Eastern USA Steam & More

A superb holiday for rail enthusiasts and partners alike riding five steam lines on two gauges. that is also an ideal tour for first timers to the USA. We lineside passenger and heavy freight trains, ride Amtrak’s busy Northeast line and spend a day in New York.

We are also offering a tour extension to West Virginia in the full ‘Fall’ foliage for two further steam lines, including the incredible double-headed Shay action at Cass.

DAY 1 Monday October 4: Morning flight from London Heathrow to New York’s Newark Airport; flights also available from Manchester and Birmingham. We transfer to the Robert Treat Hotel near Newark’s Penn station for two nights stay. Enjoy time at this busy station watching or photographing Amtrak and New Jersey Transit commuters. There is also an opportunity to ride the Newark tramway. DAY 2 Tuesday October 5: Full day excursion by rail into New York for sightseeing - Grand Central Station, Empire State Building and much more. Ride the New York Subway and Staten Island Ferry. DAY 3 Wednesday October 6: Ride Amtrak from Newark’s Penn station to Lancaster – two and a half hours away, in the heart of the Pennsylvania Dutch Country, famous for the Amish people and their horse-drawn buggies. Enjoy an afternoon visit to the Strasburg Railroad and steam train ride to Paradise! Stay overnight in the remarkable Fulton Steamboat Inn. DAY 4 Thursday October 7: We return to Strasburg for a visit to the acclaimed Pennsylvanian State RR Museum (entrance included) plus a tour of the Strasburg Railroad workshops. There is also an excellent book store at the station and model shop within a few yards. Later in the day we travel by road to Cumberland for two nights stay in the Holiday Inn overlooking the railroad tracks. DAY 5 Friday October 8: By road to Cumberland for heavy freight action through the town on this busy CSX line, before riding behind a “chunky” 2-8-0 on the Western Maryland RR over a steeply graded line from Cumberland to Frostburg and return. DAY 6 Saturday October 9: To Orbisonia for the bucolic 3ft gauge East Broad Top Railroad. This is their annual railfan weekend with steam freight, extra trains, their vintage railbus in action, visits to the amazing workshops and the adjacent Shade Gap museum tramway in full swing. Later in the day travel to Scranton, staying two nights in the superb Radisson Lackawanna Hotel, the former magnificent station building. DAY 7 Sunday October 10: Right by the hotel is Steamtown Railway Museum set in two roundhouses – with two engines in steam today and a museum tramway. The museum’s collection includes the huge UP “big-Boy” steam locomotive. Included is a three hour ride behind a big Pacific or 2-8-2 over the steeply graded line to Tobyhanna and return – a superb “thrash line” travelling at line speeds of around 40mph. DAY 8 Monday October 11: To New Hope, an historic village on the banks of the Delaware River, for their regular steam operation using a classic 2-8-0. Time to ride and lineside. Later in the day continue by road to Trenton for linesiding and local train ride over the busy electrified Northeast route to Newark Airport. Those on the 8 day Tour catch evening flights to Heathrow, Manchester and Birmingham. If taking the tour extension, we take the late afternoon train from Trenton to Baltimore Airport for an overnight stay at Holiday Inn BWI Airport. DAY 9 Tuesday October 12 (tour extension): After collecting our 7-seater hire vehicles we visit the B&O Railway Museum in the historic Mount Clare Roundhouse – with over 20 locomotives including “camelbacks” and very early engines. In the afternoon we drive south for three nights stay in the Inn at Snowshoe, West Virginia. DAY 10 Wednesday October 13 (tour extension): To Cass, just 20 minutes drive away, to experience a full day ride to the summit of 4,300ft Bald Knob Mountain with doubled headed Shay geared locos – the noise and smoke from these machines has to be seen to be believed. DAY 11 Thursday October 14 (tour extension): Return to Cass where we find three locos in steam. After a shed and workshop visit there is the opportunity to lineside three trains today at an open area on the switchbacks just below Whittaker; the grade here is nearly 1 in 10. DAY 12 Friday October 15th (tour extension): A short drive to Durbin for a ride behind a rare Climax geared loco along a scenic river’s edge line. Opportunity to photograph the afternoon departure before driving to Elkins for two nights stay. DAY 13 Saturday October 16th (tour extension): A full day ride behind vintage diesel power through the West Virginian countryside to Cheat Bridge Falls and return; buffet lunch included on board. DAY 14 Sunday October 17th (tour extension): Drive to Washington Airport for our evening flight back to Heathrow or (via Newark) to Manchester and Birmingham. DAY 15 Monday October 18th (tour extension): Early morning arrival at Heathrow Airport, or Manchester and Birmingham. Robert Treat Hotel, Newark An historic restored hotel in a quiet part of downtown Newark overlooking a park President Woodrow Wilson and Einstein have stayed here. The hotel features bar and restaurant and shuttle service to the nearby Penn station. Complimentary continental breakfast included, rooms have tea/coffee makers. Fulton Steamboat Inn, Strasburg A remarkable hotel built to resemble a classic Mississippi paddle steamer set in the heart of the Pennsylvania Dutch country. Hotel amenities include bar and restaurant, indoor swimming pool, rooms have tea/coffee makers and hairdryer, fridge and iron and board. Holiday Inn, Cumberland Right by the tracks, rooms overlook the busy CSX freight line in the small town of Cumberland. This modern hotel has a bar and restaurant with others nearby. The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad station and historic C&O canal are just 5 minutes walk away. Rooms include tea/coffee maker, hair dryer and iron and board. Radisson Hotel, Scranton An elegant and historic hotel in the former classic Lackawanna Railroad station right by Steamtown. Rooms feature tea/coffee maker, hair dryer iron and board. On site are two bars and restaurants. Holiday Inn, Baltimore BWI Intl. Airport (tour extension)Travellers expect great atmosphere, amenities and service. Convenient to Baltimore, Maryland, Washington, DC, and Annapolis, MD, our attractive 260-room airport hotel features upgraded high speed Internet and is less than 5 minutes from the Amtrak and Baltimore Light Rail stations. Inn at Snowshoe, West Virginia (tour extension)Located at the base of Snowshoe Mountain in scenic West Virginia this modern hotel has a bar and restaurant and complimentary continental breakfast. There is an indoor pool and Jacuzzi.