Private 1 or 2 day excursions ... and you're invited!
Where else can you ride frequently scheduled vintage rail equipment on a very scenic (and busy) commuter corridor at speeds of up to 90 mph? Why ... on the incomparable ... Overland Trail! (This is NOT your 10 mph museum "choo choo train ride". Our cars operate behind regularly scheduled Amtrak trains at full track speed ... just as they were designed to do!) By buying a ticket, you help us keep these incredible museum pieces out on the open road ... where they belong ... operating into the new millennium.
Of course, we also operate other special trips and "Pullman style long hauls" all over the Amtrak system ... where would you like to go? (Please scroll down for long haul info)
The Hatrick family and the Overland Trail are proud members of LARail.com
For information on specific journeys, please scroll and click on the "trip icons" to the right, or use the handy links below:
Los Angeles / San Diego Service
The Overland Trail (and a companion car), operates several times a year between Los Angeles and San Diego, thrilling those in her charge with a nostalgic rail trip to "yesteryear". Departing from the recently restored Los Angeles Union Station (built in 1939!), the vintage railway cars are entrained within Amtrak's state of the art, high speed passenger trains, the PACIFIC SURFLINERS as they speed to San Diego.
A typical San Diego trip starts out thus:
"Upon departure, our passengers enjoy fresh coffee and continental breakfast, while following right-of-way through some wonderfully industrial backsides of LA and Orange County businesses. Our "pocket streamliner" then makes it first stop at Fullerton (our passengers are able to board/detrain at any regular Amtrak station stop). We casually speed through the heart of Orange County, stopping next at Anaheim, then Santa Ana. We encounter our first bit of 90 mph track and race into Irvine, followed by San Juan Capistrano. Shortly after departing San Juan Cap, we reach the mighty Pacific Ocean and enjoy miles of seaside vistas with sunbathers and surfers right outside our windows ... ! You get the idea, the train trip is certainly more than half the fun of our journey ... what adventure!"
The experience will overload your senses!
For the discriminating adventurer, yesterday's pleasures of railway travel are still at hand. Treat yourself, your significant other, family or friends to California's beauty by rail as we journey along Santa Fe's famed surf line between Los Angeles and San Diego or the former Southern Pacific's line up to Santa Barbara. Our on board service will delight your taste buds -- your fare includes freshly prepared food and beverages. While on board, traditionally attired porters will serve you at your seat, recorded big band music sets the mood and seaside vistas fill our large picture windows ... everything for a wonderful trip aboard the time machine known as ... the Overland Trail!
The 10 and 6 Pullman Sleeper, Pacific Sands and the Diner/lounge, Overland Trail attached to an Amtrak passenger train on their way to Santa Fe, NM.
Overnight "PULLMAN" trips
For those who love rail travel (and who doesn't ... I could LIVE on a moving train for the rest of my life!), we have a few Long Hauls scheduled in cooperation with LA RAIL. Our expanded consist often includes the 1950 built, ex Union Pacific sleeping car, Pacific Sands and the 1954 built, ex Boston and Maine sleeping car, Salisbury Beach and finally, the 1959 built, ex CN business car, Tioga Pass.
We offer real "Pullman sleeping car" space on these trips. The rooms are ingeniously designed - compact, but equipped with everything one might need away from home. Depending upon the accommodation: there is one or two beds, sink, toilet, vanity, excellent lighting, closet, heating/air conditioning, room fan and picture window. The rooms are very comfortable ... but you'll probably spend most of your time in the diner/lounge enjoying great food with railroad inspired recipes, wonderful conversation with like minded traveling companions and of course, ever changing vistas from our extra large picture windows in the Overland Trail.
Please click on the various icons on the right hand side for information regarding the "long hauls".
We realize there are so many opportunities to spend your vacation dollars ... That's why we truly appreciate every patron and strive to give them value for their dollar. Our rail trips are designed to be fun and educational, but above all, a time of rejuvenation and relaxation. Another aspect we like to brag about ... on our long hauls (unless otherwise specified), we have rooms for less then 40 passengers, yet we have four cars in our consist ... that averages 10 people per car ... talk about room to roam! We're also talking about a small, intimate number of like minded adventurers ... friendships will develop that will last a life time!
If you truly appreciate vintage streamliner era rail equipment, we strongly encourage membership in Pacific Railroad Society. This outstanding organization has a large fleet of rail equipment that never saw Amtrak service and is therefore in original "pre-Amtrak" condition. We have run a few trips with them and look forward to our next. Their sole Amtrak certified car is the incredibly ALL ORIGINAL, ex UP 6-4-6 sleeper, National Forum built in 1956.
