Menu
The year 2021 marks forty four years since AAPRCO was founded in 1977. Our 2021 convention, which will be our 43rd annual convention, will be held at Burlington, Vermont. The dates are Wednesday September 29th thru Thursday September 30th.
Participating private cars will arrive and depart on AAPRCO’s American Autumn Explorer special train.
The Hilton Burlington Lake Champlain will be our convention hotel.
2nd Annual
American Autumn Explorer
All Private Passenger Car Special Train
APPRCO is delighted to announce plans for our second annual autumn special train through scenic New England. Operating in cooperation with Amtrak and the Vermont Rail System, this trip promises a relaxing, scenic journey at the height of the fall foliage season. What could be better to shake off the past year’s travel-restriction blues than a scenic rail adventure through the bucolic countryside and quaint villages of the American Northeast? Check out the schedule below and make plans to join us this September!
SCHEDULE INFORMATION
For cars leaving from Chicago for Albany on regular Amtrak service:
Friday, September 24th
– We depart on Amtrak’s Lake Shore Limited at 9:30 p.m. traveling overnight through Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
Saturday, September 25th
– We pass the historic Buffalo terminal during breakfast, continuing east through upstate New York.
– The Lake Shore Limited arrives in Albany-Rensselaer in the afternoon, giving passengers time to explore Albany, Capitol of the Empire State, while our special train is assembled and cars are serviced.
– We remain parked in Albany overnight.
Sunday, September 26th
– We depart Albany-Rensselaer as an Amtrak special, traveling north along the Hudson River to Whitehall, New York. Proceeding east into Vermont, the train arrives in Rutland in the morning.
– At Rutland, we drop the Amtrak locomotives and head south as a Vermont Rail System special train. While on VRS, passengers may enjoy the crisp mountain air from open window vestibules or while seated on platforms.
– Get your cameras at the ready! Fall color is in full bloom as we journey south to the quaint town of North Bennington, Vermont. A photo run-by is scheduled at the historic 1880 Rutland Railroad Depot.
– We continue south to Hoosick Junction, New York; then reverse direction, and travel back to North Bennington, where we tie down overnight.
Monday, September 27th
– After a mid-morning departure, our special travels north through the picturesque Vermont countryside, passing Manchester and Rutland.
– As an additional routing feature this year, the locomotives run around the train at Rutland to proceed south on the Green Mountain Railroad.
– Arriving in Bellows Falls, we tie up for the night.
Tuesday, September 28th
– Departing Bellows Falls, we travel north through Rutland and arrive at Burlington, our convention destination, in the afternoon.
– Our special train parks within easy walking distance of our convention hotel and the shops and restaurants of charming downtown Burlington.
Wednesday, September 29th
– AAPRCO’s annual convention meetings and activities take place at the Burlington Hilton.
– In the evening, enjoy our signature event, the AAPRCO car party. Mingle with friends and partake of the hors d’oeuvres while you revel in the unique character of fifteen participating private varnish.
Thursday, September 30th
– In the morning, take a behind-the-scenes guided tour of the shops of host railroad, Vermont Rail Systems. The tour is included in conference registration and guest tickets are available.
– In the afternoon, soak up some local culture with an exclusive, docent-led tour of the Shelburne Museum. The museum’s wide-ranging collection offers a microcosm of the rich heritage of the American Northeast. This is an optional tour not included in the conference registration and an additional fee is required.
– In the evening, we gather for a bon voyage cruise on the Ethan Allen Lake Champlain cruiser.
Friday, October 1st
– Departing Burlington in the morning, we pick up the Amtrak locomotives at Rutland and return to Albany-Rensselaer, New York, where the trip terminates.
– Cars depart on regularly scheduled Amtrak trains.
The special train and convention activities are reserved exclusively for AAPRCO members.
For information on cars with space available, contact execdirector@aaprco.com.
To join AAPRCO, visit www.aaprco.com and click into ‘Join’.
The special train and convention activities are reserved exclusively for AAPRCO members.
For information on cars with space available or to join AAPRCO,
please visit www.aaprco.com.
We will update this web page when more information is available.
Last updated September 22, 2021