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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What's New

Napa Valley Wine Train Test and Tune

April 1, 2025 - June 29, 2025

Confirmed

Napa Valley Wine Train Test and Tune

April 1 - June 29, 2025 - By Appointment


MOW offers a Mentoring Program for new operators. This is also an opportunity to Test and Tune and Troubleshoot your car, and/or just run it, if you haven't had it out in a while. There is a 5-mile round-trip section of track we can use for this in the Napa Yard. The fee is $25. To schedule a date and receive all the details, contact Glenn Boatman (925) 289-6423 or Carl Shellhorn (707) 695-9722.

Northern Nevada

May 20, 2025 - May 21, 2025

Confirmed

Please come and join us at Ely Nevada for the May 20th and 21st 2025 excursion. We will set on Tuesday May 20th starting at 10 am and hope to have all cars on by noon to run to Ruth and then return to Ely for a pottie break at the depot and then run to McGill and back to Ely. Depending on time maybe run to Ruth again. Then on Wednesday May 21st do it all over again and set off that afternoon. Safety Meeting will be after cars are all on Tuesday and then at 9am on Wednesday.

Please send an Excursion participant form along with a release printed on one sheet of paper signed by all riders and a car inspection form and a check for $100 made out to Motorcar Operators West  to Joe Schnyder 20401 north 33rd Drive Phoenix AZ 85027-3069.

Apache Railroad at Holbrook, AZ to Snowflake, AZ

May 21, 2025

Confirmed

MOW is excited to announce an excursion on the Apache Railroad, running from Holbrook, AZ to Snowflake, AZ (37.4 miles each way) on Wednesday, May 21, 2025.

Due to limited parking (only 20 spots available), there is a $100.00 fee per car. Please make checks payable to MOW. Along with your payment, we will need the completed Excursion Participant Form, Liability Release, and Car Inspection. Please send everything to:

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

To secure your spot and car number, please call 623-332-0238.

Additionally, since the railroad is transporting windmill blades and towers, we will need your cell phone number on the Excursion Participant Form in case we need to cancel due to a unit train arriving to unload the blades and towers. For reference, a unit train arrived three days after our excursion in October 2024.

Thank you, and we look forward to seeing you on the excursion!

Eastern Idaho Railroad

May 23, 2025 - May 26, 2025

Confirmed

Eastern Idaho Railroad will host the annual excursion at Idaho falls on May 23rd thru 26th 2025. We will set on cars Friday May 23rd from noon to 4pm at the EI yard at 1041 North Emerson Idaho Falls. Cars will be parked each night in the yard so only one set on and set off. All three days we will not be near a facility to get lunch so bring your brown bag with water. Saturday we will run the East Belt branch 41 miles to Newdale and return to Idaho Falls. Sunday we will run the Yellowstone subdivision to Ashton 52 miles and return to Idaho Falls. Monday we will run the West Belt Industrial sub 18 miles then back to Idaho Falls for a noon set off. Safety Meetings will be 8am each day and all visitors, participants and guests MUST attend the safety meeting that day. Please visit MOW website and get Excursion Participant form, Release both sides printed on one sheet of paper and rail car inspection form along with a check made out to Motorcar Operators West for $320 dollars to Joe Schnyder 20401 North 33rd Drive Phoenix AZ 85027-3069. 

We will have a pottie car for our convenience on this excursion. 

Amador Central Railroad

July 12, 2025

Confirmed

Please come and join us at Amador Central Railroad for the July 12, 2025 excursion.  Set on will start at 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.  Safety meeting will begin at 9:40 a.m. 

Departure will be at 9:55 a.m.

We will make one run from Ione to Martel and return which is  approximately 10 miles each way. A second run will be taken in the afternoon after lunch.  A Hotdog  lunch will be available for a cost of $10 per person at the lunch break .

Suggested locations to stay include the Best Western Amador Inn, 209-223-0211 and the Ione Hotel, 209-781-5894.

Please send an Excursion Participant Form along with a Release Form printed on one sheet of paper signed by all riders and a Car Inspection Form and a check for $105.

Please make check out to
Motorcar Operators West

Mail check and associated documents to:
Mike Mitchell, Excursion Coordinator
P.O. Box 245
Guinda, CA 95637

Bigredfarmscapay@gmail.com
530-379-6651

Location of event
702 Hunter Lane
Ione, CA

Grand Canyon Railroad

October 26, 2025 - October 29, 2025

Confirmed

67.4 miles each way Williams to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Two Nights stay at the Kachina Lodge. Canyon view rooms are $1,296.00. Street view rooms are $1,103.00. Double occupancy, all rooms are two Queen beds, $25.00 for each extra person limit 4 per room.

Total cost includes railroad fees, luggage portage and required tips. Please call for reservation and spot. Registration cut off will be 90 days prior to excursion at which time I will be cashing checks to pay for rooms and railroad fees.

July 25th. 

Joe Schnyder 623-332-0238.