VT - City of New Orleans - 11th April 2015

CITY OF NEW ORLEANS - SAT 11 APR 2015 with 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe

http://www.tyseleylocoworks.co.uk/tours/tr_2015_0411us.htm

FARES
Premier Dining : £99
Table for Two : £20 p.table (£10 p.person) extra
First Class Compartment : £250 (up to 6 people)
Standard Class : £39

In April 1947, the Illinois Central Railroad Co. introduced a daily service from St Louis to New Orleans, but it was not until Amtrak reinstated the service in 1971 that it entered into folk-law. Running from Chicago alongside the Mississippi to Louisiana, the train is called “The City of New Orleans”, made famous by the song of the same name written by Steve Goodman and originally recorded by Arlo Guthrie.

Although unable to change cars in Memphis, Tennessee or even the promise of a card game in the club car, Vintage Trains are going to run a train called “The City of New Orleans” on the afternoon of Saturday 11th April. Following in the footsteps of last years “Great Spaghetti Western” nicknamed “The Italian Job”, this train is primarily a shake-down run after the winter maintenance program for steam locomotive No: 5043 “Earl of Mount Edgcumbe”. We plan to serve a limited number of dining passengers a sumptuous Cajun-style meal; the menu inspired by Celebrity Chef “Emeril Lagasse”. Additionally we are offering 1st Class Compartments for 6 and Standard Class accommodation, but the meal is not included.

The Premier Dining luncheon will begin with a “Proud Mary” cocktail followed by a Seafood Gumbo with Biscuits to start. The main course will be Smothered Pork Chops accompanied by Creamed Potatoes & Southern Greens. The leisurely meal will be rounded off by Bread Pudding served with Bourbon Sauce. If you are unable or unwilling to eat shellfish or pork, please inform us when booking; an alternative will be provided.

Our circular route takes us around the East Midlands with a short photo stop in Leicester. We will depart Tyseley Warwick Road shortly before noon, picking up at Coleshill Parkway approximately 30 minutes later. The journey around the circular route takes a little over 3 hours, returning passengers to Coleshill, then Tyseley. Although not quite the Mississippi Delta, springtime afternoons in the East Midlands are most picturesque.

STATIONS
Pick up/Set down : Tyseley Warwick Road platform & Coleshill Parkway.
Layover : Leicester (short photo stop)

 

I Hope to go on one or maybe 2 trial runs at some point in the year. With this trial run being the weekend before the Coastal Explorer along the Cumbrian Coast line I wont be able to go on this trip. £39 I must say is a very good price for a ticket on one of the trial run trains and as I am a regular passenger with VT I do recommend these runs aswell as the big railtours like The Red Dragon, Coastal Explorer, Welsh Dragon, Ticket to Ride, etc are all worth the money. With VT runs & events that I am booked on or going to for the 2015 season I have got at present: Mar 7th's The Red Dragon, Apr 18th's Coastal Explorer, possibly Jun 20th's Welsh Dragon, Tyseley's open weekend, Sept 6th's Shakespeare Express & Oct 3rd's Cotswold Explorer.

Currently waiting on 2 particular trial runs for near the end of 2015 & The Christmas White Rose to York.