American Rail Excursions Go Back 
2nd Annual WILL Civil War Train  
9 Days, September 7 - 15, 2012 From $3,883*  
 
 
Board private train cars on a unique itinerary visiting * Vicksburg * New Orleans & War of 1812 Battlefield * Atlanta * Kennesaw Mountain Southern Museum with the "General" stolen during the Civil War's locomotive chase & Chickamauga battlefields * Civil War Cyclorama * Southeastern Railway Museum * Confederate White House & the Museum of the Confederacy * Washington DC Illuminations * Via our restored train cars from the 1950's attached to * City of New Orleans * The Crescent * The Cardinal
A LL ABOARD for the second year of our unique tour featuring Civil War sites while riding in restored train cars from the 1950's. NOTE: a detailed pdf at the end of this webpage explains all of this and sleeper options.  
 
9/7/2012     Day 1    FRIDAY Chicago-Champaign-En Route South
You may board our vintage cars in Chicago after 2:00 p.m. or at stations south along the route of the City of New Orleans at no extra charge. Or head north from western Illinois stations via Amtrak trains from various points between St Louis and Chicago (Lincoln Service or Texas Eagle at extra cost). Depart Chicago on the City of New Orleans 8:00 p.m. Due to the late departure this evening, the train will serve heavy hors d'oeuvres along with soft drinks and alcoholic beverages. We will pick up others along the route, with most boarding at Champaign at 10:34 p.m. Continue south overnight.  (B, H)
9/8/2012     Day 2    SATURDAY Yazoo City-Vicksburg-New Orleans
You have a choice today: either stay on the train or after breakfast, depart the train and board our private motor coach to Vicksburg (1 hour) and a guided tour of this pivotal battlefield and siege (shown below in period engraving) where the Confederacy was split in two on the same day that Lee lost Gettysburg July 4, 1863. Lunch on your own. Continue south (3 hours) to New Orleans where we reboard the train (parked at the station) for another great dinner.  (B, D)
9/9/2012     Day 3    SUNDAY New Orleans
Travelers have a choice of being dropped off at the excellent World War II Museum for a self-guided tour (admission is at your cost); or, stay on the motor coach for a guided sightseeing tour of New Orleans including Andrew Jackson's battlefield that ended the War of 1812. The rest of the day is free for exploring the French Quarter and dining (on your own). Return to the train cars at your own pace for overnight... but, Night Owls must be back and All Aboard before 6:00 a.m. tomorrow morning!  (B)
9/10/2012     Day 4    MONDAY New Orleans-Atlanta
Departing at 7:00 a.m., our train cars will head east hooked to The Crescent. We enjoy a full day on the train with more great service, adult beverages and fine dining. We are scheduled to arrive at 7:35 p.m. in Atlanta.  (B, L, D)
9/11/2012     Day 5    TUESDAY Kennesaw Mountain & Chickamauga battlefields
After breakfast, we board our motor coach and take a day trip north for a guided tour to the Kennesaw Mountain & Chickamauga battlefields. Along the way we stop at the Smithsonian's Southern Museum which has great Civil War era train exhibits. See the engine, "General," which was stolen in the great locomotive chase! We will make a quick stop for lunch on your own. We return to the train for dinner and our second overnight stay in Atlanta.  (B, D)
9/12/2012     Day 6    WEDNESDAY Atlanta-En Route
After breakfast, today's sightseeing includes the Civil War Cyclorama, time for lunch (on your own), and the Southeastern Railway Museum. We return to the train for dinner and this evening's departure of The Crescent at 8:04 p.m. heading north.  (B, D)
9/13/2012     Day 7    THURSDAY En Route-Richmond-Washington DC
You have a choice today, either stay on the train until its scheduled arrival at Union Station in Washington DC at 9:53 a.m and enjoy a free day touring the Smithsonian Museums etc.; or, after an early breakfast detrain at Charlottesville at 7:09 a.m. We board a motor coach and are taken to the capital of the Confederacy, Richmond, for a visit to the Confederate White House (at right) and the Museum of the Confederacy with time for lunch along the way (on your own). After our visits we continue on to Washington DC for dinner aboard the train. Afterwards we will enjoy an Illuminated Monuments tour of Washington hosted by our favorite DC guide, Tony Pitch.  (B, D)
9/14/2012     Day 8    FRIDAY Washington DC-En Route
We depart on The Cardinal at 11:05 a.m. and travel the scenic route west through the mountains for another great day of life on the train.  (B, L, D)
9/15/2012     Day 9    SATURDAY En Route-Chicago-Central Illinois
We are scheduled to arrive in Chicago after breakfast at 10:05 a.m. After saying farewell, most of the group departs on the included Amtrak Illini ticket to eastern Illinois stations like Champaign or purchase an optional Amtrak ticket on the Texas Eagle at 1:45 p.m. to Bloomington, Springfield etc.  (B, D)
 
What's included: ■ Rail transportation, sleeping berth, all drinks and snacks aboard the train ■ Non-train ground transportation and guided sightseeing ■ Admission tickets ■ Tour led by Joe Luka  ■ 19 Meals: 9 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches and 8 Dinners ■ Hotel accommodations  

Accommodations (8) number of nights
City of New Orleans  (1) Sleeping Berth, en route
Private Train Car in New Orleans  (2) Sleeping Berth, while in the station
Private Train Car in Atlanta  (2) Sleeping Berth, while in the station
The Crescent  (1) Sleeping Berth, en route
Private Train Car in Washington DC  (1) Sleeping Berth, while in the station
The Cardinal  (1) Sleeping Berth, en route
 

What's not included: ■ Tips at end of trip to be divided among the crew $135 ■ Travel insurance from TravelGuard, if age 60+: $233 ■ Discount for paying balance by cash or check $100 

*Prices are per person, based on double occupancy : ■ Single room costs $4362 ■ Triple room costs $5144/person ■ Quad room costs $3883/person ■ Documents required: Drivers license or state ID with photograph. ■ Insurance: TravelGuard, for details and costs by age group and level of coverage see www.tourgrouppro.com/insurance. ■ All features, terms and details are subject to change. No refund for unused meals and other features or not riding or sleeping on the train on a given day. While most terms and conditions apply per www.tourgrouppro.com/faq, due to this being a chartered train if you cancel before departure or leave the tour early there is no refund for any payment (although insurance will reimburse for all payments except the insurance cost if for a covered reason). Roomettes (single berth) have a seat, toilet and sink that are only accessible during the day when the berth is up. Bedrooms (with either 2 or 4 berths) have a small separate room with a toilet and sink that are accessible day and night. Separate toilet and shower is available in each car. While we expect to sell out again this year, we will have 2 vintage cars for fewer than 25 travelers, 3 vintage cars for 25-32 passengers or 4-5 vintage cars with 33-48. No smoking is allowed in our private cars; when there is an extended stop a smoker can detrain. ■ Acct. 120906A
Join us from Alton, Bloomington, Carlinville, Champaign, Chicago, Homewood, Joliet, Kankakee, Lincoln, Mattoon, Pontiac, Springfield, St Louis and to see additional stations click Printable PDF Flier below
For more information or reserve your place, call Judy McElfresh 217-422-5002 Toll Free 877-386-4777, book online with deposit of $1300 per person charged to credit card. Or send deposit check to: TourGroupPlanners, 363 S Main St Ste 175 Decatur IL 62523 .
Printable pdf Flier