Father’s Day on the Feather River!
August 6, 2015 / /
Hey There!
Wow, I thought I had blogged about the convention, but it seems that I posted it on my Facebook page instead. Sorry about that! Let me tell you about my Father’s Day Special up the Feather River Canyon.
It was a ‘trip of a lifetime’ for me and now, in looking back, was so much more than that. This was the third rail charter trip that Barb and I have made, and while all of our trips have been special, this one was just amazing. It was five hours each way and four of those hours (each way) were in the Feather River Canyon! We traveled at only 25 miles an hour, which is the posted speed for the area, and we were all so delighted.
The day began with word that our train left Oakland late because Amtrak was slow in getting the engines to our consist. But that did not dampen any spirits. Each of the four cars had a staff to make sure each guest was very comfortable, well fed, and happy so once ‘on board’ we were greeted and served breakfast immediately.
As we wound our way up the canyon, I could not help but think of all the books and photos I have seen of the California Zephyr on these tracks. It was like we were transported ‘back in time’ to the sixties when this train made a trip everyday with each day reflecting the canyon walls. If only we were being pulled by the classic Western Pacific F Units, it would have completed the picture.
We were chased by rail-fans and blessed to have a retired UP engineer and published rail photographer, Kirk Baer, chase our train up the canyon. Kirk knew all the great spots and would be there, to capture forever, this trip of dreams. Thank you, Kirk! Once in Portola, we enjoyed a welcome reception by the WP Railroad Museum. Their crew drove out on the mainline with the orange and silver WP GP-9 to grab our cars and push them to the museum ‘track one’, where we could get off and enjoy their collection, and it was a GREAT collection!
Later, as we returned, our now westbound train actually headed into the setting sun and the long shadows came through the canyon, lighting our way. Dinner was served and all were very happy with the great food our chef had prepared. As we reached Oroville, the sky was barely light, and the gentle-rocking motion put many a tired traveler to sleep. Were they dreaming of the next trip? Barb and I knew this had been a trip ‘not to happen again’ and so thankful that 115 people joined us, making this possible.
See the footage
See the full gallery on our Facebook page HERE.
Next years trip will be a smaller group to Glacier National Park for the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. Get in line, and ‘on board’ now!
http://lowellsmith.net/tours/
Posted in Silver Smith Tours
