NORTHERN SKY

and

NORTHERN DREAMS

PRIVATE CAR RAIL ADVENTURE

EASTBOUND OAKLAND TO CHICAGO

TOURIST / PRIVATE RAIL CAR / RAILFAN TOURS

OCTOBER 2-4, 2023

 Private railroad cars allow travelers the option to step back in time and recapture that romantic era of train travel that Amtrak cannot provide. Once upon a time rail barons and wealthy socialites traveled the country on luxurious private railroad cars, dining on fine china and crystal and being pampered by the onboard staff. This form of luxury rail travel is being offering to everyone. A small number of railfans 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 railfans have spent millions of dollars to bring back this golden age of travel. Passengers can sip on cocktails and nibble on hors d' oeuvres while sinking into deep leather sofas in lounges and domes and relax by the rhythm of the train wheels rolling down the track. All meals are prepared fresh onboard and made to order by the onboard gourmet chefs.

These private luxury rail cars are coupled onto the rear of scheduled Amtrak passenger trains on certain routes in the United States. Our first class passengers are separated from the Amtrak passengers. We provide our own onboard staff including our chef and make up our own gourmet menus for all meals. All drinks and food is included in the ticket price from the time you step onboard until you detrain. Everything is first class with every detail included. This is passenger train travel at it's finest.

TWO PHOTOS ABOVE IN THE LOUNGE SECTION OF THE NORTHERN DREAMS

Rebuilt from the wheels up to reflect the ultimate in both equipment and amenities, the Northern Sky and Northern Dreams is a completely self-contained luxury environment. They carry complete air conditioning and heating as well as their own power generators and water supply. There is a complete built-in CD/stereo system, television, and VCR. Nothing is omitted in the effort to make traveling by rail a matchless pleasure.   The crew includes a chef , waiter and attendant. An attendant call system throughout the two cars makes it easy to request service from any area on board the Northern Sky or Northern Dreams. Gourmet meals are prepared fresh in the built-in full kitchen, and served in the penthouse splendor of the dome dining area. The crew's main concern is the comfort and enjoyment of the passenger.

DAY 1 MONDAY OCTOBER 2: (B-L-D)

Depart from Emeryville (Oakland) with our private rail cars attached to the rear end of Amtrak’s California Zephyr at 9:10AM. We run along the San Francisco Bay , across the Sacramento Valley and over Donner Pass in the High Sierra. Lunch will be served as we climb into the mountains. Arrival in Reno is at 4:06PM. Passengers may board or detrain at any Amtrak station where this train makes a stop. This would be: Martinez, Davis, Sacramento, Roseville, Colfax, Truckee, or Reno. After departing Reno we speed out across the Nevada desert as you enjoy the sunset and an almost full moon while you enjoy your dinner in the dome car. Later in the evening you can have a night cap and turn in for the night. In Nevada the train makes stops at Winnemucca and Elko and we can take passengers at both of these stations. 

THE CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR NEAR YUBA GAP

THE ZEPHYR RUNNING ALONG THE TRUCKEE RIVER NEAR TRUCKEE

DAY 2 TUESDAY OCTOBER 3: (B-L-D)

Arrival in Salt Lake City, Utah is at 3:05AM and departure is at 3:30AM. After departing Provo at 4:35AM the train starts the climb up into the Wasatch Range of Utah by way of Spanish Creek Canyon. If you are an early riser you can enjoy our train climbing around the Gilluly Loops at dawn with a cup of coffee. At Solders Summit the train drops down into the Price River Canyon making a station stop at Helper at 6:37AM. Departing from here the train heads east into the eastern Utah desert towards Colorado. For many miles the tracks run along the face of the Book Cliffs.

AMTRAK'S CZ RUNNING ALONG THE BOOK CLIFFS

THE CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR IN RUBY CANYON

THE ZEPHYR IN GLENWOOD CANYON

THE ZEPHYR DEEP IN GORE CANYON

Shortly after leaving the Book Cliffs behind we enter remote Ruby Canyon as the train runs next to the Colorado River and into Colorado deep in this canyon with bright red rock cliffs raising hundreds of feet above the train. As we make our way across Colorado we enter Glenwood Canyon deep in the Rockies and again following the Colorado River as lunch is served. Next the train enters Little and Big Gore Canyons with countless tunnels. We make our last stop west of the Continental Divide at Winter Park at 3:50PM then enter the 6.2 mile Moffat Tunnel and run under the massive spine of the Rockies. At the east portal the tracks start the long descend towards Denver. Arrival in Denver is scheduled for 6:38PM. You are welcome to stretch your legs. Departure is at 7:10PM as our train picks up speed for the fast night run across Nebraska. 

DENVER UNION STATION AND TRANSPORTATION CENTER

DAY 3 WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 4: (B-L)

Early risers will catch the crossing over the Missouri River and into Iowa at about 6:45AM. The morning hours our train crosses Iowa running through the many farms. Late morning we cross the Mississippi River and enter Illinois. Finally we arrive in Chicago at 2:50PM.

ALL PRICES ARE PER PERSON

Note: All bedroom prices as based on two persons in each room

Emeryville to Chicago