Thursday, October 28, 2010
Springdale last day
The last day in Springdale is one we will always remember. Micki & Kahuna joined in for the festivities. The TLC channel provides a weekly show called Nineteen and Counting. It features the Dugger family in their own reality family program. All three of us fell in love with the Dugger children. They reminded me of a modern day version of the "Waltons." Well mannered, considerate and very articulate. All the children are home schooled which allows the family to travel and include the adventures in their program. Six years ago several TV specials were done on the family which resulted in the current series which has been running for the past couple of years. The film crew told me it may be six or eight weeks before today's version gets edited and run for TV play time. It looked like the film crew was equally in love with the family and has become a part of their extended family.
As I visited the other train cars I was pleasantly surprised by a lady who said she had ridden on my Santa Fe train ride in May. That is the second time during our tour this year that previous passengers have been on hand to welcome us to their home States. The reunion photo is posted above.
I finally got a chance to inspect A&M caboose today. WOW! Leather captain chairs and hardwood floors make this a luxury coach. Air conditioning and a new heating system are soon to be added. This will probably be one of the finest cabooses in the country. Brenda at A&M said they get as many request for caboose rides as they do for 1st class.
We hit the road at 2:30 p.m. and will try to make it back home by tomorrow evening, which will end this years tour.
This month has been one of the best loops yet. We made many new friends and got to visit with old one along the way.
As I visited the other train cars I was pleasantly surprised by a lady who said she had ridden on my Santa Fe train ride in May. That is the second time during our tour this year that previous passengers have been on hand to welcome us to their home States. The reunion photo is posted above.
I finally got a chance to inspect A&M caboose today. WOW! Leather captain chairs and hardwood floors make this a luxury coach. Air conditioning and a new heating system are soon to be added. This will probably be one of the finest cabooses in the country. Brenda at A&M said they get as many request for caboose rides as they do for 1st class.
We hit the road at 2:30 p.m. and will try to make it back home by tomorrow evening, which will end this years tour.
This month has been one of the best loops yet. We made many new friends and got to visit with old one along the way.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Springdale, Arkansas #2
The Arkansas & Missouri knows how to get the most bang for the bucks when it comes to equipment use. Their train leaves Springdale loaded with three passenger cars and makes a run to Van Buren, AR about 8o miles. Passengers get off for lunch and shopping (about 2 hours). New passengers board for a trip to Winslow, AR (about 40 miles) and back to Van Buren where they get off and the train then reboards the original passengers for a return trip to Springdale. I love the concept of maximum equipment utilization. Brenda their operations manager is also considering Red Candy Caboose storytelling on a static (non-rolling) car to further utilize their cars.
My job of visiting depots and museums finds fun in many places. Today it was highlighted by five beautiful ladies that get together once a year to enjoy each others company and explore something new. Their photo is posted above. Their smiles and laughter made my day.
Thanks to conductor's Larry and David for letting me shadow them for the day. Their expertise and knowledge of local history were as important as the train ride itself.
I don't want to forget to mention the train equipment; everything was in perfect working order and so clean you might think you were riding on museum pieces.
My job of visiting depots and museums finds fun in many places. Today it was highlighted by five beautiful ladies that get together once a year to enjoy each others company and explore something new. Their photo is posted above. Their smiles and laughter made my day.
Thanks to conductor's Larry and David for letting me shadow them for the day. Their expertise and knowledge of local history were as important as the train ride itself.
I don't want to forget to mention the train equipment; everything was in perfect working order and so clean you might think you were riding on museum pieces.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Springdale, AR
I'll write more about Springdale tomorrow along with photos. We arrived shortly before they closed and had every intention of dropping off books and heading for Oklahoma. Brenda Rouse the Operations Manager for the Arkansas & Missouri RR convinced me to stay for a couple of days. Tomorrow I ride the train as a guest conductor and Thursday they have a reality show (19 and Counting) being filmed and they asked that I go along as part of the entertainment. A&M RR carries passengers as well as freight and makes runs of different lengths on different days. Sounds like fun, plus Micki and Kahuna are invited to participate.
Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Eureka Springs and North Arkansas RR sits on the NW edge of Arkansas in a small town that has been known since cave man days as a great place to soak in healing waters. The depot and railyard I wouldn't call a boneyard, but it has all the charm of presenting itself as a unique find, making visitors feel as though they are the first ones to find the antique treasures of the past. The photos tell it best. My favorite find was a 1951 Chevy wagon used as a Galloping Goose. I've seen and photographed many Galloping Geese, but this one is truly rare, and it still runs. The RR shuts down at the end of October. I would really like to see them offer more seasonal attractions like Polar Express and stay open the entire year. Again the professional period dress of their staff makes for a wonderful experience for the passengers.
Branson, MO
No one asked for my AARP card! Branson gives the appearance of being the ideal resort destination for seniors. Seniors in the past have been my largest audience for storytelling, but Branson is probably used to big names like Grandpa Jones, Roy Clark and others who used to appear on Hew Haw. Even though Branson marches to a different drum, it was fun walking around exploring the town, watching their water squirting exhibit shoot to the tune of "Kung Fu Fighting" (the song). They had two cabooses that merited photos. If the train in Branson could steal the marketing person from the train in Lebanon, OH I'll bet they could pack the train with all ages.
Mammonth Springs, Arkansas
Bad news & good news. Mammoth Springs doesn't have a rolling train, but they do have a beautiful museum, caboose, & gift shop located on a post card view of a small lake and cascading water over two dams. Even better news, they have Henry. Henry is the ghost of a young man who lost his head while working on the local train. Henry haunts the gift shop, museum, and even the residence of the general manager. My ghost story book "Rail Tales That Haunt Us" is currently sold out, but look for Henry and all of his antics in the next edition that is due out in 2011.
Monday, October 25, 2010
French Lick (yummy)
3rd Stop on the 24th….
French Lick is not an ice cream shop, but a very popular tourist destination in Southern Indiana and is also the home of the Indiana Railway Museum. I counted three cabooses that were open for the public to tour; all in good shape. Their authentic antique depot and old steam engines that sit out front definitely cause people to slow down. Their operation is right down town and sits next to a Super Fancy resort called (what else) The French Lick Resort. The mineral springs at the resort and the tourist train make a great combination to fit the needs of all ages. They are open seven days a week and offer a full train experience that includes a 2,200 foot tunnel and forested rolling hills that has made this area famous for its fall beauty.
French Lick is not an ice cream shop, but a very popular tourist destination in Southern Indiana and is also the home of the Indiana Railway Museum. I counted three cabooses that were open for the public to tour; all in good shape. Their authentic antique depot and old steam engines that sit out front definitely cause people to slow down. Their operation is right down town and sits next to a Super Fancy resort called (what else) The French Lick Resort. The mineral springs at the resort and the tourist train make a great combination to fit the needs of all ages. They are open seven days a week and offer a full train experience that includes a 2,200 foot tunnel and forested rolling hills that has made this area famous for its fall beauty.
Opps #2
2nd Stop on the 24th…
Whitewater Valley Railroad is located in Connersville, Indiana. The WVR is primarily run by dedicated volunteers. Their equipment appeared to be well maintained and one of the best stocked gift shops I’ve run across in long time. I’m supposed to visit gift shops not buy, buy I couldn’t help picking up some caboose items I hadn’t seen before. I should mention both WVR and my stop in Lebanon found all the personnel to be very well dressed and looked the part of real train people. Conductors looked like conductors, engineers and brakemen were properly attired with traditional blue stripped overalls and matching caps. Successful train companies seem to have figured out the importance of dressing to fit the experience provided to their passengers. After all, how many of us would board an airplane if the pilot were dressed in jeans a sweatshirt? Dress adds to passenger trust and professionalism. I would love to see someone address this issue at the next National meeting for tourist trains. I almost forgot to mention that I counted ten cabooses (or cabeese) at the WVR and they offer special caboose rides and runs.
Whitewater Valley Railroad is located in Connersville, Indiana. The WVR is primarily run by dedicated volunteers. Their equipment appeared to be well maintained and one of the best stocked gift shops I’ve run across in long time. I’m supposed to visit gift shops not buy, buy I couldn’t help picking up some caboose items I hadn’t seen before. I should mention both WVR and my stop in Lebanon found all the personnel to be very well dressed and looked the part of real train people. Conductors looked like conductors, engineers and brakemen were properly attired with traditional blue stripped overalls and matching caps. Successful train companies seem to have figured out the importance of dressing to fit the experience provided to their passengers. After all, how many of us would board an airplane if the pilot were dressed in jeans a sweatshirt? Dress adds to passenger trust and professionalism. I would love to see someone address this issue at the next National meeting for tourist trains. I almost forgot to mention that I counted ten cabooses (or cabeese) at the WVR and they offer special caboose rides and runs.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
1st Stop, Oct 24
1st Stop October 24th…
Left the Columbus area this morning and drove about an hour and a half to Lebanon, Ohio. Hats off to their marketing director for the Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad. We arrived shortly before the first train departure for the Pumpkin Patch. I spoke with Jim one of their brakeman as well as Carolyn in the sales and ticket office. I was pleasantly Surprised to find they are making three runs a day with a total of twelve hundred passengers from their small depot. That would have shocked me even if they were in a large town, but check the map. Lebanon is at least an hour and a half from any major city; that is good marketing. I counted eight passenger cars and one open gondola with seats. Many of the train companies I’ve visited are big on special events, but it sounds like Lebanon make every run a special event. I took photos of their caboose and couldn’t pass up the little track-side gas station restored to the 1920’s era.
Left the Columbus area this morning and drove about an hour and a half to Lebanon, Ohio. Hats off to their marketing director for the Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad. We arrived shortly before the first train departure for the Pumpkin Patch. I spoke with Jim one of their brakeman as well as Carolyn in the sales and ticket office. I was pleasantly Surprised to find they are making three runs a day with a total of twelve hundred passengers from their small depot. That would have shocked me even if they were in a large town, but check the map. Lebanon is at least an hour and a half from any major city; that is good marketing. I counted eight passenger cars and one open gondola with seats. Many of the train companies I’ve visited are big on special events, but it sounds like Lebanon make every run a special event. I took photos of their caboose and couldn’t pass up the little track-side gas station restored to the 1920’s era.
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