BRAKIE BigDaddy A year ago I took a 30 minute ride on a B-17. It cost way more than that. It was worth every penny. I would rather take a ride in a B17( preferably a side gunner location) then ride behind the 611 any day or as far as that goes night too... Why? For me flying in a Flying Fortress would be a dream come true.
BigDaddy A year ago I took a 30 minute ride on a B-17. It cost way more than that. It was worth every penny.
I would rather take a ride in a B17( preferably a side gunner location) then ride behind the 611 any day or as far as that goes night too...
Why?
For me flying in a Flying Fortress would be a dream come true.
A few years ago, the B-25 Panchito was near my parent's house and my dad offered to take his father in law up if he wanted. Grandpap had been a USAAF mechanic during the war and often went up on check rides, so he'd been in a lot of planes in his day. But, at that point, he hadn't flown in something like 55 years and my dad sort of wanted to see him fly one last time (he passed away around seven years later). His response: naw, I've been in a B-25 before.
For the two of them to go up, it was going to be something like $1300.
The "Blue Ridge Special" trip from Spencer to Asheville and back to Spencer (NC) is an all day trip. Typicaly there is a layover in Asheville with bus service to the local restraunts.
Even as an T&E employee for Norfolk Southern, I can't get free tickets. But I have crewed these trains many times and enjoy talking with the riders.
BigDaddyA year ago I took a 30 minute ride on a B-17. It cost way more than that. It was worth every penny.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
I rode the J in the 80's when the prices were allot more reasonable. Today's prices are just way too high. No riding for me. Being on a limited income now that I am retired they just priced me out.
Subsidized. Not the J.
yougottawantaLast night I was talking to MOH and discussing riding the J when it comes to Va.I thought maybe we can book a seat at the most for $100.
(J) Train, same $2.50 as usual...
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
In September of 2012 I went on all three segments of IRM's Nebraska Zephyr excursion (Chicago to Galesburg, Galesburg to Quincy and return, and Galesburg back to Chicago).
Each segment also included a meal - Breakfast at your seat, lunch and dinner prepared on-board in the dining car.
I don't recall how much the total cost was, but ISTR that it was one hundred and something for each segment in coach. Well worth it, as both a fund-raiser for the continued presevation of the Zephyr, and for the bragging rights!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiNjLHoLuAE
BigDaddyA year ago I took a 30 minute ride on a B-17. It cost way more than that. It was worth every penny. Here is the view from the sun roof:
Henry - a little over 70 years ago, you had a good chance of having this view free of charge
I find the prices quoted outrageous. An all day steam trip runs to about $ 150 in my neck of the woods, which is a little more than regular train fare. Over 4 times that much is insane!
hornblower JaBear nailed it with insurnace costs. ATSF 3751 rarely gets out anymore because of certain RAILFANS who demonstrate their inability to behave around the tracks when this loco travels. This stupidity has caused insurance rates to skyrocket ruining the fun for everyone.
JaBear nailed it with insurnace costs. ATSF 3751 rarely gets out anymore because of certain RAILFANS who demonstrate their inability to behave around the tracks when this loco travels. This stupidity has caused insurance rates to skyrocket ruining the fun for everyone.
Actually that insurance doesn't cover non-passengers this is why you see track supervisors and railroad police covering the crowd of onlookers. I've seen City Police at service stops monitoring the crowd as well as supervisors..
Now the real issue.
Enter the general public with their cameras and kids in tow.. What these nut jobs do reflects on the Railfan community and the railfans gets blame because you can't tell the fans from the nut jobs. Not saying all railfans are responsible but,showing how the general pubic can ruin everything including a well discipline photo line..
That is another thing on my bucket list. And they're always here, every June, at the annual WWII Days. I watch the bombers and fighters fly over my house every summer.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
A year ago I took a 30 minute ride on a B-17. It cost way more than that. It was worth every penny. Here is the view from the sun roof:
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Hornblower
Think Insurance Costs!!!!
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Considering these are all day roundtrips, the price doesn't seem too high.
A comparable trip on Amtrak is about the same price.
You can ride behind steam locomotives for much less (and much shorter trips) at places like Strasburg RR. In fact a day at Strasburg could include both a ride and the Pennsyvania RR Museum for $21 (Strasburg RR website).
Paul
Do you mean the J class steam N&W steam engine? It came to Manassas last summer and I thought I saw tickets a bit lower than what you quoted but yeah, pretty pricy. Back when I was a grad student at Bloomington Indiana (IU) the Nickle Plate steam engine came to town and I got to ride behind it out to the Tulip Tresle and back.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
I ponied up for a rode behind NKP 765 when it came through last summer. One, because it was rare mileage that hadn't seen a passenger train since before Conrail, two because, it's not something you get to do more than once. Skip a few hobby purchases and save up for it. It's worth it. I do want to ride behind the J, but now they are finally bringing T1 2102 back to servers (and another group is doing 2100 - I am just salivating at the thought of them getting together and running a doubleheader just like the famour Reading Rail Rambles in the 50's and 60's...I don't care what a ticket costs, I WILL be on somethign like that if it happens)
The only real disappointment is that the cars are all more modern and air conditioned - ok, nice to be out of the heat, but no smell of smoke, no hearing the engine work. There were no photo runbys because NS wouldn;t allow it, and only on a few curves was it possible to catch a glimpse of the loco thundering away up front.
It surely depends on costs, grants and other support from government, the mandate, and on ridership. In the case of the Alberni Pacific 15 km ride to the McLean's Steam Sawmill, the round trip is about CDN$30 for an adult. Or, about 16 cents US. Worth the drive up.
In all seriousness, most of the 4-8-4 excursions have a modern large steamer to run and to maintain, but also the more modern and larger/heavier coaches. They also go a lot further than about 8 miles. And back again.
Fan trips behind steam are expensive! It is the same here in the Midwest: The cost to ride fan trips behind Milw 261 are not cheap. A shorter train ride may not be less expensive - There is still the fixed cost to consider.
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
Last night I was talking to MOH and discussing riding the J when it comes to Va.I thought maybe we can book a seat at the most for $100. I reviewed the website and low and behold the prices for the rides for "The Blue Ridge Special" Spencer NC to Asheville NC in April were crazy expensive. For example coach class $169, deluxe coach $219, Dome an astounding $419 and club car $609 all of these per person !
Question The NC trips seem to be all day there and back rides. Maybe it is more expensive because of that ?? The runs coming up in Va which have not gone on sale yet seem to be much shorter. Has anyone riden the J in the Va area last year and what was teh approximate cost they were listed for ?
Thanks in advance for your replies
YGW