MNCR Rare Mileage Trip - Beacon Line - 9/12

F's are very doubtfull, since MNCR has a agreement with either city or EPA to no longer use non dual modes on reveneu trains.
The FL-9's had all third rail gear disabled and on most engines removed almost 4 years ago.
Even an Excursion is a revenue train, besides the F units have not pulled a longer train in a few years and HEP turbo's are most likely plugged.
putting F units on this train would be asking for HEP failure and unhappy customers. you never know maybe the trip gets the New Haven Gennies, they can usualy find them for company trips so it should be no problem.

I heard there will NOT be Fs on this trip. I heard they will try to use 2 NH Gennies.

Well there goes my only reason for wanting to ride this trip. I'll wait for the proposed ACMU trip later on- if they sub with M-7's, well then, I give up.

-otto-

The engines used on this trip should not be a big item for anybody. It is a
unique opportunity to ride a substantial stretch of track that has neigher
passenger or freight service on it and yet it is still useable. How much
longer this will continue seems to be a question for me. Eventuallly the
line or a portion of it may well become exempted track which will prevent
any further passenger operations over it.
If you have not ridden this line in the past, you should definately do it, you
will not be sorry. It has grades the likes of no other lines south of the
Boston and Albany and scenery that you will enjoy.
I'll bet the railroad will go out of their way to insure a pleasant trip too.
I am still thinking about traveling up from Florida to ride this trip.
As for the "F" units, go ride the shuttles, it will cost less and you can still
enjoy it.
I do not think it would be a good idea to use FL-9's on this trip, they are
old and may not be up to handling a heavy train over the grades in
locations where relief engines are not available and there are not even
sidings anymore.
GO and ENJOY the trip, you will NOT be sorry.
Noel Weaver

Noel is rigtht... this is a rare mileage trip... but the F's were personally an added incentive for me to ride.

-otto-

ahh come on Otto - how bout spending the day with others from the forum?? thats not incentive enough???? LOL

Otto,

I see where you are coming from! You are a big FL-9 fan like I was a big U-34CH fan...You hold them dear to your heart! Pick a date and we should get together and ride behind the F's on the Danbury or Upper Harlem Lines.....

Another question....Why didn't Metro-North ever sponsor a farewell to the FL9 trip???? Any NRHS groups interested in staffing something like that??

Steve

I would love to be able to take this trip, thought the price tag is a bit much. Also the fact that it leaves GCT at like 8am. But all the it moot as I don't live anywhere near NYC anymore. But it sure would be cool to ride the Beacon line.

Eric

Well, $75.00 might sound a little high but suppose you save your $75.00
and do not go and then on here or somewhere else you hear that a bridge
suffered fire or washout damage or the track somewhere, anywhere is
declared exempted track and presto, no more fantrips at $75.00 or $300.00 or any other price for that matter. Down the road, you will regret
that you did not do it when you could. In my opinion, this line will not be
available for this kind of a trip forever, do it now while you can.
I have to wonder how many people on these forums regret not having
ridden to Maybrook, Pittsfield, Winsted and countless other places when
they could have.
In my case, there were trips that I wish I had ridden when I had a chance
to, the Catskill Mountain Branch to Oneonta, the Maine Central from
Portland to St. Johnbury are two in particular. Several others come to
mind too.
I do not think the cost is unreasonable in terms of the costs today of
operating trips of this nature. If Metro-North was not involved as the
railroad in this trip, it would likely cost much more than $75.00.
Don't skip a meal to do it but skip an automobile trip, a tank of gas or two,
a couple of rolls of film, or something else if necessary to do it but DO IT
while you still can.
Noel Weaver

Noel,
I would shell out hte $75 for all the reason you stated. The reason I'm not going is I just moved to CA, from Texas. So if I was in the NY/NJ area, I'd go for sure. But my point was that $75 did seem high, and what is the price for first class? I think it was just more of a shock, and it's going to keep idlely courious people away.

Eric

200 mile trip for $75 ?? that comes to 2.66666 cents per mile , kind of cheap since official mileage expenses for cars is 36 cents per mile ??
and a vist to a museum is part of it ..
its not going to get any cheaper not now or in future

It has been a week since anything has appeared on here about this trip.
Has anyone seen any announcement other than here concerning this
operation? Has anything appeared in any of the magazines yet?
Any flyers around?
Does anybody know where to order or buy tickets?
Noel Weaver

Why don't you check the first page of this thread - the first post has all the information you need to book tickets.

Contact group sales at MNRR - they will give you all the details you need.

The trip is indeed happening.

Kevin

I booked a couple of seats on the observation car last week, and the group tour operator told me that only 20 seats were left in each of the two obs. cars. Going fast!

NH Chris

only 20 seats were left in each of the two obs. cars.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but these cars don't have too many seats to begin with.