Passenger Trains > AAPRCO 2020 American Autumn Explorer

As we all do our part to self isolate and curtail travel during this global pandemic, there's no better time to indulge in a little armchair dreaming about the adventure that awaits us this fall on AAPRCO's American Autumn Explorer. 
 
Just imagine...Crisp mountain air. Rare mileage. Stunning fall foliage, Open platform riding, Fine dining, Good times with friends old and new.

Anticipating this scenic, special-train journey is just what you need right now to get you through the weeks of home confinement.  So go ahead!  Browse the itinerary below, and start making plans to join us in New England this September.

September 21
Settle into your on-board accommodations, greet old friends, and get ready for a relaxing and scenic journey.  The American Autumn Explorer departs Chicago Union Station at 8:30 in the evening, traveling overnight through Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania. 

September 22
You'll be enjoying breakfast Tuesday morning as we pass historic Buffalo Terminal on the way north to our first stop, Niagara Falls.  The schedule offers plenty of time to experience the natural wonder of the falls on a Maid of the Mist boat tour or to venture into Canada to test your luck at the casinos.

September 23
On Wednesday morning, we head south to Buffalo where we join the former New York Central Water Level Route, now the Amtrak main line.  From Buffalo, it's east to Utica.  We'll drop the Amtrak power and operate as a special train on the =12ptMohawk, Adirondack and Northern Railroad.  On the Mohawk, be sure to treat yourself to some =12ptfresh mountain air from the freedom of an open platform or window vestibule. =12ptRare mileage aficionados, take note!   At Remsen, New York, our special diverges to Lyons Falls and back over track that  hasn't seen a passenger train since the 1960's.  How's that for exceptional?!By late afternoon, we arrive in picturesque Thendara, New York, to tie up for the night.   Take a leisurely stroll through this classic New England community, and don't forget to stop in for a cocktail at the historic Van Aukins Inn.

September 24
Departing Thendara in the morning, we head back to Utica to pick up the Amtrak power.  Then its east to Schenectady, where we turn north on the former Delaware and Hudson, now Canadian Pacific.  By early evening, we arrive in Saratoga Springs, where we'll park through Friday. 

September 25
The only challenge you'll face in picturesque Saratoga Springs is choosing from among the many things to do.  Tour the famous horse track, take a boat tour on Lake George, visit historic Fort William Henry, or just pick a sidewalk bench and watch the world go by as you bask in the warm autumn sun.

September 26
On Saturday, we head north out of Saratoga Springs.  Traveling alongside cliffs and through tunnels, we trace the shores of Lake Champlain on one of the most scenic rail lines in the East.  Near Plattsburgh, we reverse south to Albany-Rensselaer.  While we pick up additional PVs joining us here, you'll have a full afternoon to explore Albany, capital of the Empire State.

September 27
Our Sunday morning departure from Albany takes us north to Whitehall and then east into beautiful Vermont.  At Rutland, we once again drop the Amtrak locomotives and operate north as a special train on the Vermont Rail System.  Step back out on the platform and take in the scenery.  Fall colors should be in full regalia as we make our way north.  By afternoon, we'll be parked in downtown Burlington within easy walking distance of the city's best restaurants and shops, as well as our conference hotel.

September 28 - 30
We will remain in Burlington for the next three days for AAPRCO's annual convention.  This is your chance to catch up on all the news from experts in the legislative and mechanical fields.   And stay tuned for future announcements on tours and excursions we have planned for you during your stay.

October 1
On Thursday morning, it's time to head back to Rutland to pick up Amtrak power for the return trip to Albany-Rensselaer.   We'll bid goodbye to our friends, and cars will depart on regularly scheduled Amtrak trains.   You are headed home, basking in the glow of another memorable AAPRCO convention and thanking yourself for the plans you made last Spring as you practiced social distancing, dreaming of good times to come!

Contact your favorite car owner for reservations or go to WWW.AAPRCO.COM to see which cars are offering space. 

How confident should anyone be that this trip will actually happen? If the COVID-19 crisis drags on, this is the sort of thing that could easily be declared "non-essential" even if other aspects of daily life approach normalcy.
 

toledopatch Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> How confident should anyone be that this trip will
> actually happen? If the COVID-19 crisis drags on,
> this is the sort of thing that could easily be
> declared "non-essential" even if other aspects of
> daily life approach normalcy.
>  
Capt obvious

Sheesh... the stimiulus funds haven't even beeen disbursed to Amtrak yet and people are already talking about ways to syphon some of it off to indulge a nostalgia hobby?  

Pulling those cars around has gotta cost fuel and unverified costs that the taxpayers souldn't have to shoulder.  

 

Sounds like a April fools day to me.

No it's not April fool. This was copied from the AAPRCO news letter.

AAPRCO pays for this trip and pays a lot.

Posted from Android

Why would tax payer dollars be involved in this? Pretty sure no stimulus money is involved here.   Car owners pay a fortune to Amtrak to run the trip. And passengers pay a high price for the privilege to ride. It's also good for the local economies in the towns where the train stops and stables. With no trips the last two years do to Amtrak's draconian PV regulations, lets hope the new Amtrak President is more PV friendly, the virus is stopped (if it's not stopped by then we are all screwed)  and the trip runs. I'm not booked this year do to other commitment's that may or may not happen. 

Molino Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Sheesh... the stimiulus funds haven't even beeen
> disbursed to Amtrak yet and people are already
> talking about ways to syphon some of it off to
> indulge a nostalgia hobby?  
>
> Pulling those cars around has gotta cost fuel and
> unverified costs that the taxpayers souldn't have
> to shoulder.  
>
You have no clue   

Apparances matter in politics.  So, let a privately owned rail car be seen being pulled by a taxpayer subsidized mode of travel while the country is trying to get on it's feet. Simply so a few well-heeled few can idulge their travel fantasy..

I'm sure everyone would think that's a swell idea.  

Molino Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Apparances matter in politics.  So, let a
> privately owned rail car be seen being pulled by a
> taxpayer subsidized mode of travel while the
> country is trying to get on it's feet. Simply so a
> few well-heeled few can idulge their travel
> fantasy..
>
> I'm sure everyone would think that's a swell
> idea.  

So don't ride, nor bad-mouth those who do.  These moves are VERY profitable for Amtrak and if people don't like the appearance of this, they need to get angry about something truly important.  Good gracious!

-John

jcaestecker Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Molino Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Apparances matter in politics.  So, let a
> > privately owned rail car be seen being pulled by
> a
> > taxpayer subsidized mode of travel while the
> > country is trying to get on it's feet. Simply so
> a
> > few well-heeled few can idulge their travel
> > fantasy..
> >
> > I'm sure everyone would think that's a swell
> > idea.  
>
> So don't ride, nor bad-mouth those who do.  These
> moves are VERY profitable for Amtrak and if people
> don't like the appearance of this, they need to
> get angry about something truly important.  Good
> gracious!
>
> -John

Bingo!

Posted from iPhone

jcaestecker Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Molino Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Apparances matter in politics.  So, let a
> > privately owned rail car be seen being pulled by
> a
> > taxpayer subsidized mode of travel while the
> > country is trying to get on it's feet. Simply so
> a
> > few well-heeled few can idulge their travel
> > fantasy..
> >
> > I'm sure everyone would think that's a swell
> > idea.  
>
> So don't ride, nor bad-mouth those who do.  These
> moves are VERY profitable for Amtrak and if people
> don't like the appearance of this, they need to
> get angry about something truly important.  Good
> gracious!
>
> -John

Exactly! Spot on John!