Category Archives: Announcements

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Announcements, FYI

The Steam Railroading Institute is planning a Valentine’s Day excursion

The Steam Railroading Institute’s Valentine Train Excursion is scheduled for Saturday – February 11, 2012.  It will leave the Steam Railroading Institute at 10 a.m. heading for Soaring Eagle Casino in Mount Pleasant, sponsored in part by Samuel Adams Brewery.

There are coach and first class tickets available. Coach includes cash bar, $20 in casino play and a $5 food voucher. First class seats are limited and will include all of the above with specials for you and your loved one.

Call (989) 399 7589 for tickets.  You must be 21 and over to attend this excursion.

STEAM RAILROADING INSTITUTE 405 Washington St. Owosso, Michigan 48867
Announcements, FYI

Track work effects Michigan train services Dec. 9&10

 Track work being performed in Chicago by Canadian National Railway will affect the Wolverine, Blue Water, Pere Marquette, Cardinal, Capitol Limited and Lake Shore Limited on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 9 and 10, as described below:

Friday, December 9

Wolverine Train 355: Pontiac • Chicago

  • Train 355, originating in Pontiac will terminate at Michigan City, where motorcoach service will be provided to Hammond-Whiting and Chicago.

 Saturday, December 10

Capitol Limited Train 29, Lake Shore Limited Train 49/449 and Cardinal Train 51 New York/Washington •Chicago

  • Trains 29, 49/449 and 51 may encounter delays of approximately 60 minutes arriving in Chicago.

Wolverine Trains 350, 351, 352, 353: Chicago •Pontiac

  • Train 350 will originate in New Buffalo. Motorcoach service will be provided from Chicago to New Buffalo. Note: The motorcoach will not serve Hammond-Whiting. Passengers traveling to Hammond-Whiting may make reservations for travel on Train 352.
  • Train 352 will operate according to an adjusted schedule, departing Chicago 45 minutes later at 1:00 p.m. and departing all remaining stations on the route 45 minutes later than the times shown in Amtrak printed timetables.
  • Trains 351 and 353 may encounter delays of approximately 60 minutes arriving in Chicago. Note: Train 353 will not make connections in Chicago with Train 30 or Train 383

Blue Water Trains 364 and 365: Chicago •Port Huron

  • Train 364 will operate according to an adjusted schedule, departing Chicago 75 minutes later at 5:25 p.m. and departing all remaining stations on the route 75 minutes later than the times shown in Amtrak printed timetables.
  • Train 365 may encounter delays of approximately 60 minutes arriving in Chicago

Pere Marquette Trains 370 and 371: Chicago •Grand Rapids

  • Pere Marquette Trains 370 and 371 will be cancelled. Motorcoach service will be provided at all stops on the route.

Check www.amtrak.com for the latest information before you begin your trip.

Announcements, News, Press Releases

Unique ‘Great Dome’ car adds seats and scenic views on selected dates

From an Amtrak Press Release:

Amtrak is operating all available railcars and locomotives on trains to and from the Chicago area in advance of the Thanksgiving holiday travel season. Fresh from fall colors trips to and from the East Coast, starting today the historic Amtrak “Great Dome” rail car will provide a unique opportunity to experience city and prairie views to and from Chicago as it adds extra seating capacity to super-size the busy trains.

The dome car features an upper level with windows on all sides – as well as overhead – to provide passengers with panoramic views. The dome section runs the full length of the car, a rare feature even when dome cars were more numerous on the nation’s railroads.

The dome car is scheduled to operate on the following Lincoln Service, Saluki/Illini and Wolverine Service trains to and from St. Louis, Carbondale and Detroit/Pontiac on the following dates: Trains 301 & 304 on Nov. 17, Nov. 19 and Nov. 25, Trains 303 & 306 on Nov. 18 and Nov. 26, Trains 391 & 392 on Nov. 21, Train 305 on Nov. 22, Trains 300 & 352 on Nov. 23, Train 351 on Nov. 24, Train 393 on Nov. 27 and Train 390 on Nov. 28.

Seats in the dome car are not reserved and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The heaviest single travel day of the year for Amtrak is the Wednesday before Thanksgiving which set a record last year of 134,230 passengers for the day. Amtrak also set a record last year by transporting 704,446 passengers for the holiday week. Amtrak anticipates similarly strong ridership for this year’s Thanksgiving travel.

From Nov. 23 to 25, passengers traveling on Amtrak long-distance trains will be offered a menu item of a traditional Thanksgiving meal featuring a fully-cooked turkey breast with gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce and side accompaniments. Pumpkin pie with whipped cream and maple walnuts will be offered as a dessert option.

Amtrak is working to make the holiday travel experience as pleasant as possible and encourages passengers to consider the attached holiday travel tips to help ensure a smooth trip.

About the “Great Dome” Car

The only remaining dome car in Amtrak service, car number 10031, is a Great Dome car previously used on the Chicago-Seattle Empire Builder when the train was operated by the Great Northern Railway and the Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad (later the Burlington Northern Railroad). It was built in 1955 by the Budd Company for the Great Northern and carried the name “Ocean View,” car number 1391. It was conveyed to Amtrak in 1971, with this car first being given the number 9361. It was renovated in 1985, renumbered 9300, and used in daily service on the Amtrak Auto Train to and from the Washington, D.C., and Orlando, Fla., areas through 1994. It was further refurbished in 1999, renumbered to 10031. This year, the “Ocean View” has been freshly re-painted in honor of Amtrak’s 40th Anniversary in the Amtrak Phase III paint scheme and wears stripes comprised of equal red, white and blue stripes, symbolic of Amtrak being America’s Railroad®.

Announcements, FYI, News

Conductors to Begin Scanning eTickets on Downeaster Service

From Amtrak:

In the next step toward a nationwide eTicketing system, conductors on the Downeaster this month began scanning “print anywhere” eTickets using handheld mobile device.

eTicketing provides significant benefits over traditional paper tickets. Passengers no longer have to pick up their tickets at a station, and they do not have to worry about keeping up with paper tickets that would have to be repurchased if lost. They also can more easily make changes to their trip itineraries while on the go.

For the company and crews, the shift to eTicketing means a reduction in paper usage and access to real-time passenger manifests, which will help the company better manage capacity and revenue.

This pilot project on the Downeaster is being conducted in partnership with the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA).

The rollout of eTicketing will continue on the Capitol Corridor, San Joaquin and City of New Orleans routes in early 2012, and is slated to be adopted nationwide by next summer.

Announcements, FYI, News

Niles Amtrak Depot lights up Dec. 3

From the Niles Star:

From 4:30 to 6 p.m.  Dec. 3, the Four Flags Garden Club will host its 20th annual Hometown Christmas Celebration at the Historic Amtrak Depot, 600 Dey St., Niles.

The impetus for this free, annual event is the last scene of the 1991 John Candy movie “Only the Lonely,” which was filmed at the depot on a warm summer night. To create a Christmas scene, the studio placed lights on the roofline and fake snow on the ground.  Many Niles locals served as  stand-ins.

After the filming, the studio left the lights behind and the garden club, along with community members campaigned to “Keep the Lights Burning.”

This was a fundraising endeavor to rewire the depot in order to use the lights, as the movie company had used portable generators.

Now, two sets of lights later — the most recent being energy-efficient LEDs — the event marks its 20th anniversary.

Everyone is invited to visit the depot to enjoy the holiday decorations, visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus and enjoy homemade cookies, cider and candy.

The depot interior and exterior will be decorated with fresh greens, window topiaries, wreaths and handmade ornaments on the Fraser fir tree donated by Pinecrest Christmas Tree Farm of Galien.

Entertainment will be provided by Lake Effect Winds, a woodwind quartet from St. Joseph, performing music ranging from classical to 20th century.

Niles Mayor Mike McCauslin will address the group, and community royalty will stop by.

A drawing will be held at 5:45 p.m. for two round- trip tickets, compliments of Amtrak, from Niles to Chicago for two lucky people.  The tickets are free, and you must be present to win.

The official lighting of the Depot outside lights will be at 6 p.m.

If anyone is interestedin learning more about the club, call Elaine at (269)  683-5292.