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Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site dual.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!dual!paul
From: paul@dual.UUCP (Baker)
Newsgroups: net.railroad
Subject: Passenger service Willits-Eureka CA
Message-ID: <1099@dual.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 16-Sep-85 13:03:19 EDT
Article-I.D.: dual.1099
Posted: Mon Sep 16 13:03:19 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 17-Sep-85 06:03:44 EDT
Organization: Dual Systems, Berkeley, CA
Lines: 50

References:

Last Labour Day, I travelled from Willits to Eureka and back on the
"North Coast Daylight" train.  This runs from Willits to Eureka along
the Northwestern Pacific line.  The line is now operated by Eureka
Southern who use it for freight shipments during the week and by the
Redwood Coast Railway company who use it for weekend passenger
excursions.  It has been heavily booked through most of the summer.

The are a number of different tours available, all using the train in
at least one direction.  Connecting buses are offered from San
Francisco, which I took.  The Railway company will also book hotels in
Eureka if required.  The tour can all be worked and paid for at one
time.

I enjoyed my trip a lot and consider the service given to be quite a
bit better than Amtrak for example.  I would recommend the trip to
anyone who feels they would like a seven hour rail trip.  The staff all
seem to be keen and enthusiastic which is a refreshing change.  A
package of information is left on the seat giving a milepost guide of
things to see and a history of the railroad and also some guides to
Eureka.  The train has a dome/bar car at the front of the train and a
two dining cars about half way along.  The food is good and tastes as
if it has been cooked on the train.

The route follows the Eel River for nearly all the trip, crossing it
many times on bridges of various kinds.  There are plenty of tunnels as
well.  The scenery is very impressive, changing from dry scrub covered
hills at the Willits end to foggy pine covered slopes at the Eureka
end.

The only difficulties encountered were:

There was rather a long wait for booked lunches on the Eureka bound
section of the journey.

The office is very busy, so it is hard to get through on the phone.
Also, we only got tickets when we boarded the bus in San Francisco.

Due to poor track condition, the train does not run very fast, this
doesn't worry me and lets one get a good view of the scenery, but if
you are expecting the TGV, forget it.

The trains are scheduled to run till 27 October although this may be
extended if demand warrants.

The phone number of the tour organizers is [800] 482 7100 or [415]
398 2994

I hope this is of some interest.

Paul Wilcox-Baker.


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