The route and schedule plan is a proposal which is subject to change; it requires approval of Amtrak and the host railroads.
The AAPRCO 2003 Southern Belle
We are negotiating for a special train from Chicago to the convention in New Orleans. The planned route of this special train will be Chicago - St. Louis - Kansas City - Branson - Shreveport - New Orleans. It will cover 1,616 miles, most of this mileage being non-Amtrak mileage and some being "rare" mileage.
Thursday September 25th: All private cars participating in the special train should be in Chicago's coach yard by 1600; begin assembling the consist.
Depart Chicago at 1000 Friday September 26th; arrive St. Louis at 1530 Friday September 26th. 282 miles traveled. Cars originating in St. Louis are added to the head end of the consist. Overnight in St. Louis.
Depart St. Louis at 0700 Saturday September 27th; travel via Roodhouse, Mexico, MO (KCS). Arrive Kansas City (Knoche Yard) at 1900 Saturday September 27th. 316 miles traveled. Overnight in Kansas City.
Depart Kansas City at 0700 Sunday September 28th; travel on KCS to Neosho, then BNSF to Aurora, and then M&NA to Branson. Arrive Branson at 1600 Sunday September 28th. 254 miles traveled. Bus tour of Branson departs at 1800. Overnight in Branson.
Monday September 29th parked at Branson. Choice of:
0800-1300 Special Ozark Scenic domeliner train.
0900-1300 Bus shopping tour.
1400-???? Special package of shows and dinner.
Shuttle bus service provided in Branson. Overnight in Branson.
Depart Branson at 0500 Tuesday September 30th; reverse route on M&NA and BNSF to Neosho, then KCS to Shreveport. Arrive Shreveport at 2000 Tuesday September 30th. 459 miles traveled. Overnight in Shreveport.
Depart Shreveport at 0700 Wednesday October 1st; arrive New Orleans at 1800 Wednesday October 1st. 305 miles traveled. Special train terminates, having traveled 1,616 miles from Chicago. Park train upon arrival.
Thursday October 2nd at New Orleans: One-half of cars cars to yard for servicing in AM; remaining one-half of cars to yard for servicing in PM.
Cars participating in the convention may arrive at New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal on regularly scheduled Amtrak trains (The Crescent, The Sunset Limited, and the City of New Orleans) or in freight service.
Cars participating in the convention may depart New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal on regularly scheduled Amtrak trains (The Crescent, The Sunset Limited, and the City of New Orleans) or in freight service.
The AAPRCO 2003 Panama Limited
We are negotiating for a special train, from New Orleans to Chicago, to return approximately 22 private cars from the convention to Chicago. This special train will be operated as an advance section of Amtrak train #58, The City of New Orleans, departing New Orleans on Sunday October 5th and arriving Chicago on Monday October 6th. It will known as the AAPRCO 2003 Panama LImited.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE: Depart New Orleans 0900 Sunday October 5th; arrive Chicago 0530 Monday October 6th. In the event the train is late and arrives Chicago after 0600 Monday morning, the train will go directly to the yard (to avoid conflict with commuter morning rush hours); passengers whose destination is Chicago will have to detrain in the yard rather than the station.
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