Don’t Miss Mass Bay RRE’s Special Excursion:
‘Old Colony & Newport Special’
Boston to Newport, RI & The Hummocks & Return
Saturday, April 9, 2011 - One Day Only!
Massachusetts Bay Railroad Enthusiasts will sponsor an all-day train-and-motorcoach tour from the Boston metropolitan area to Newport, RI on Saturday, April 9, 2011. Our trip will include visits to railroad and marine museums, plus a four-hour, specially chartered train ride on the Old Colony & Newport Scenic Railroad along the shores of Narragansett Bay.
Our deluxe chartered motorcoach will leave Boston's South Station at 8:00 AM and the Braintree MBTA station at 8:15 AM. We'll go directly to Fall River to visit the Old Colony & Fall River Railroad Museum and the nearby Marine Museum of Fall River, with its exhibits of Fall River Line and RMS Titanic materials. Museum admissions are included in the package tour fare.
From Fall River, we will travel to the OC&N depot in Newport to board our special train. The train will leave Newport at 12:00 noon and will travel along the spectacular shoreline of Narragansett Bay, covering all of the available operable track (about 12 miles) of the former Old Colony/New Haven/Penn Central rail line. We'll go well beyond Melville, the terminus of the regular OC&N and Newport Dinner Train operations, to The Hummocks, at the western end of the vanished Tiverton Narrows swing bridge that once connected the rail line to the mainland. Along the way we'll stop for photos and video runbys at several scenic and historic sites. The train will return to Newport about 4:00 PM.
The train features a center-cab diesel locomotive and two vintage wood passenger cars: the "turn-of-the-20th-century" ex-Boston & Maine coach Ruth Blount and the parlor car Nelson Blount (right), both heated by real pot-bellied coach stoves! The parlor car, with its wicker chairs and sofas facing Narragansett Bay, is thought to be the oldest operating passenger car in North America. It was built in 1884 for Canada's Intercolonial Railway as an office car. Our passengers will be able to sample both cars en route. Note: these historic cars are not handicapped-accessible.
After the OC&N excursion, our motorcoach will return to Boston, arriving at South Station about 6:00 PM. At the end of the day, passengers may choose to ride the MBTA’s Mattapan High-Speed Line with its restored vintage PCC trolleys, and enjoy an informal group dinner (individual settlement) at a restaurant in the vicinity of South Station.
For passengers who wish to drive to Newport rather than ride our package tour, a limited number of "train-ride-only" tickets will be available.
Tour passengers from Boston will receive a tasty box lunch catered by Gerard's of Dorchester. Riders boarding at Newport may order a Gerard's box lunch in advance, or bring their own lunch.
This trip will operate ONE DAY ONLY, rain or shine. Capacity for this unique event is strictly limited, so be sure to order your tickets early.
If more information is required before ordering, visit our web site at www.massbayrre.org, call us at 617-822-4046, or send email to: trips@massbayrre.org.
FARES:
Complete Tour Package Fare includes OC&N train excursion, museum admissions, Gerard’s box lunch and round-trip motorcoach transportation.
Adult Mass Bay RRE Member Tour Package Fare...................................... $75*
Adult Non-member Tour Package Fare........................................................$85
Child (age 12 & under) Tour Package Fare.................................................$45
Train-only fare includes round-trip OC&N excursion only.
Adult MBRRE Member Train-only Fare........................................................$25*
Adult Non-member Train-only Fare..............................................................$30
Child (Age 12 & under) Train-only Fare.......................................................$15
Gerard’s Deluxe Box Lunch............................................................................$11
*
One discounted seat per member, except as noted in our Member Benefits policy.
BOX LUNCHES:
The box lunch from Gerard's of Dorchester will consist of two finger sandwiches (one ham & cheese, one turkey), Cape Cod potato chips, seedless grapes, cole slaw, deluxe brownie and a beverage. Passengers are encouraged to swap sandwiches to obtain a matched set if desired.
HOW TO ORDER:
Please use the order form to order your tour ticket and box lunch. Be sure to enclose a self-addressed, stamped business-size envelope for return of your tickets. Full particulars of the tour will be sent with your tickets about two weeks before the trip. For further information please call the tour organizer at 617-822-4046, or send e-mail to: trips@massbayrre.org.
Orders are accepted by mail or telephone only. Mastercard & Visa accepted for all orders. For telephone orders please call 978-470-2066. No calls after 8:00 PM Eastern Time, please.
To download a printable copy of the trip flyer and order form, Click Here.
Mass Bay RRE is a non-profit [501(c)(3)] Massachusetts educational corporation.
