Join us for a tour of Vermont by private railcar! The AAPRCO Autumn Explorer is a unique travel adventure for those who enjoy exclusive vacations. This train is made up of a variety of private railcars from all over the country that are joined together and travel as one long train. This special train only moves during the day and parks at night. There are plenty of off train adventures planned like a trip to the top of Jay Peak, wine and cheese tastings and a steamboat cruise.
Our special train departs Albany and heads up through the beautiful Connecticut River valley to Vermont.
Sunday, Oct. 5 – AAPRCO Amtrak Extra Train Albany-Rensselaer, NY via Rutland, VT to Burlington, VT (168 mi)
NOTE: Open Vestibule and Platform Riding is PROHIBITED
8:00 a AAPRCO Amtrak Extra Train Departs Albany-Rensselaer, NY Amtrak Station
10:45 a Arrives Rutland, VT
Option 05-A – Guests detrain to Explore Rutland, VT
Option 05-B – Guests remain onboard while locomotives are repositioned to other end of train
12:15 p Guests reboard AAPRCO Extra
12:30 p Departs Rutland, VT
2:15 p Amtrak Extra Arrives Burlington, VT (218-216 Battery St, Burlington, VT 05401)
Option 05-C – Guests Explore Burlington self-guided (alternative to Spirit of Ethan Allen Harvest Moon Dinner Cruise)
Option 05-D – EXTRA COST ITEM: Guests Sail on Spirit of Ethan Allen Harvest Moon Dinner Cruise (extra cost item)
5:00 p Board Spirit of Ethan Allen Harvest Moon Dinner Cruise
5:30 p Spirit of Ethan Allen Harvest Moon Dinner Cruise Sails
7:30 p Spirit of Ethan Allen Harvest Moon Dinner Cruise Docks
9:00 p Guests return to AAPRCO Cars for Overnight stay at Burlington’s Vermont Rail System Yard
9:00 a Group A Walk (20 minutes, 7/10 mile) to Green Mountain Transit Station (45 St Paul St, Burlington)
9:30 a Group A Boards Green Mountain Transit Bus Route 6 for Shelburne Museum
9:56 a Group A Arrives at Shelburne Museum for Tour and Lunch (on own)
Option 06-B – Guests Explore the Shelburne Museum (included in AAPRCO trip)
9:35 a Group B Walk (20 minutes, 7/10 mile) to Green Mountain Transit Station (45 St Paul St, Burlington)
10:00 a Group B Boards Green Mountain Transit Bus Route 6 for Shelburne Museum
10:26 a Group B Arrives at Shelburne Museum for Tour and Lunch (on own)
3:00 p VRS-AAPRCO Trainset Departs Burlington, VT
3:20 p VRS-AAPRCO Trainset Arrives Shelburne, VT Train Depot
3:20 p Guests board VRS-AAPRCO Extra
3:30 p Depart Shelburne, VT
6:30 p Arrive Bellows Falls, VT (54 Depot St, Bellows Falls, VT 05101)
7:30 p Guests may explore Bellows Falls (self-guided)
9:00 p Guests return to AAPRCO Cars for Overnight stay at Bellows Falls Island Yard
Tuesday, Oct. 7 – All Day Exploration of Bellows Falls, VT and Surrounding Area
Bellows Falls Downtown Alliance lists a number of venues that you may want visit during our stay:
· Retail
· Tours
9:30 a Guest detrain (except those on Option A) for activities in Bellows Falls
10:30 a AAPRCO Train repositions to Riverside Reload for Servicing
Option 07-A 9:45 a – 11:00 a Walk to North Walpole, NH Shops – Guided Tour North Walpole Shops
Option 07-B 10:00 a – Walking Tour (moderate) Oak Hill Trails and the Victorian Neighborhoods
Option 07-C 10:00 a – Walking Tour (easy) Retail Shopping Trail
Option 07-D 10:00 a – Walking Tour (moderate) Riverfront Trail and Adams Grist Mill
Option 07-E 11:00 a – Walking Tour (moderate) Island Trail & Square, BF Historical Society Museum (includes glass blowing studios and art galleries)
Option 07-F 11:00 a– Walking tour (easy) Victorian Neighborhood
12 Noon EXTRA COST ITEM: Lunch (on own, advance order recommended) recommendations include:
· Flat Iron Cooperative | 51 Square | Phone 802-732-8371
· Athens Pizza | 83 Westminster St | Phone 802-463-9777
· Pizza Palace | 111 Rockingham Rd | Phone 802-463-4447
· China Garden | 117 Rockingham St | Phone | 802-463-9885
· Dari Joy | 140 Rockingham St | Phone 802-463-9816
Option 07-G 1:00 p – Walking Tour (moderate) Oak Hill Trails and the Victorian Neighborhoods
Option 07-H 1:00 p – Walking Tour (easy) Retail Shopping Trail
Option 07-I 1:00 p – Walking Tour (moderate) Riverfront Trail and Adams Grist Mill
Option 07-J 2:00 p – Walking Tour (moderate) Island Trail & Square, BF Historical Society Museum (includes glass blowing studios and art galleries)
Option 07-K 2:00 p – Walking tour (easy) Victorian Neighborhood
3:00 p AAPRCO Train returns from Riverside Reload
3:30 p Guests may board AAPRCO Train
4:00 p INCLUDED: Wine, Cheese, and Chocolates Sampling (Amtrak Station 54 Depot St, Bellows Falls, VT 05101)
Please consider a purchase from the vendors that we anticipate participating in this event:
· Alpenglow
· Vermont Creamery chèvre (goat) cheese
· Vermont Vines wine
6:00 p EXTRA COST ITEM: Dinner
Option 07-L – Ciao Popolo Italian Restaurant | 36 Square |
8:00 p
Option 07-M – Bellows Falls Opera House | 7 Village Square | Movie Bellows Falls Historic Film "Called to Duty"
9:00 p Guests return to AAPRCO Cars for Overnight stay at Bellows Falls Island Yard
Wednesday, Oct. 8 - AAPRCO Vermont Rail Extra Bellows Falls via White River Junction to St Johnsbury, VT
NOTE: Open Vestibule and Platform Riding is Authorized with Safety Glasses
8:00 a Depart Bellows Falls, VT traveling North along the East Bank of the Connecticut River
10:00 a Arrive White River Junction, VT
Guests Explore White River Junction (self-guided)
1:00 p Depart White River Junction traveling along the West bank of the Connecticut River
4:00 p Arrive St Johnsbury, VT
5:00 p Guests may explore St Johnsbury (self-guided)
9:00 p Guests return to AAPRCO Cars for Overnight stay at St Johnsbury Station
Thursday, Oct. 9 – All Day Exploration of St Johnsbury, VT and Surrounding Area
8:00 a Breakfast on board
9:00 a Welcome to St Johnsbury and a brief history at St Johnsbury Station & Welcome Center | 51 Depot Square
10:00 a Explore St Johnsbury (self-guided)
10:00 a Retail shopping (on own)
12:00 p EXTRA COST ITEM: Lunch (on your own )
Option 09-A Whirligig Brewing & Bistro | 397 Railroad St, Unit #2| Phone 802-417-2468
Option 09-B Anthony's Diner | 321 Railroad St | Phone 802-748-3613
1:00 p Explore St Johnsbury
Option 09-C – Self-guided walking tour
Option 09-D – INCLUDED: Guided walking tour of St Johnsbury and attractions
(Note: for those who have difficulty walking uphill, there is a 1:00 p Transit Bus to St Johnsbury House bus stop then Walk to History & Heritage Center)
1:15 p St Johnsbury History & Heritage Center | 421 Summer St | 802-424-1090
2:30 p Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium | 1302 Main St | 802-748-2372
4:00 p St Johnsbury Athenaeum | 1171 Main St | 802-748-8291
5:15 p Dinner
Option 09-E – EXTRA COST ITEM: Tour and Dinner at St Johnsbury Distillery | 74 Eastern Ave | 802-424-1146
Option 09-F – EXTRA COST ITEM: Dinner on your own
7:00 p Cultural Event
Option 09-G – Performance at Catamount Arts | 115 Eastern Ave | 802-748-2600
Option 09-H – Self-guided exploration of nightlife
9:00p Guests return to AAPRCO Cars for Overnight stay at St Johnsbury
Friday, Oct. 10 – AAPRCO Vermont Rail Extra St Johnsbury via Orleans, VT to Bellows Falls, VT
NOTE: Open Vestibule and Platform Riding is Authorized with Safety Glasses
7:30 a Depart St. Johnsbury, VT
10:00 a Arrive Orleans, VT
Option 10-A – EXTRA COST ITEM: Visit Jay Peak Resort for lunch and a tram ride to the top of mountain
10:05 a Board bus to Jay Peak
11:00 a Lunch at Jay Peak
11:30 a Tram Ride to top of the summit of Jay Peak at an elevation of 3,862 feet (1,177 m) for amazing vistas
1:00 p Board bus to return to Orleans
Option 10-B – Guests remain onboard for the “rare mileage” move to Newport Yard so Locomotives can reposition to south end of the train
1:45 p Guests board AAPRCO Extra
2:00 p Depart Orleans, VT
7:30 p Arrive Bellows Falls, VT; overnight in Bellows Falls Island Yard
8:00 p Guests may detrain to do a self-guided exploration of Bellow Falls
9:00p Guests return to AAPRCO Cars for Overnight stay at Bellows Falls Island Yard
Saturday, Oct. 11 – AAPRCO Vermont Rail Extra Bellows Falls, VT to Burlington, VT via Rutland
NOTE: Open Vestibule and Platform Riding is Authorized with Safety Glasses
7:30 a Depart Bellows Falls Island Yard
7:45 a Arrive Riverside Reload for Train Servicing
10:15 a Depart Riverside Reload along the Williams River via Ludlow, VT
3:00 p Arrive Burlington, VT
Option 11-A – Guests Explore Burlington self-guided (instead of Champlain Valley Dinner Train)
Option 11-B – EXTRA COST ITEM: Champlain Valley Dinner Train
3:30 p Board Champlain Valley Dinner Train
4:00 p Champlain Valley Dinner Train Departs Burlington
6:30 p Champlain Valley Dinner Train Arrives Burlington
9:00p Guests return to AAPRCO Cars for Overnight at Burlington’s Vermont Rail System Yard
Sunday, Oct. 12 – AAPRCO Amtrak Extra Burlington, VT via Rutland for Albany-Rensselaer, NY (168 mi)
NOTE: Open Vestibule and Platform Riding is PROHIBITED
8:00 a Guest free to explore Burlington (self-guided)
11:00 a Guests must be onboard AAPRCO Extra
12:00 p Depart Burlington, VT
1:00 p Arrive Rutland, VT
Note: Guests remain onboard while locomotives are repositioned to other end of train
2:00 p Depart Rutland, VT
5:00 p Arrive Albany-Rensselaer, NY
Option 12-A – Guests remain onboard AAPRCO Cars Overnight after switching is completed
Option 12-B – Guest depart
6:00 p Amtrak crews Switch railcars off Amtrak Extra
NOTE: Guest may not detrain nor board cars during switching operations
10:00 p Guest may board Cars (only if Amtrak Crews have finished switching)