Motorcar Operators West
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Motorcar Operators West is a club dedicated to the restoration and safe, legal operation of railroad motorcars.
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2024 Western Railway Museum Excursion and BarbequeApril 19, 2024 - April 20, 2024ConfirmedMotorcar Operators West is having their Annual Spring Run and Barbeque, and we welcome all NARCOA operators and guests. There will be a night run on Friday which includes an amazing homemade cookie assortment by Kristi Hall and a variety of hot beverages. The barbeque on Saturday will feature the mouth-watering renowned smoked short ribs expertly prepared by Mike Mitchell. Side dishes, drinks, and all other necessary items to go with them will be included. Dessert is provided by the rest of us, the participants, and this is a great finish to a fantastic meal. We ask only that you bring your favorite dessert, just a regular size something sweet to share. This is a nice way and a unique opportunity to spend some extra time with everyone on the excursion. We begin on Friday, April 19, 2024, with a 4:30 PM set-on, followed by a Safety Briefing at 6 PM and a 6:15 PM departure. We will travel west to Molena, where we will enjoy the fresh-baked cookies with a hot beverage, before we return and secure the cars for the night. Maybe we will see the elk herd that is known to roam that area of the delta. Saturday starts with a 7 AM set-on. The Safety Briefing will be at 8:15 AM followed by an 8:30 AM departure. We will run an additional mile of track at Molena, that has recently been repaired, to the burned-out trestle and return. The first train at the Museum leaves at 11AM, so we must be back before that time. We will try to return by 10:30 AM. This will also give everyone an opportunity to ride one of the museum’s vintage trolleys before lunch. We will have lunch from 12 noon to around 1 PM. After our amazing lunch, at 1:15 pm, we will meet at the cars for a quick Safety Briefing before we depart east toward Cannon. There should be plenty of wild flowers along the way. We will break in our new turning pad before we return and set off. Plan on approx. 50 total RT miles. The run fee is $80 per car which includes lunch for two. Additional guests are welcome and encouraged for an extra cost of $10/adults and $5/children 12 years old and under. Children must be at least five years old to ride in a motorcar. The ECs are Rick Smith r_smith627@comcast.net 707-631-5778 and Please contact Rick or Dave by April 12, 2024, to let them know how many people you are bringing so we have enough food, and don’t forget to bring your dessert. The Western Railway Museum is located between Fairfield and Rio Vista at 5848 State Highway 12, Suisun City, CA 94585. Highway 12 is easily accessible from all the major freeways. As you turn onto the Museum property, make an immediate right turn through the gate, and follow the road to the set-on location. Please check in with the EC or Assistants before you set on. There are hotels about 11 miles away in Suisun City and Fairfield. There are two dry camping sites available on a first come basis. Please contact Rick for availability. Please make your check payable to MOW and send it to Rick Smith 5124 Hallmark Ct, Fairfield, CA 94534. Also, please include the following documents that have been carefully completed. From the MOW website ‘Forms’ tab, download the ‘Excursion Participant Registration’ and ‘General Release’ (one sheet double-sided) forms (also linked directly below this post). From the NARCOA website ‘NARCOA Documents & Forms’ tab, download the ‘NARCOA Rail Vehicle Inspection Form v4.0’ (this is a new form as of Feb. 1, 2024), and carefully complete them as indicated below, and include them with your check. Excursion Name – WRM Excursion and Barbeque Location – Suisun City, CA Railroad – Bay Area Electric Railroad Association Date – April 19-20, 2024 Affiliate – Motorcar Operators West NARCOA compliant radio is required in all cars, no exceptions. This is a NARCOA event. Long pants, boots, and hi-vise vests (or=) are required for all participants. All NARCOA rules and MOW operating rules apply, and we will run rain or shine. No mentoring without prior approval of EC. No smoking on Railroad property. Don’t forget to RSVP by April 12, 2024, and bring a dessert. We look forward to seeing you there! Thank you for your continued support. |
Northwest Rail TourMay 12, 2024 - June 1, 2024Save the DateHappy New Year MOW Members and All NARCOA Operators and Friends, We, the ECs of MOW, along with the help and cooperation of some of our PRO EC friends, are in the process of organizing a multi-railroad tour in May of 2024. The planning dates are May 12 – June 1, 2024. This will include several railroads and possibly a museum during that time period. As always, you will have the choice of participating in as many, or as few, excursions as you wish. We are planning to run in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah, and Nevada. Stay tuned for further information. The excursions will be posted as soon as they are finalized. Please check the MOW and PRO websites regularly as excursions for this tour will appear on either site per the EC of the excursion. The time is coming sooner than we think so, when the skies are clear, start preparing your car for the next adventure. We hope you can join us. |
Memorial Day Weekend Excursion at Idaho Falls, IdahoMay 24, 2024 - May 27, 2024ScheduledWe would like to announce the Memorial Day weekend excursion at Idaho Falls, IA. On Friday, May 24, 2024, we will set our cars on the spur track at the Eastern Idaho Railroad yards at 1050 North Emerson, Idaho Falls. Please note the North Emerson address. We will have a potty car with us for your convenience. Saturday morning, May 25, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. we will have our safety briefing. Then shortly after we will run the East Belt to Newdale and return to the Idaho Falls yard. Sunday morning, May 26, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. we will have our safety briefing and then depart to the Yellowstone branch to Ashton and then return to Idaho Falls. On Monday, May 27, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. we will have our safety briefing and depart to the West Belt branch. This will be a short trip and we will be back in the yard by 12:30 p.m. and start the set off. We should all be out of the area by 3:00 p.m. Each day, our turn point will not have access to any restaurants or fast food facilities. We recommend you bring something to eat along with some water. On Saturday, May 26, 2024, we will have a morning break at Ririe (There is a convenience store across from the park where we stop). On Sunday, May 26, 2024, we will stop at a park with nothing around. Use all the forms from the NARCOA website as they have been updated as of February 1, 2024. Please provide a signed release and car inspection form along with a check for $320.00 made out to MOW. The E.C.s for this excurstion are: Joe Schnyder: 623-332-0238 |
Grand Canyon ExcursionOctober 13, 2024 - October 16, 2024ConfirmedMOW and The Grand Canyon Railway will host the 2024 excursion from Williams AZ to the south rim of the Grand Canyon 67.4 miles one way. Set on Sunday, October 13th at the engine repair facility. Monday, October 14th after the passenger train leaves we will leave for the south rim. Stay is two nights at South Rim Thunderbird Lodge Cost will be $1,205 canyon view room and $1,065 street view room double occupancy with a maximum of four persons in the room; $32.00 per person for the third and fourth person per room. All rooms have two queen beds. Price includes baggage transfer, room attendant costs, and all taxes. There is a 25-car limit no Hy-Rails and a minimum of 12 horsepower because of grades. Wednesday, October 16th we will return to Williams upon arrival of the passenger train, about 12:15. We should arrive back at Williams by 3:30 to be clear of returning passenger train. Immediately begin to set off and should be gone by 5 pm. For more info Joe Schnyder at 623-332-0238 or schnyder6380@gmail.com. |