All Aboard for another Steam-Powered Mass Bay RRE Excursion!
VALLEY RAILROAD
TOUR OF THE LINE & PHOTO SPECIAL
Essex, CT - Old Saybrook - Haddam & Return
Saturday, June 19, 2010 ONLY!!
Join the Mass Bay Railroad Enthusiasts for a "Tour of the Line" of Connecticut's Valley Railroad aboard a steam-powered special passenger train. We will cover ALL of the railroad’s currently operable track from its junction with Amtrak's Northeast Corridor "Shore Line" in Old Saybrook, CT to its northern end at Goodspeeds yard in Haddam, CT.
Our train will depart from the Valley RR’s station in Essex, CT at 5:30 PM behind their 2-8-2 #40 (Alco/Brooks, 1920, ex- Aberdeen & Rockfish). The train will first back down the four-mile "freight-only" line to Old Saybrook, then will run forward through Essex and Chester to the north end of the track, 0.5 mi. north of the Rte. 82 crossing. Our train will return to Essex at about 8:30 PM. We will make photo stops along the way, including a meet with VRR's Essex Clipper Dinner Train. Our train will consist of VRR's restored open window coaches and the parlor car Great Republic, in which seats are available for a modest additional fare. Current Mass Bay RRE members are eligible for reduced fares.
After our trip, tour participants are invited to photograph our locomotive #40 being put out to the pit track.
Our Valley Railroad special train will run ONE DAY ONLY, rain or shine. We will assign seats by car only. Food service will not be available on board this train, but passengers may bring their own food if desired. The Valley Railroad reserves the right to alter schedules and to substitute equipment.
All sales are final and tickets are not refundable. Alcoholic beverages and smoking will not be permitted aboard this train. Tickets will be mailed to you about 10 days prior to the trip. We will send driving directions to the departure location with your tickets. Please notify us if special accommodations (ie, handicap seating, etc.) are required.
SHOP TOUR
The Valley Railroad has invited trip participants to a guided tour of their engine house at Essex, where the Valley’s newly-acquired 2-8-2 #3025 (Tangshan Locomotive, 1989, formerly Knox & Kane RR No. 58) is being rebuilt. This special tour starts at 3:30 PM.
BOSTON VAN CONNECTION
Our chartered will offer a direct, guaranteed connection to our excursion in Essex, CT, with convenient departures from Boston’s South Station at 1:00 PM, the Riverside MBTA station at 1:15 PM and the Park & Ride lot of the Mass Pike at Exit 10A in Millbury at 1:45 PM. The direct van connection will return to Boston at approximately 10:30 PM.
THE SABINO CONNECTION
Our deluxe van tour package offers an opportunity to ride the Steamship Sabino at Mystic Seaport. Sabino is the last Maine coastal vessel powered by a three-cylinder, coal-fired steam engine! Our special 30-minute cruise will depart from the Mystic Seaport dock at 12:30 PM sharp. The all-inclusive tour package fare includes round-trip van transportation, Sabino and Valley Railroad coach fares, and a box lunch from Gerard’s of Dorchester. The tour departs from South Station at 10:00 AM and Route 128 Station in Westwood at 10:25 AM and will return to Boston at approximately 10:30 PM.
FARES:
Adult MBRRE Member Coach Fare........................................................ $39*
Adult Non-member Coach Fare...............................................................$44
Child Coach Fare (ages 12 & under) .......................................................$29
"Great Republic" Parlor Car Supplemental Fare........................................$20
Boston Direct Van Connection................................................................$35
Sabino Deluxe Van Tour Package ..........................................................$89
Sabino Cruise-only fare............................................................................$7
*
One discounted seat per member, except as noted in our Member Benefits policy.
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 our information line at 978-470-2066, 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.
