Autumn Train Press Release

[NW Mailing List]

*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
*CONTACT:  Mark Brown
                      Information & Communication Specialist
                      (704) 636-2889, ext 240

*Excursion Travelers Can Enjoy Civil War History and a Great Harvest
Festival with Trips Planned to **Appomattox**, **Va.** and **Toccoa**, **Ga.
***

SPENCER –  An extremely popular offering from the N.C.Transportation Museum and
the Watauga Valley Railroad Historical Society & Museum is just a few
months from rolling down the tracks. This year’s Autumn Train Excursions
will travel to Appomattox, Va.Saturday, Nov. 3 and Toccoa, Ga. Sunday, Nov.
4.
These excursions provide the rare opportunity to take a daylight train trip
on vintage rail cars through beautiful countryside during the autumn
leaf-peeping season.  Passengers can enjoy the romance of riding the rails
and with great destinations.  Tickets for the museum’s Autumn Train
Excursions typically sell out and some options are already
unavailable.  Those wishing to purchase are urged to act quickly.
These one-day trips are presented by the N.C. Transportation Museum
Foundation and the Watauga Valley Chapter of the National Railway
Historical Society and act as fundraisers for both organizations.
The Virginia Autumn Special will depart from Spencer, N.C., with additional
passenger pick-up at the Greensboro Amtrak Station. The train will travel
through the northern portion of the North Carolina Piedmont before crossing
into central Virginia. Passengers will be treated to spectacular views as
the train crests the White Oak Mountainand crosses the Dan and Roanoke
Rivers on its way to Lynchburg, where it will turn east toward Appomattox.
Passengers will disembark at the restored Appomattox Station, once a stop
for the South Side Railroad in the late 1800s and now home to the Appomattox
 Visitor Information Center. This charming small town holds claim to one of
the most significant moments in U.S.history—the surrender of General Robert
E. Lee to end the Civil War and reunited a divided nation.
Virginia Autumn Special passengers can enjoy the historic shops and
restaurants of Appomattox’s quaint downtown, or, for a nominal additional
fee, explore either the Appomattox Court HouseNational Historical Park, or
the Museum of the Confederacy’s newly-opened Appomattox site. Shuttle buses
will provide transportation to both sites. We strongly recommend that
passengers planning to visit either of these sites pack a lunch,
pre-purchase a box lunch, or plan to purchase lunch on the café car, due to
time limitations at the destination.
The Georgia Autumn Special will depart from Spencer, N.C., with additional
passenger pick up at the Spartanburg Amtrak Station before traversing what
was once Southern Railway’s main line, running from Washington, D.C. to
Atlanta, Ga. Passengers will enjoy the gala fall colors of Carolinas’
rolling foothills, before crossing the 100-foot Seneca River trestle
spanning Lake Hartwell to arrive at Toccoa.
Nestled into the foothills of the Southern Appalachian Mountains, the
historic town will be bustling with activity during the 30th annual Harvest
Festival. Passengers will have approximately three hours to enjoy the
festival, which features handmade, handcrafted and home-grown items from
more than 200 vendors, as well as delicious regional foods, great
entertainment on two stages, children and youth activities, buggy rides and
much more.
Toccoa Falls, named for the Cherokee word “Toccoah” meaning beautiful, is a
must see. Located on the campus of ToccoaCollege, the 186-foot falls are 26
feet taller than Niagara Falls. Shuttle buses will be making a continuous
loop between downtown Toccoa and Toccoa Falls.
Several seating options and pricing are available for excursion
passengers.  Prices are the same for each destination.
Tourist Class features the convenience and comforts of modern Amtrak cars.
Each car has a center aisle with two adjustable seats and a wide window on
each side. This seating area provides convenient access to the Souvenir and
Cafe cars.  Tourist class seating is $150 per person.
Deluxe Coach Class passenger cars feature spacious seating with adjustable
seat backs and leg rests, as well as large windows for better viewing.
Lunch will be served in vintage lounge and dining cars. Light snacks and
beverages are also provided. Deluxe Coach Class seating is $185 per
person.   This option is already sold out for ourAppomattox trip.
Premium First Class passengers will be seated in restored, vintage lounge
or parlor cars. Each car is configured differently with a variety of
seating options.  Compartment seating is also available for small groups
(only available with phone orders.  Fare includes continental breakfast,
newspapers, light snacks and dinner. Premium first Class seating is $260
per person   Compartment seating is also available for groups of two, three
or four at a reduced price. Compartment seating is only available with
phone orders.
Featuring two levels, Dome cars offer the best views of the passing
scenery. Windows stretch
across the walls and ceiling on the second level, providing a panoramic
view of the entire ride.
Tickets include a continental breakfast and newspapers on the journey plus
dinner on the return trip served in vintage lounge and dining cars. Dome
tickets are $295 per person.  This option is already sold out for our
Appomattox trip.
Passengers that do not have lunch included in their ticket package have the
option of a gourmet box lunch.  Delivered to your seat, passengers can save
time for shopping and sightseeing. Served in a souvenir tote, the meal
includes chicken salad on a croissant, pasta salad, fresh fruit, homemade
pound cake and a drink. Box lunches, available for $15 per person, should
be ordered in advance with your ticket purchase. Those taking advantage of
Saturday’s visit to the Appomattox Court House and Museum of the
Confederacy are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this option.
Tickets can be purchased by calling Sara Gettys at 704-636-2889 ext. 237 or
visiting online at www.nctrans.org.

   The North Carolina Transportation Museum Foundation and the Watauga
Valley Railroad Historical Society & Museum are non-profit organizations.


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