Updated June 2: The tour is
now closed; it is no longer
possible to sign up for the tour. Thank you! to those of you who signed
up.
Updated June 17: We have one space
available on the tour. It will cost you $60. If you want to go
on the tour contact Rod. This is a premium
event that has been carefully planned, and will be an experience you
will remember fondly. Note that the group meets in the lobby of the
hotel at 6:00 AM Wednesday June 30.
This tour comprises a trip
on one of the Amtrak Capitol Corridor
trains from Santa Clara to Sacramento and return. In Sacramento the
group will receive an escorted tour of the world-class California
Railroad Museum. This is a link to the
California State Railroad Museum.
This will be an all day event on Wednesday, June 30.
The cost is $60 per person including train fare and admission to the
museum. Food is not included.
A member of the convention committee will accompany the tour to provide
commentary along the way and in general manage the tour. A friend of
the convention will accompany the tour to assist the tour manager.
The tour group will leave the hotel at around 6:15 - 6:30 in the
morning for a short
(less than a mile) ride to
the
Amtrak California station to board the 6:52 Amtrak Capitol Corridor
train number 524 to Sacramento. The Capitol Corridor trains are
comfortable with up-to-date equipment and on-board amenities.
Transportation to the departure station
and back will be provided. The ride to Sacramento will take
you
through some historic railroad sites that will be pointed out to you.
Upon arrival in Sacramento at 9:45, the museum is a 200 yard walk
from the train stop. The group will depart Sacramento at 3:35PM on
Capitol Corridor train 543, arriving at the Great America station at
6:27PM where you will be transported back to the hotel;
you should be back in the hotel by 7PM at the latest.
Please note that appropriate food for the time of day is available on
the trains.
Refunds
Once we have bought your train ticket and your museum ticket, we will
not refund your tour payment if you need to cancel. The exact date when
we will buy the tickets is not known, and it will be sometime in the
last half of June.
Where To Meet Wednesday Morning, June 30
Since the tour starts before most convention activity will have
started, you will need to know in advance of arriving at the hotel how
to connect with the tour.
1) We will assemble in the hotel lobby near the front entrance and
2) Be sure to be in the
lobby by 6:15AM for check-in and orientation. The shuttle
to the train station will be leaving no later than 6:30AM; if
you miss the shuttle you will either have to get to the train station
on your own or miss the tour with no refund given. Wear
comfortable shoes and clothing, a light hat is recommended. There
will be no place to leave bags and personal items so whatever you bring
along you will have to carry with you for the day, except on the train
where there is plenty of space for storage of personal items. The
museum and train are air conditioned but Sacramento outdoors can be hot
in late June.
3) To join the group if you are getting to Sacramento on your own and
have made arrangements in advance to be part of the tour, look for a
group getting off train 524. You are welcome to ride back to Santa
Clara with the group; you will have to pay your rail fare; there is
space on the train for your luggage.
Contact us if you have any questions.
Help promote our hobby! The O Scale
Kings is a non-profit 501(c)3
corporation whose mission is to promote 2-rail O scale model
railroading. For more information, click
here.
