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Houston to New York City
-with a day in New Orleans-
Ride the Sunset Limited & Crescent
Tuesday April 2 to Friday April 5, 2024
Join us for an informal, no frills ONE WAY day trip as we reposition the Berlin from Houston to New York City (via New Orleans) prior to our SOLAR ECLIPSE TRIP - which needs to sell out (we're getting close) for this positioning trip to occur. The low price point for this trip is only $1800 per bedroom (Single or Double Occupancy) and On Board Services will be limited. Space are being sold by the Bedroom (Single or Double Occupancy are priced the same) on a first-come, first-served basis (see below). Meals en route will be Picnic Class (otherwise known as Bring Your Own Food), however we will supply coffee, soda, water and light snacks enroute. Bringing your own food is the preferred option. You may also choose to utilize whatever Amtrak Food Service Car happens to be available for meals on your own. Be aware that there may not be direct access from our car to the regular Amtrak consist.
Positioning moves are a great way to “try out” private rail travel without breaking the bank. Trip segments may be available upon request.
ITINERARY
Day 1 (Tuesday, April 2)
10:10am: Plan to arrive at Amtrak's Houston Station one hour before the scheduled arrival at 11:10am of Amtrak Sunset Limited Train No 2. A member of our crew will assist you boarding AFTER our car is attached to the Amtrak consist AND the Conductor gives permission to board the private car.
12:10pm: Depart Houston on the rear of Amtrak Sunset Limited Train No 2. Following a brief safety review and room tour, you can enjoy the passing views.
5:00pm (approx): Dinner on your own or transfer to whatever Amtrak Food Service Car happens to be available.
9:40pm: Arrive in New Orleans where passengers may overnight on the Berlin.
Evening/Morning: Amtrak will service the train overnight and should park the Berlin at the bumper at New Orleans Union Terminal.
Day 2 (Wednesday, April 3)
8:00am: Coffee will be available. Feel free to sleep in!
9:00am: (approx) Breakfast snacks available.
All Day: Free Time to enjoy exploring New Orleans on your own. Lunch and Dinner are also on your own at one of Nawlins' many fine restaurants.
6:30 - 9:00pm: Complimentary Beverage and Snack Service provided.
Evening: Time to retire for the evening in your private room. Sometime overnight, Amtrak will attach the Berlin to our departing train, the Crescent.
Day 3 (Thursday, April 4)
8:00am: Coffee will be available, or feel free to sleep in!
8:15am: Passengers to be on board prior to departure.
9:00am: (approx) Breakfast snacks available
9:15am: Depart New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal. Our train will cross the Lake Ponchartrain causeway north of the city. Click here for a video view of Lake Ponchartrain from the train.
All Day: Free Time to enjoy the passing scenery, read a book or simply relax.
1:00pm: (approx) Lunch on your own or in the Amtrak Food Service Car.
Afternoon: Complimentary Beverage and Snack Service provided.
5:00pm: Dinner on your own or in the Amtrak Food Service Car.
6:30 - 9:00pm: Complimentary Beverage and Snack Service provided.
Evening: Time to relax in your room as you retire for the evening. Sleep well.
Day 4 (Friday, April 5) The times listed below are flexible & open to change.
8:00am: Coffee will be available. Feel free to sleep in!
9:00am: (approx) Breakfast snacks available
All Day: Free Time to enjoy the passing scenery, read a book or simply relax.
1:00pm: (approx) Lunch on your own or at the Food Service Car.
Afternoon: Complimentary Beverage and Snack Service provided.
5:48pm: Arrive at the Moynihan Train Hall at New York Penn Station in time to enjoy Dinner at one of NYC's many excellent restaurants.
NOTE: Amtrak does not permit passengers to stay on-board overnight while in the busy NYC Sunnyside Rail Yard (we asked and received a NO). Therefore, you would be on your own for overnight accommodations.
---IMPORTANT NOTES AND DISCLAIMERS---
Sleeping Accommodations: Please note that rooms with an upper berth will require climbing a ladder
Luggage: 1 small/medium-sized roll-aboard bag and small carry-on bag (due to limited capacity on the train cars, large pieces of luggage are not permitted)
Age: Must be 21 or older to participate
Itinerary: Exact timing of meals and activities is subject to change
Clothing: No open-toed shoes are permitted outside of your sleeping quarters
Smoking: Smoking of any kind (cigarettes, e-cigs, etc) is strictly prohibited
Departure Times: While Deep River Rail Ventures, LLC will notify all guests of any departure time changes made by Amtrak, you may check www.amtrak.com for real-time updates
Waiver: All passengers must certify they have read and will comply with the Amtrak Private Car Safety Manual. Click here to review the Amtrak Private Car Safety Manual.
Passenger Registration Form: After registering, please fill out the passenger registration form located in your confirmation email in order to attend the experience
COVID-19: Documentation of current negative COVID status is required within 24 hours of boarding
Accessibility: Due to the design of these historic railcars, which were not built with handicap accessibility in mind, ADA access is restricted. For specific questions, please contact [email protected].
Pets: No pets or service animals are permitted
Travel Insurance: Separate travel insurance is encouraged as Amtrak can make unexpected changes resulting in delays
Rail Schedule Changes: Deep River Rail Ventures, LLC reserves the right to substitute railcars as required to meet current Amtrak requirements
FARE: $1800 per bedroom (Single or Double Occupancy). This discounted rate helps defray the Amtrak fee (approx $9K) to get the BERLIN to NYC. Room selection will be on a first come / first served basis determined by when payment is received. All proceeds go toward the restoration and continued operation of the BERLIN SLEEPING CAR. Thank you!
PAYMENT - Payment can be made by Check or Money Order made out to Deep River Rail Ventures, LLC and mailed to Kevin Moore, Deep River Rail Ventures, LLC 167 Cobblestone Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15237. Payment can also be made via Zelle.
Questions or for payment by Zelle contact:
Kevin Moore 814-229-6354 or [email protected]
POSITIONING TRIP #4
Boston to Albany NY on the Lake Shore Limited
Friday August 16, 2024
Join BLUE RIDGE CLUB & BERLIN for an informal, no frills ONE WAY day trip as we reposition the Blue Ridge Club and Berlin from Boston MA to Albany NY following a private charter. The low price point for this trip is only $250 per person, and On Board Services will be limited. Tickets are being sold on a first-come, first-served basis with no reserved rooms or seats. (NOTE: For passengers that desire the privacy of their own room, arrangements must be made in advance and a premium fare will be charged.) Meals en route will be Picnic Class (otherwise known as Bring Your Own Food), however we will supply coffee, soda and water en route. Positioning moves are a great way to “try out” private rail travel without breaking the bank. C’mon – you’ve always wanted to. Give it a try while these Heritage Railcars are still running on Amtrak!
ITINERARY
Our Train #449, the Lake Shore Limited, is scheduled to depart from Boston's South Station at 12:50pm. Travelling west from Boston, the route passes through Worcester, Springfield, Pittsfield and the picturesque eastern Berkshire Mountains on the way to Albany, with scheduled arrival at Albany Rensselaer Station at 6:10pm.
FARE: $250 per person
PAYMENT - We accept payment by ZELLE (704-914-5457), and ACH.
Questions? contact: [email protected], or for payment by Zelle (704-914-5457)
POSITIONING TRIP #6
Albany NY to Chicago IL - Lake Shore Limited
along the Water Level Route
May 28-29, 2024
Join BLUE RIDGE CLUB for an informal, no frills ONE WAY day trip as we reposition the car from Albany NY to Chicago IL prior to a private charter. The low price point for this trip is only $1500 per person double occupancy, and On Board Services will be limited. Tickets are being sold on a first-come, first-served basis with no reserved rooms or seats. (NOTE: For passengers that desire the privacy of their own room, arrangements must be made in advance and a premium fare will be charged.) Meals en route will be Picnic Class (otherwise known as Bring Your Own Food), however we will supply coffee, soda and water en route. Positioning moves are a great way to “try out” private rail travel without breaking the bank. C’mon – you’ve always wanted to. Give it a try while these Heritage Railcars are still running on Amtrak!
ITINERARY
Our Train #49, Lake Shore Limited, is scheduled to depart Albany Rensselaer Station at 7:05m, with scheduled arrival in Chicago Union Station at 9:02pm.
FARE: $1500 per person, double occupancy
PAYMENT - We accept payment by ZELLE (704-914-5457), and ACH.
Questions? contact: [email protected], or for payment by Zelle (704-914-5457)
POSITIONING TRIP #7
Chicago to New York City - Amtrak Cardinal
along the scenic New River Gorge
June 4-5, 2024
Join BLUE RIDGE CLUB for an informal, no frills ONE WAY day trip as we reposition the car from Chicago IL to New York City following a private charter. The low price point for this trip is only $2000 per person double occupancy, and On Board Services will be limited. Tickets are being sold on a first-come, first-served basis with no reserved rooms or seats. Meals en route will be Picnic Class (otherwise known as Bring Your Own Food), however we will supply coffee, soda and water en route. Positioning moves are a great way to “try out” private rail travel without breaking the bank. C’mon – you’ve always wanted to. Give it a try while these Heritage Railcars are still running on Amtrak!
ITINERARY
Our Train #50, Cardinal, is scheduled to depart Chicago Union Station at 5:55pm, with scheduled arrival in New York Penn Station at 10:23pm.
FARE: $2,000 per person, double occupancy
PAYMENT - We accept payment by ZELLE (704-914-5457), and ACH.
Questions? contact: [email protected], or for payment by Zelle (704-914-5457)
Departures Board
Trip Name Destination Start Date
Blue Ridge Rambler Roanoke, Virginia 5/19/24
Berkshire-Hudson Wayfarer Boston to Albany (one-way from Boston) 5/21/24
Berkshire-Hudson Wayfarer Albany to New York City (one-way from Albany) 5/22/24
Journey to Pullman Chicago, Illinois (segment and one-way fares available) 5/28/24
The Washingtonian Washington, D.C. (one-way from New York City) 6/08/24
jhdeasy wrote: ↑Sat Jun 15, 2024 6:45 am AAPRCO held their 46th annual convention in Canandaigua NY this week. Seven private cars are participating: New York Central 3, Blue Ridge Club, Colonial Crafts, Northern Dreams, Northern Sky, Pacific Island, Promontory Point.Terminates in Albany. Built the train last weekend and it left last Tuesday for the start of its round trip. If I remember the switch list correctly Promontory Point and the Northerns are going back on AMT49 tomorrow. Colonial Crafts is out on 244 Sunday, Pacific Island Monday. NYC 3 and Blue Ridge Club currently call Albany home.
On Saturday June 15, the convention special train will depart Canandaigua for Syracuse (Solvay Yard) on the Finger Lakes Railway, then continue east on CSX as an Amtrak special to ALB.
John_Perkowski wrote: ↑Sat Jun 15, 2024 1:39 pm Nice to see PROMONTORY POINT (nee LOBLOLLY PINE IIRC) Running again.Had a chance to chat with who I think was the owner last week while we were running around the car and spotting it. Complimented him on how well things were working. Being an engineer I like when things stop, some of the varnish fleet can be questionable at times. Conductor liked that the pins dropped on either end of the car and the hand brake held. Again in dealing with private varnish you just never know.
Railjunkie wrote: ↑Sun Jun 16, 2024 9:57 amYou may be aware that Amtrak certified private cars are subject to an annual inspection. The inspection covers many things, and braking/stopping functions (single car air test, and hand brake apply/release test) are part of the annual inspection. I have always believed that many PV's have had their braking pressure adjusted to use a lighter force (for example --- a J16 relay valve on 26C or 26CDW air brake system) when braking. That seems to reduce problems (such as shelling and spalling) with wheel sets.John_Perkowski wrote: ↑Sat Jun 15, 2024 1:39 pm Nice to see PROMONTORY POINT (nee LOBLOLLY PINE IIRC) Running again.Had a chance to chat with who I think was the owner last week while we were running around the car and spotting it. Complimented him on how well things were working. Being an engineer I like when things stop, some of the varnish fleet can be questionable at times. Conductor liked that the pins dropped on either end of the car and the hand brake held. Again in dealing with private varnish you just never know.
