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First Passenger Train Departing The Boardwalk To Davenport On October 9th
Author: Howard
Date: 09-13-2012 - 16:40
The following is from the SCCRTC September 20, 2012 Agenda:
Background
Two or three times per year, the California Transportation Commission (CTC) holds “town hall” meetings in different parts of the State to become more familiar with local transportation needs in various regions of the State. Town hall meetings are typically preceded by a reception on the previous evening. The transportation planning agency for the area where a CTC town hall meeting is held hosts the meeting and reception in partnership with other transportation planning agencies in that region of the state. The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) will be the primary host for the October 10th CTC town hall meeting and October 9th CTC reception, which will be held in Santa Cruz. Other participating counties will include Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey and San Benito.
Reception Train
Because the RTC is anticipated to be the owner of the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line (Branch Line) by October 9th and the CTC approved the funding for that purchase, holding the CTC reception aboard a train on the Branch Line is appropriate. This will give the CTC a firsthand experience of the transportation asset purchased with state funds and its potential.
Trainset
The CTC reception train will consist of one locomotive provided by the Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay (SC&MB) Railway and two lounge cars secured by the SC&MB Railway from California Rail Tours. California Rail Tours is a Salinas based rail car charter business. The lounge cars were built by the Pullman Company in 1950 and have been completely refurbished.
• The Royal Gorge was built for Denver & Rio Grande Western. Later it was designated as Pennsylvania Railroad 1148, Penn Central 4448, and Amtrak 3361. It has been owned by California Rail Tours since 1985. The Royal Gorge features a lounge, with a small musician's platform. It has a kitchen, and a serving counter.
• The Plaza Santa Fe was built as the Pleasure Dome-Turquoise Dining room bar lounge 503 for the Santa Fe's premier "Super Chief" streamliner. It was acquired by Amtrak in 1971 and renumbered to 9353. California Rail Tours, added the car's originally intended Plaza Santa Fe name, and has owned this dome car since 1986. The Plaza Santa Fe features a glass domed observation deck, with large swiveling chairs. Downstairs are two lounge areas with a full bar and a dining room.
Train Station
The train will board at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. RTC staff has already communicated with the Santa Cruz Seaside Company to ensure that this operation will not interfere with operations at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. The Santa Cruz Seaside Company is supportive of this train operation. RTC staff has also reviewed the Santa Cruz Big Trees and Pacific Railway schedule and communicated with their staff to ensure that the this operation will not interfere with their operations. Santa Cruz Big Trees and Pacific Railway is supportive of this train operation.
Train Operation
The CTC reception train will be operated by the SC&MB Railway and will make only one roundtrip scheduled to last two hours from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on October 9, 2012. The train will depart from the Santa Cruz Boardwalk, travel north about 7 to 8 miles toward Davenport and return to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. There will not be any stops for passenger boarding or disembarking anywhere between the Santa Cruz Boardwalk and Davenport.
Food and Beverages
Appetizers and beverages will be served on board the train at no cost to the passengers. The cost for the food and beverages is anticipated to be covered by donations made by businesses along the central coast for the specific purpose of sponsoring the CTC reception.
Passengers
It is estimated that 60 to 65 passengers will be on-board the CTC reception train including board members and staff of the CTC, the RTC, the Transportation Agency for Monterey County (TAMC), the Council of San Benito County Governments (SBtCOG), the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments, the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG), the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments (AMBAG). Representative from Caltrans will also be on-board.
Fares
Fares will not be charged to the passengers riding this train because the train experience will be a hosted reception. The $1,000 cost for the train will be covered by donations made by businesses along the central coast for the specific purpose of sponsoring the CTC reception.
Background
Two or three times per year, the California Transportation Commission (CTC) holds “town hall” meetings in different parts of the State to become more familiar with local transportation needs in various regions of the State. Town hall meetings are typically preceded by a reception on the previous evening. The transportation planning agency for the area where a CTC town hall meeting is held hosts the meeting and reception in partnership with other transportation planning agencies in that region of the state. The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) will be the primary host for the October 10th CTC town hall meeting and October 9th CTC reception, which will be held in Santa Cruz. Other participating counties will include Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey and San Benito.
Reception Train
Because the RTC is anticipated to be the owner of the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line (Branch Line) by October 9th and the CTC approved the funding for that purchase, holding the CTC reception aboard a train on the Branch Line is appropriate. This will give the CTC a firsthand experience of the transportation asset purchased with state funds and its potential.
Trainset
The CTC reception train will consist of one locomotive provided by the Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay (SC&MB) Railway and two lounge cars secured by the SC&MB Railway from California Rail Tours. California Rail Tours is a Salinas based rail car charter business. The lounge cars were built by the Pullman Company in 1950 and have been completely refurbished.
• The Royal Gorge was built for Denver & Rio Grande Western. Later it was designated as Pennsylvania Railroad 1148, Penn Central 4448, and Amtrak 3361. It has been owned by California Rail Tours since 1985. The Royal Gorge features a lounge, with a small musician's platform. It has a kitchen, and a serving counter.
• The Plaza Santa Fe was built as the Pleasure Dome-Turquoise Dining room bar lounge 503 for the Santa Fe's premier "Super Chief" streamliner. It was acquired by Amtrak in 1971 and renumbered to 9353. California Rail Tours, added the car's originally intended Plaza Santa Fe name, and has owned this dome car since 1986. The Plaza Santa Fe features a glass domed observation deck, with large swiveling chairs. Downstairs are two lounge areas with a full bar and a dining room.
Train Station
The train will board at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. RTC staff has already communicated with the Santa Cruz Seaside Company to ensure that this operation will not interfere with operations at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. The Santa Cruz Seaside Company is supportive of this train operation. RTC staff has also reviewed the Santa Cruz Big Trees and Pacific Railway schedule and communicated with their staff to ensure that the this operation will not interfere with their operations. Santa Cruz Big Trees and Pacific Railway is supportive of this train operation.
Train Operation
The CTC reception train will be operated by the SC&MB Railway and will make only one roundtrip scheduled to last two hours from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on October 9, 2012. The train will depart from the Santa Cruz Boardwalk, travel north about 7 to 8 miles toward Davenport and return to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. There will not be any stops for passenger boarding or disembarking anywhere between the Santa Cruz Boardwalk and Davenport.
Food and Beverages
Appetizers and beverages will be served on board the train at no cost to the passengers. The cost for the food and beverages is anticipated to be covered by donations made by businesses along the central coast for the specific purpose of sponsoring the CTC reception.
Passengers
It is estimated that 60 to 65 passengers will be on-board the CTC reception train including board members and staff of the CTC, the RTC, the Transportation Agency for Monterey County (TAMC), the Council of San Benito County Governments (SBtCOG), the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments, the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG), the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments (AMBAG). Representative from Caltrans will also be on-board.
Fares
Fares will not be charged to the passengers riding this train because the train experience will be a hosted reception. The $1,000 cost for the train will be covered by donations made by businesses along the central coast for the specific purpose of sponsoring the CTC reception.
First Passenger Train Departing The Boardwalk To Davenport On October 9th