Once upon a time, Rail Barons and wealthy socialites traveled the country on luxurious private railroad cars. They dined with such amenities as fine china, linins & crystal, while being pampered by the onboard staff. Now this form of luxury rail travel is being offered to everyone, at a very reasonable price.

A small number of rail fans have purchased and refurbished private rail cars familiar to the first half of the 20th century. This was the Golden Age of passenger rail travel. These rail fans have spent around a million dollars on each private rail car, to refurbish and restore them to their original glory; in efforts to bring back this Golden Age of travel.

All onboard meals are prepared fresh and made to order by our gourmet chefs. Passengers can sip on cocktails and nibble on hors d'oeuvres while relaxing into deep leather sofas in lounges paneled in rich mahogany or gazing at the beauty of passing scenery from a restored California Zephyr vista dome car. Those booking a Private Pullman room on an overnight excursion may enjoy being lulled to sleep by the rhythm of the train wheels rolling down the track. Pullman rooms may also be reserved for day trips-for celebrations or simply for private rest and relaxation during your journey.

These private luxury rail cars are coupled onto the rear of scheduled Amtrak passenger trains, all over the country. Our first class passengers are separate from the Amtrak cars, by locked doors. However, you may step out into the vestibule between cars for fresh air, and an exciting rail experience-this is not allowed on the regular Amtrak cars.

We provide our own onboard staff; including our chef who will dazzle you with gourmet menus. All drinks and food are included in the ticket price from the time you step onboard, until you detrain. Everything is first class with every detail included; be it a day journey- or an excursion running for a week. This is passenger train travel at it's finest.

Join us on a unique tour of the wine country of our Central Coast. This weekend getaway includes travel from Los Angeles to the region and back in a vintage Vista-Dome private railcar, breakfast and dinner prepared fresh aboard by our chefs, full bar service aboard the train, limousines that will take you from the train to the valley wineries, and overnight lodging at the Historic Santa Maria Inn. Also included in the tour price are admissions to the wineries that you will be visiting, and breakfast Sunday morning at your hotel, and transfer to the train Sunday afternoon.

THE ITINERARY

DAY 1 MARCH 28: (B-L) Amtrak train 799, with the Silver Lariat attached, departs Los Angeles Union Station at 7:30 AM. Guests may choose to board at stops up the line if they wish. Please consult Amtrak's timetable for a list of stops that this train makes. All luggages will be handled aboard the private car. A multi-course breakfast will be served shortly after departure from Los Angeles. The route takes us through the spectacular Santa Susanna Pass into Simi Valley, Moorpark, Camarillo and Oxnard. Shortly before arriving Ventura we catch our first glimpse of the ocean, which we will be following for the next hundred miles. North of Santa Barbara there is practically no settlement along the coast, and few roads. We are seeing coastline that can only be seen from the train. Shortly after passing the public beach and estuary at Surf, our train turns inland, eventually emerging into the Santa Maria Valley and our station stop at Guadalupe. Limousines are waiting to take us on our tour of 3 wineries, then to our hotel. Santa Maria is famous for its Barbeque, and there are several fine restaurants in and near the hotel.

WELCOME TO THE SANTA MARIA VALLEY. HOME TO MANY AWARD WINNING WINES.

DAY 2 MARCH 29: (D) enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the hotel. Checkout time today is 11:00 AM. Our tour will take us to the Santa Maria Museum of Flight, located at the airport, then on to Lompoc for a tour of Mission La Purisima Concepcion State Historic Park. The mission is one of the most complete restorations of any in the chain and sits on 1,900 acres. Buildings have been furnished, as they would have been in 1820, when the mission was at its peak. This mission gives an extraordinary look at Spanish colonial life in Alta California. After seeing the mission, we head to the train station at Surf, afternoon hors d'Oeuvres and a fine dinner before our arrival in Los Angeles at 7:40 PM.