NYCSHS proudly offers New York Central Railroad Excursion Trips of the Century! In conjunction with our Annual Meeting, to be held on April 26-29, 2007 at Buffalo, NY, we are arranging for the rental of two original NYC RR passenger cars:
- Pullman Observation "Hickory Creek," built in 1948 and utilized on the 20th Century Limited
- NYC Business Car #3, which was originally built for Harold S. Vanderbilt, the last of the Vanderbilts to direct the NYC; and was later utilized by NYC management.
These cars have been lovingly restored and upgraded by their respective new owners, and meet all Amtrak standards for high speed main line service. These cars are planned to be added to the rear of regularly scheduled Amtrak Empire Service trains, affording a rare and high class view of the former NYC. A Society Board Member will be on board for each trip, to coordinate, communicate, assist the car attendants and handle any issues that may arise.
EXCURSION NOTES: Amtrak Empire Service trains do offer snack service enroute. We are also arranging for limited food and beverage service on board the cars. All tickets for these excursions are offered as separate One Way Fares, good for one single trip between the points listed. Anyone who chooses to board or debark at intermediate Amtrak stations may do so, but the fare covers one seat for one person for the entire ride. Tickets are not transferable except at the Society's discretion. THESE EXCURSIONS WILL ONLY OPERATE IF THEY ARE FULLY SUBSCRIBED AND PAID FOR BY FEBRUARY 1, 2007. In the event that these trips cannot be operated all payments will be fully refunded.
FARES:
- NYP to NFL, NFL to NYP - one way in either direction on either car $250.00.
- NFL to ALB, ALB to NFL - one way in either direction $175.00.
Convention Round Trip Discount Tickets NFL-ALB and return to NFL $300.00.
Priority consideration for seating will be given to those who purchase a round trip. When ordering tickets, please use the form attached, indicating the Day, Car and Trip Route desired; such as: Friday April 27, HC NYP - NFL. Seating will be VERY LIMITED, and due to an expected heavy and early demand, you may wish to submit a second and / or third choice of train trips. Please indicate your first and alternative choices clearly. Since these trips are an adjunct activity of the New York Central System Historical Society and its 2007 Annual Meeting, ticket subscriptions will be confirmed in this order based on the date of the postmark.
SCHEDULE:
- Thursday, April 26: Hickory Creek will be on the rear of Amtrak Train #283, departing NYP (New York Penn Station) at 10:45 AM and arriving at NFL (Niagara Falls) at 8:30 PM. Shuttle transportation to the Grand Island Convention Hotel will be provided.
- Friday, April 27: Hickory Creek will operate on a "Mohawk Round Trip" on Train # 280, departing NFL at 4:05 AM and arriving ALB (Albany/Rensselaer) at 10:45 AM. Hickory Creek will then return on Train #285 departing ALB at 4:25 PM returning to NFL at 11:00 PM. During the layover, there will be time for lunch and a planned tour of the Amtrak Facility.
- Saturday, Sunday April 28,29: Convention, Hickory Creek will not operate.
- Monday, April 30: Hickory Creek will operate on the return trip on Train #286 departing NFL at 9:05 AM and arriving NYP at 6:40 PM. Shuttle transportation from the Grand Island Convention Hotel to the NFL Station will be provided.
Verification of Membership and / or Paid Convention Registration will be required. Confirmation of successful orders will be made shortly after the close out date - OR when fully subscribed - by email or postal service. Tickets will be forwarded within 30 days. Checks accompanying unsuccessful ticket orders will be destroyed unless a SASE - Self Addressed Stamped Envelope - has been provided for the return. Please note that the Car Owners and the NYCSHS are not responsible for any delays or schedule changes.
The Society's 2007 calendar is SOLD OUT. Access to a wide variety of photograph collections enab;es the Society to again present an excellent selection of high quality images. The front cover features a pair of F-M "Erie Built" diesel units, led by #4400, on an eastbound passenger train in Chicago, IL (Photo by Bob Fedderson). On the back cover shows a Class H-5 Mikado on a local freight near Brookville, IN (Photo by Richard Baldwin).
Inside the calendar are photographs of Class J-3a #5451 at Harmon, NY in 1953, EMD GP-7 #5783 at Bach, MI in 1954, Class L-2d #2936 and Class S-1b #6015 on a freight train at Lawrenceburg Jct., IN in 1956, NYC&HR Class L electric locomotive #6000 near Scotia, NY in 1904, Baldwin passenger diesel units at Collinwood, OH in 1956, Class S-1b #6001 at Elkhart, IN in 1955, GE U-30B diesel unit #2865 at Chicago, IL in 1969, Class J-3a $5424 at Gary, IN in 1955, Class K-3c Pacific #60 on a Peoria & Eastern passenger train near Pekin, IL in 1941, Class L-2a 4-8-2 at Elkhart, IN, Alco RS-3 diesel #8275 on an empty milk train near Amsterdam, NY, TA&G 2-8-4 (ex B&A class A-1b #1424) at Chattanooga, TN in 1952, class H-6a Mikado #6397 at Stoneboro, PA in 1952.
