1225 coming to bay city in October.

[patrick]

Heres the deal.

October 15-16, 2005: Steam trip with Pere Marquette 1225. Bluewater Michigan Chapter NRHS and the Steam Railroading Institute announce the Grayling Steam Special, a pair of excursion trains between the Bay City (MI) area and Grayling pulled by famous ex-Pere Marquette 2-8-4 steam locomotive #1225 (inspiration for the Polar Express film locomotive).

The Grayling Steam Special will run on Saturday & Sunday, October 15 & 16, 2005, and will depart from Kawkawlin (just north of Bay City, MI) and Standish. The route to Grayling will be the historic former Michigan Central line to Mackinaw City, now operated by Lake State Railway Company. A photo run-by is planned en route. At Grayling, lunch can be had at any of the several nearby restaurants. After lunch, visit the Crawford County Historical Museum (in the former MC depot) stroll the downtown area with its many attractions.

For additional train-riding enjoyment, an additional “rare mileage” side trip excursion (the Grayling Color Tour, approximately 26 miles round trip) will be operated during the layover on Saturday only, north from Grayling with LSRC Alco diesel locomotives. Please note that this excursion will NOT duplicate any mileage of the main excursion, so mileage collectors should buy tickets on both trips.

The excursion train will include: air-conditioned coaches; a car offering beverages, snacks and souvenir merchandise and an exclusive First Class section. First Class service includes exclusive use of a comfortable lounge car, hors d’oeuvres & beverages all day and sit-down breakfast & dinner in the dining car.

Special Opportunity: Cab Ride in PM #1225! A very limited number of ticketed Grayling Steam Special passengers may also purchase a ride in the cab of locomotive PM #1225 on the same day, for approximately one-half of each leg of each day’s steam excursion. This offer is limited to adults who can climb a vertical ladder for several feet unassisted. Further instructions will be mailed with your ticket.

These excursion trains will be a joint operation of Bluewater Michigan Chapter and the Steam Railroading Institute, combining our strengths and nearly four decades cumulative excursion operating experience.

The Grayling Steam Special will depart Kawkawlin each day at 8:00 AM, depart Standish at 9:30 AM and arrive at Grayling at 1:00 PM. After a pleasant stay, the train will depart Grayling at 4:00 PM, arrive Standish at 6:30 PM and arrive Kawkawlin at 8:00 PM. The Grayling Color Tour additional Saturday excursion will depart Grayling at 1:30 PM and return approximately two hours later.

Ticket prices for the Grayling Steam Special are: Adult Coach - $109, Child Coach to ages 5-16 - $79, First Class - $169. Cab ride in locomotive PM #1225 - $500 in addition to ticket fare. Ticket prices for the Grayling Color Tour side trip excursion out of Grayling are: Adult Coach - $20, Child Coach to ages 5-16 - $15. All excursions: children under age 5 not occupying a seat are free if accompanied by an adult passenger.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

- Seating is limited, so order early (please indicate date of preference and other details as appropriate). Groups of 30 or more will receive a 10% discount, provided all such tickets are obtained through a single purchase. All tickets are available from the Bluewater office (see below); tickets for the side trip excursion out of Grayling will also be available from the Crawford County Historical Museum at 97 Michigan Avenue in Grayling.

- The temperatures in northern Michigan in mid-October can vary greatly. Please dress comfortably and perhaps bring an umbrella. For assistance in special packages or in locating lodging or restaurants near Kawkawlin, please contact the Bay Area Convention and Visitors Bureau at (888) 229-8696 or see their web site www.tourbaycitymi.org .

- Ticket refunds will be granted less a 10% (Minimum $5.00) per ticket service charge when requested in writing and received in the Bluewater office no less than 30 days before excursion departure date. Tickets must be returned with the request for refund. Beginning with 30 days before the excursion, ticket refunds will be granted only if your tickets can be resold immediately; the per-ticket service charge will still apply. Absolutely no refunds will be granted after the excursion.

- Ordering Information: To order by telephone, call (800) 594-5162 [ticket orders only] or (248) 541-1000 between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM weekdays. At other times, please leave a name and telephone number. Use VISA, MasterCard or Discover cards for telephone orders. Driving and parking directions will be sent with your tickets.

- Boarding sites and activities associated with these excursions may require walking (possibly over uneven ground) and step climbing (possibly steep). The historic equipment used in these excursions was built before the advent of handicapped-accessible transportation and in most cases can not be modified. Bluewater and SRI crew members are not permitted to handle occupied wheelchairs because of potential injury to themselves or the passengers. If you are mobility-impaired, please call and discuss available accommodations before ordering.

Information is also available on the Steam Railroading Institute's (the keepers of the 1225) web page.

[RailCanon]

.Q

[patrick]

I think its too early to say.

[RailCanon]

[quote="Patrick"]

[patrick]

Thats fine but the run is not until october, and things can change many times between now and then.

[~Z~]

Thats fine but the run is not until october, and things can change many times between now and then.

yes, things may change, but i think gregg is fine posting this info. It certainly would be a plausible route.

[patrick]

yup I agree and have absolutely zero probs with him posting that, But I wanted to make sure everyone understands that though someone from a "in the know" position said it would go that route, that in a few months things could change and that it wasn't solid. I sure would be happy to have it come north that way. My butt would be chacing it the entire way north.