/car.
Itinerary
Day 1 Wednesday, September 7, 2011. Set On, Car Inspection,
Anchorage, AK. Get Acquainted Dinner. Overnight in
Anchorage. Comfort Inn Anchorage
Day 2 Thursday, September 8, 2011 Anchorage, MP 114 –
Talkeetna, MP 227. Overnight in Talkeetna, Talkeetna
Alaskan Lodge.
Day 3 Friday, September 9, 2011. Talkeetna, MP 227 – Denali,
MP 359. Overnight in Denali, McKinley Chalet Resort.
Day 4 Saturday, September 10, 2011. Lay Over Day, Denali.
Overnight in Denali, McKinley Chalet Resort.
Day 5 Sunday, September 11, 2011 Lay Over Day, Denali.
Overnight in Denali, McKinley Chalet Resort.
Day 6 Monday, September 12, 2011. Denali, MP 359 –
Fairbanks, MP 470, Overnight in Fairbanks, Fairbanks
Princess Riverside Lodge.
Day 7 Tuesday, September 13, 2011. Lay Over Day, Fairbanks.
Overnight in Fairbanks, Fairbanks Princess Riverside
Lodge.
Day 8 Wednesday, September 14, 2011. Lay Over day, Fairbanks.
Overnight in Fairbanks, Fairbanks Princess Riverside
Lodge.
Day 9 Thursday, September 15, 2011. Fairbanks MP 470 –
Denali, MP 359, Overnight in Denali, McKinley Chalet
Resort.
Day 10 Friday, September 16, 2011. Denali, MP 359 – Talkeetna,
MP 227, Overnight in Talkeetna, Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge.
Day 11 Saturday, September 17, 2011 Layover Day Talkeetna,
Overnight in Talkeetna, Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge.
Day 12 Sunday, September 18, 2011. Talkeetna, MP 227 –
Wasilla, MP 160. Overnight in Wasilla, Grandview Inn and
Suites. Wasilla is home to Sarah Palin, the Iditarod Sled
Dog Race, and the Alaska Museum of Transportation and
Industry.
Day 13 Monday, September 19, 2011. Wasilla, MP 160 –
Anchorage, MP 114 – Girdwood, MP 74. Overnight in
Girdwood, The Hotel Alyeska Girdwood.
Day 14 Tuesday, September 20, 2011 Girdwood, MP 74 - MP 0 –
Portage, MP 64 –Whittier, MP 12 – Portage – Seward, MP
0. Overnight in Seward, Holiday Inn Express Seward.
Day 15 Wednesday, September 21, 2011. Lay Over Day, Seward.
Overnight in Seward, Holiday Inn Express Seward..
Farewell Dinner in Seward.
Day 16 Thursday, September 22, 2011. Seward, MP 0 –
Anchorage, MP 114. Set Off. Overnight in Anchorage,
Comfort Inn Anchorage.
Day 17 Load containers, etc. Depart for the Lower ’48.
End of the Pacific Northwest Tour 2011
Marg Hope
Motorcar Operators West
Excursion Co-coordinator
Pacific Northwest Tour 2011 - Alaska
(604) 320 - 7613
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