| TRAINS & TRAVEL P.O. BOX 10625 RENO, NEVADA 89510-0625 Chris@traintrips.biz Jane@traintrips.biz Deborah@traintrips.biz | 1-800 359-4870 USA 1-800 752-1836 CANADA 1-800 266-8751 FAX (775) 453-1004 | |
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The request for a private charter train running over the former Western Pacific Route to Portola and return has been approved by Union Pacific and Amtrak.
The train will be a a mini-California Zephyr running over the original Western Pacific Route between Oakland and
Portola roundtrip trip in celebration of the opening of the Last Continental Railroad on November 1, 2009. The routing will include Altamont Pass
over the former WP, as much as possible depending upon freight traffic, and the rugged Feather River Canyon.
The planned train will be the three fully restored and operating California Zephyr cars in the west.
This train that will only have a total of 48 passengers onboard each direction. This guarantees that all 48 passengers will have a guaranteed Vista Dome seat at
all times over the entire journey. We have been asked by the private car owners to help market this extraorinary three day excursion. This kind of
opportunity only comes around once every 100 years!
 FEATHER RIVER CANYON ON AUGUST 25, 2008 ON THE REAR OF AN AMTRAK DETOUR
THE CONSIST
Silver Rapids, a 1948 Budd roomette-bedroom sleeper, also built for the Pennsylvania Railroad as its contribution to the California Zephyr equipment pool for transcontinental service. Silver Rapids features eight roomettes accommodating one person each, and six double bedrooms, each accommodating 2 persons. Bedrooms each have an annex containing a toilet and sink; roomettes have a sink in the room. If two couples or a family are traveling together two rooms may be opened ensuite. A shower room has been added. Limited hot and cold beverage service is available.
Silver Lariat, a 1948 Budd Vista-Dome coach built for the California Zephyr, converted to a diner-lounge. 24 deeply cushioned seats in the dome and 42 reclining chairs on the lower level provide a comfortable setting for meals aboard the train as well as for sightseeing.
Silver Solarium, a 1948 Budd Vista-Dome sleeper-lounge-observation car built for the California Zephyr. The observation lounge in the boat-tail of the car is a pleasant place to enjoy the passing scenery as we hurry on our way through the west. Silver Solarium accommodates 24 guests in its Vista-Dome. Sleeping accommodations include 3 double bedrooms, each accommodating 2 guests, and 1 drawing room, accommodating up to 3 guests. The drawing room and bedrooms each have an annex that includes toilet, sink and shower. Under the dome is a bar, which is an excellent spot to gather for a late-night libation.
THE ITINERARY FRIDAY OCTOBER 30: (B-L-D) Oakland to Portola running through Niles Canyon and over Altamont Pass. In the valley our train will run through Tracy, Stockton, Sacramento, Marysville, Oroville and then into the rugged Feather River Canyon. Planned departure from Oakland is 7:45AM and estimated arrival in Portola is 5:00PM
SATURDAY OCTOBER 31: (B-L-D) Layover in Portola. Train parked next to the Western Pacific Railroad Museum. Also our train will be turned on the museum's balloon track using the classic Western Pacific F units in the CZ passenger paint scheme including the WP 805-A. The museum has four California Zephyr passenger cars and they plan on attaching three of them to our three CZ cars to make a six car set for photos. A number of special photo run-bys will be made for our passengers in and around Portola and the Western Pacific Railroad Museum today with Western Pacific motive power. This will also give our passengers the opportunity to see the museum. If there is enough interest we will arrange a local sightseeing tour of the upper Feather River Canyon including Portola, Mohawk Valley and the Gold Lakes Basin area.
 RIDE THE MINI-CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR TO PORTOLA AND SEE FOR YOURSELF
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 1: (B-L-D) Portola to Oakland via the same route with a brief stop on the Keddie Wye Bridge to view the location of the "Last Spike" Planned departure from Portola is at 8:00AM with an estimated arrival in Oakland at 5:00PM
THE BOARDING
Because of the unique routing of this excursion and the lack of maintained station platforms passengers will be required
to board in Oakland at the Amtrak station and ride all the way to Portola. No passengers will be allowed to board once
we depart Oakland. On the return journey all passengers must board in Portola and ride all the way to Oakland with the
exception of the re-driving of the Last Spike on the Keddie Wye Bridge.
THE OPERATING EXPENSES We estimate that the total cost to run this three day excursion could come in at between $70,000 and $80,000. It is expensive to run a charter like this, but we feel it is worth the expense for such a unique opportunity to have an entire California Zephyr train set run over the original WP route including Altamont Pass and the Feather River Canyon and take part in the re-driving of the last spike on the Keddie Wye Bridge November 1. With only 48 persons onboard the price is not cheap, but everyone will have a Vista Dome seat and our onboard staff ratio will be one staff to serve six passengers. You will receive luxury first class service onboard that will match or exceed the world's best luxury trains. |
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TOUR PRICE: All tour prices are subject to change without notice at any time.
CHANGE OF ITINERARY: We reserve the right to substitute, change train routing, alter or modify the tour if any unexpected and unforeseen conditions beyond our control occur. As almost everyone knows, in the railroad industry last minute changes do occur.
DEPOSITS AND FINAL PAYMENTS: The required deposit is due in our office within 14 days of making a booking. For most tours the final payment is due in our office 90 days before the start of the tour. Due dates are posted for each tour and will also be on your invoice and in some cases we will vary the due Date depending upon the tour in question.
MILEAGE COLLECTORS: Mileage collectors please take note before you book! Trains and Travel does not cater just to mileage collectors. We cater to all people that enjoy the railroad hobby. We give strong warning that itinerary and route changes do happen and this is totally beyond our control when it does. If the only reason that you would want to book a tour with us is to collect the rare mileage, may we suggest that you be prepared for possible route changes.
RESPONSIBILITY AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: We assume no responsibility for injury, sickness, damage, loss, additional expenses, accidental delay or irregularities which may be caused through willful or negligent acts or omissions on the part of the companies providing or engaging in transportation, accommodations or services related to the accomplishment of the tour including Trains and Travel. We have no control on the timings of our charter trains and indeed passenger trains and charters can and do run late most of the time. Nor do we assume responsibility for natural disaster, social or political upheaval, acts of terrorism or acts of nature. The right is reserved to substitute hotels, tour leaders, equipment, motive power, trains, routes and to alter the itinerary when deemed necessary without notice. We are not responsible for expenses incurred by tour members in preparing for the tour.
CANCELLATIONS: Trains and Travel does not accept cancellations on the phone. Cancellations must be received by postal mail, e mail or fax before any refunds will be processed. Be sure and allow enough time if sending your written notice by the very slow US mail postal system. When a written cancellation is received in the Trains and Travel office this will be the effective date of the cancellation. Please take note that it can take up to 60 days to process some refunds in but most cases refunds will be issued in half that time. Cancellation refund rules: 100 days prior to the start of any tour you will receive a full refund less a $200 per person administration fee. 99 to 75 days before the departure of any tour there will be a 80% cancellation penalty based on the full cost of the tour. Any cancellations received 74 or less days before the start of any tour will not receive any refund. These cancellations rules apply to everyone and will be enforced.
RIGHT TO REFUSE SERVICE: Trains and Travel reserves the right to refuse service to anyone we deem necessary, to insure that all of our clients will have the best possible tour.
PRE-DEPARTURE TOUR BULLETINS: Tour bulletins will be sent to clients that have booked on our tours. Bulletins include weather, packing tips, food, health, updates and much more. Tickets and a detailed itinerary booklet will be sent out about three weeks before the tour begins.
PAYMENTS: Payments can be made with personal check drawn on a U.S. Dollar account, money order for U.S. Dollars, bank wire transfer, or credit card. We accept Visa, Master Card, Discover or American Express. Final payment for all tours is due 90 days prior to departure. If final payment has not been received 7 days after the due date, a late fee of $50 may apply.
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: All prices are based on double room occupancy. We will try and match you with a roommate. if one is available. If not, you may be charged the single room supplement listed for the tour you are booked on. Single rooms may not be available in some remote locations and on some trains.
TOUR REFUNDS: If for any reason tour members amend or delete any arrangements during travel, and leave the tour on their own, we cannot give any refunds on unused portions of the tour. If buses and trains are cancelled by the carrier or there is a labor strike or they go out of business, we cannot be held responsible and we cannot give refunds. Travel insurance will protect you for any of these reasons. If TU needs to cancel any tour everyone will receive a full refund. Please take note that refunds can take up to 60 days to process.
PARTIAL TOURS: We will allow passengers to join or leave a tour at certain points. It will all depend on the tour and the conditions. Give us a call and we will try and work up a custom option for you.
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