Mass Bay RRE returns to Vermont this June with our ‘Washington County Limited' train excursions over the Vermont Rail System's Washington Country Railroad. These will be our first excursions over the line from White River Junction to Wells River in a decade, and our first trips between Wells River and Newport since 1996. These trips will cover 103 miles of mostly freight-only trackage.

Saturday's trip will operate northbound from White River Junction to Newport, with a motorcoach return to White River Junction at the end of the day. Sunday's trip will have a morning bus connection from White River Jct. to Newport, and the train will operate southbound back to White River Junction.

We'll have a Boston motorcoach connection from South Station (departing at 6:00 AM), Woburn and Methuen on Saturday only. See below for complete details.

For those wishing to travel both directions by train, round-trip package fares are available, including transfers from the train to hotels in Newport on Saturday evening and back to the train on Sunday morning. We have planned multiple photo stops and runbys on both days, including an extended stopover in St. Johnsbury.

Our train will consist of coaches and table cars from the Green Mountain Railroad's "Green Fleet." Both trips will offer deluxe first-class accommodations for 10 passengers aboard the VRS business observation car MacIntyre, including a hot lunch and complementary snacks and beverages throughout the trip. (Note: MacIntyre completely SOLD OUT - sorry!)

Our train will depart on Saturday from the Amtrak Station in White River Junction at 9:00 AM, with a 5:00 PM scheduled arrival at the Newport railroad yards, where the WACR interchanges with the Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railroad. Sunday's train will depart the Newport yard at 10:00 AM (motorcoach departs White River Junction at 8:00 AM) and will return to White River Junction around 6:00 PM.

The Boston Connection Package
Sit back and leave the driving to us! Our connecting motor coach package from the Boston area, leaving South Station at 6:00 AM, the Anderson RTC in Woburn at 6:15 AM, and the Methuen Park & Ride lot (I-93, Exit 47 - Pelham St.) at 6:30 AM, offers a guaranteed connection with Saturday’s train at White River Junction. Our deluxe rest-room equipped motor coach will leave Newport, VT shortly after our train’s arrival and will return to the Boston area around 9:30 PM. The Boston Connection Package includes reserved coach seating aboard the train and a box dinner on the return trip from Newport. Note: The Boston Connection package operates ONLY on Saturday, June 14!

Overnight Acommodations
In White River Junction, we have reserved a block of rooms for Friday and Saturday nights at the Hotel Coolidge (www.hotelcoolidge.com). The hotel is conveniently located across the street from the Amtrak Station at 39 South Main Street. For reservations, call 800-622-1124 and ask for the Mass Bay RRE rate. Monday, April 28: We have received word that the Coolidge is booked solid for the entire weekend, thanks to Dartmouth alumni weekend. There may be rooms available at other hotels in the area:
Comfort Inn, 56 Ralph Lehman Drive, White River Junction, VT 802-295-3051. Rooms available from $159
Hampton Inn, 104 Ballardvale Drive, White River Junction, VT 802-296-2800. Rooms available from $152
Super 8, 442 North Hartland Rd, I-91 Exit 11, White River Jct, VT 802-295-7577. Rooms available from $102
White River Inn & Suites, 91 Ballardvale Drive, White River Junction, VT 802-295-3015, Rooms from $169

For those taking the train in both directions, we have reserved a block of rooms for Saturday night at the Newport City Inn & Suites , 344 East Main Street in Newport, Vermont (www.newportcitymotel.net). Call 800-338-6558 and ask for the Mass Bay RRE rate.

Available space at both hotels is limited - especially in White River Junction! All rooms have two beds and room sharing is encouraged. Call Mass Bay RRE if you have reserved a room that you are willing to share or wish to share a room.

Order early! Train capacity for these trips is limited. All seats are reserved and will be assigned in advance. Passengers wishing to sit together should order tickets together as a group.

The ’Washington County Limited’ excursions operate on June 14 & 15 only, rain or shine. All sales are final and tickets are not refundable. Tickets will be mailed to you in early June along with driving directions to the boarding locations. Special discounted fares and preferred seating are available for Mass Bay RRE members only.  These excursions operate using vintage railroad equipment that is not fully handicapped-accessible. Please notify us before ordering if special accommodations (handicapped seating, etc.) are required.

SCHEDULE (all times approximate and subject to change)

Saturday, June 14, 2014

Sunday, June 15, 2014

FARES:

Boston Connection Package Fares: (Saturday, June 14 only)
Package fare includes round-trip motor coach transportation from Boston area, a Reserved Coach Seat aboard the train, and a box dinner on the return trip from Newport.
Adult Mass Bay RRE Member Package Fare........................... $134*
Adult Non-member Package Fare.........................................$149
Child Package Fare (ages 12 & under) ...................................$79

One-Day Coach Fares: (Saturday June 14 or Sunday, June 15)
(Includes one-way train trip from White River Junction or Newport, and motorcoach to/from WRJ in opposite direction)
Adult Mass Bay RRE Member Coach Fare............................... $99*
Adult Non-member Coach Fare............................................$114
Child Coach Fare (ages 14 & under) .....................................$79

Two-Day Round-trip Coach Fares: (Saturday June 14 & Sunday, June 15)
(Includes round-trip train fare White River Junction - Newport, and morning & evening transfers from Newport rail yard to hotel. Overnight hotel accommodations not included in fare.)
Adult Mass Bay RRE Member Round-trip Coach Fare............... $164*
Adult Non-member Round-trip Coach Fare.............................$194

Box Lunch ........................................................................$13

Deluxe First-Class Service aboard Business Car MacIntyre: (Both days SOLD OUT!)
(Add to basic Coach fares above - Additional fare includes Private Car seating, hot lunch and complementary snacks & beverages)
Deluxe one-way First-Class Supplemental Fare......................$150 SOLD OUT!

* One discounted seat per member, except as noted in our Member Benefits policy.

BOX LUNCHES:
The box lunch from Coventry Catering includes: sandwich (choice of turkey, roast beef or vegetarian), homemade potato chips, fruit or fruit salad, cole slaw or pasta salad, cookies and water. Box lunches must be ordered at the time train tickets are ordered.  

HOW TO ORDER:
Please use the order form to order your train 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 one week before the trip. For further information please call our information line at 978-470-2066, or send email to: trips@massbayrre.org.

Orders are accepted by mail or telephone only. Mastercard, Visa & Discover cards are 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.

Page updated 4/28/2014