Welcome!

Northwest Rail Tour 2024

May 10 – 31, 2024

With the help and cooperation of both MOW and PRO ECs, we were able to put together a group of excursions for May 2024 that covers ten (10) railroads over five (5) states. Below is the list of dates for set on and running for each excursion, as well as the affiliate the excursion will be offered through and posted under. Each excursion is a separate event, but they are scheduled in a way that allows participants to do as many, or as few, as they are able.

For this reason, we have named it Northwest Rail Tour 2024.

Please visit the MOW and PRO websites for all the details of each excursion offered by that affiliate.

All NARCOA licensed and insured operators and passengers are welcome on all MOW Excursions.

2024 Northwest Rail Tour
By PRO and MOW
Excursion set-on and run dates

Friday, May 10 – Tour begins
Friday, May 10 – Set on in Lakeview, OR (MOW)
Saturday, May 11 – Run Goose Lake Railroad in Lakeview, OR (MOW)
Sunday, May 12 – Set on in Prineville, OR (PRO)
Monday, May 13 – Run City of Prineville Railroad in Prineville, OR (PRO)
Thursday, May 16 – Set on and run Chehalis Centralia Railroad in Chehalis, WA (PRO)
Friday, May 17 – Set on and run Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad in Mineral, WA (PRO)
Saturday, May 18 – Set on and run Oregon and Pacific Railroad in Canby, OR (PRO)
Sunday, May 19 – Set on and run Albany and Eastern Railroad in Lebanon, OR (PRO)
Tuesday, May 21 – Set on and run Mt. Hood Railway in Hood River, OR (PRO)
Friday, May 24 – Set on at Eastern Idaho Railroad in Idaho Falls, ID (MOW)
Saturday, May 25 – Run Eastern Idaho Railroad – Yellowstone Sub (MOW)
Sunday, May 26 – Run Eastern Idaho Railroad – East Belt Sub (MOW)
Monday, May 27 – Run Eastern Idaho Railroad – Menan (MOW)
Tuesday, May 28 – Set on in Heber City, UT (MOW)
Wednesday, May 29 – Run Heber Valley Railroad in Heber City, UT (MOW)
Thursday, May 30 – Set on and evening run Nevada Northern Railway in Ely, NV (MOW)
Friday, May 31 – Run Nevada Northern Railway in Ely, NV (MOW)
Friday, May 31 – Tour ends

Motorcar Operators West is pleased to welcome all NARCOA operators and guests to the beginning of the Northwest Rail Tour 2024 in beautiful Lakeview, OR on the Goose Lake Railway. We will run approximately 110 RT miles from Lakeview, OR to just outside of Alturas, CA as we travel along the shore of Goose Lake past hot springs, Osprey nests, Chimney Rock Historical Monument, and other interesting sites with stops along the way.

We will have a lunch break at our turning point. There is a convenience store and gas station across the road where tasty treats can be purchased, if you don’t bring anything, or want something extra.

Your ECs for this excursion are listed below and can be contacted for answers to your questions:

Bill Schertle     
714-743-0804       
bschertle@sbcglobal.net    
804 E Tularosa Ave, Orange, CA 92866

Rick Smith       
707-631-5778       
r_smith627@comcast.net  

ECIT Mike Mitchell     
530-379-6651         
bigredfarmscapay@gmail.com 

The fee for this excursion is $150.00 per car. Make check payable to MOW and send it with your carefully completed paperwork (as indicated below) to Bill Schertle at address above.

Participant Registration Form (link below post)
Excursion name: Goose Lake Railway
Date: May 10 – 11, 2024
 

NARCOA General Release Form (NARCOA website) (printed on one sheet, double-sided)
In consideration of: Goose Lake Railway
On the dates of: May 10 – 11, 2024
For excursions of: Motorcar Operators West
 

NARCOA Rail Vehicle Inspection Form (NARCOA website)
Excursion: Goose Lake Railway
Location: Lakeview, OR
Date: May 10 – 11, 2024



• Set-on will be on Friday evening, May 10, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• Any additional set-on needed will be on Saturday morning from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.
• The Main Drag running through town is US-395
• Traveling South (from Hotels) on US-395
• Go about 0.6 miles and then turn Right on S 3rd St
• Set-on is about ½ mile down S 3rd St at the railroad crossing
• There is a parking lot for the school on the right just before the crossing
• Please use this for staging and set-on prep of your motorcar and participants
• Safety Meeting will be at 8am, Saturday morning, May 11, 2024
• Suggest you bring food/snacks and drink – only other food will be at turning point
• Enroute restroom service will be provided by P.H.A.R.T. or affiliate
• Overnight dry camping and trailer parking is available on Railroad property
• There are several hotels and eateries in the area with a variety of prices
• No mentoring without pre-arrangement with EC
• As always, no smoking on Railroad property, long pants, boots, and Hi-vise required by all
• All cars must be equipped with a spark arrestor and a working radio
• All NARCOA Rules and MOW Special Operating Rules apply

We look forward to seeing you there. 
Thank you!

We 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. 
Please send these documents and a check to: 

Mr. Joe Schnyder
20401 North 33rd Drive
Phoenix AZ 85027-3069. 

The E.C.s for this excurstion are: 

Joe Schnyder: 623-332-0238
John Martin:   661-331-7916

Announcing the Memorial weekend excursion at Idaho Falls, Idaho. Friday, May 24th, 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 at 8am we will have our safety briefing. Then shortly after we will run the East Belt to Newdale and return to Idaho Falls yard. Sunday Morning at 8am we will have our safety briefing and then depart to the Yellowstone branch to Ashton and then return to Idaho Falls. On Monday at 8am 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 and start the set off. We should all be out of the area by 3:00 pm. Each day our turn point will not have access to any restaurant or fast food facility. I recommend you bring something along with water. On Saturday we will have a morning break at Ririe, there is a convenience store across from the park we stop at. On Sunday we will stop at a park with nothing around. 

Use all the forms from the NARCOA website as they have been updated as of Feb 1, 2024. Please send  the signed release and car inspection form, as well as a check for $320.00 made payable to MOW to:

Joe Schnyder 
20401 North 33rd Drive 
Phoenix AZ 85027- 3069 

EC's for this trip are: 
Joe Schnyder: 623-332-0238          
John Martin:  661-331-7916

The Northwest Rail Tour 2024 continues with a trip to Heber City, UT. Please join Motorcar Operators West as we visit the Heber Valley Railroad, the home of the fabled Heber Creeper Passenger train of the 1920’s. The Heber Valley Railroad extends from Heber City through the breathtaking Heber Valley and Wasatch Mountains. Along the way, we will cross canals, creeks, and the majestic Provo River before it becomes Deer Creek Reservoir. At the bottom of the hill south of Deer Creek Dam, (MP12), we will turn our cars and return about 1 ½ miles to a hiking trailhead where we will stop and stretch our legs and use the available facilities before returning to the yard for lunch. We will take our lunch break while we wait for the noon train to return. Then we will depart at 3:00, before the 3:30 train, and make another trip before returning to set off. We will make two trips between passenger trains for approximately 48 round-trip miles.

Set on will be on Tuesday, May 28 and we will run on Wednesday, May 29. The cost of this excursion is $125.00 per car. All Certified/Insured NARCOA operators are welcome and invited. The sign-up procedure for this event is a little different because I will be on the road on the Northwest Rail Tour and will not be able to receive your paperwork by U.S. Mail, but I will have email access.

To participate on this excursion, please carefully complete the Excursion Participant Registration form (below) and email (ONLY) to Rick Smith at r_smith627@comcast.net . When I receive your information, I will send you a Run Packet with (hopefully) all the remaining details you need. This is a NARCOA event. All NARCOA and MOW Rules apply. No mentoring, hi-rails, or home-made cars allowed on this excursion.

We look forward to seeing you on the rails in Utah!

PLEASE - DO NOT SEND ANYTHING BY U.S. MAIL. IT WILL NOT BE RECEIVED ON TIME!
 

Rick Smith, EC
707-631-5778
r_smith627@comcast.net
 

Dave Balestreri, EC
dbalestreri@softcom.net 
916-531-7536

Come join us at Ely Nevada May 30 and 31, 2024, for the last of the 2024 five-state tour. We will set on cars starting Thursday May 30th at 11 am at the spur next to the golf course road. When all cars are here, we will hold our safety briefing, then run up to the mine at Ruth and return to Ely for a restroom break.  Depending on the time, we may run to Mc Gill also and return to Ely. Friday May 31st we will have a safety briefing at 9 am then run to the west, come back for restroom break at depot, then to Mc Gill and then return to Ely for set off. 

Please send an excursion participant form from the MOW website; a general release and car inspection form from the NARCOA website; and a check for $100 made out to MOW to:

 Joe Schnyder 
20401 North 33rd Drive 
Phoenix Az 85027-3069 

Please be aware that all monies go to the Nevada Northern railroad as they need our help to survive. We strongly urge you to visit the museum and the facilities there and buy a really neat T-shirt to show your support. 

Thank You very much.

MOW 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.