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 Northwest Rail TourMay 10, 2024 - May 31, 2024ConfirmedNorthwest 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 |
Goose Lake RailwayMay 10, 2024 - May 11, 2024ConfirmedMotorcar 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: Rick Smith
NARCOA General Release Form (NARCOA website) (printed on one sheet, double-sided) NARCOA Rail Vehicle Inspection Form (NARCOA website) We look forward to seeing you there. |
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 |
Memorial Weekend Excursion at Idaho Falls, IDMay 24, 2024 - May 31, 2024ConfirmedAnnouncing 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. EC's for this trip are: |
Heber Valley RailroadMay 28, 2024 - May 29, 2024ConfirmedThe 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 Dave Balestreri, EC |
Nevada Northern - Ely, NVMay 30, 2024 - May 31, 2024ConfirmedCome 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 Thank You very much. |
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. |