15% Discount Off Rooms at the
Depot Inn & Suites
Be sure you mention you are coming for SilverRails RailFest 2011.
Transportation:
NOTE: If you are coming from Chicago and find that the Amtrak Southwest Chief
into La Plata is sold out, you can still take the Amtrak Illinois service from Chicago to Quincy
and we'll send the hotel shuttle to Quincy to pick you up free of charge. Just please call us a
few days in advance to let us know you are coming that way so that we can make sure we send a
vehicle large enough to pick up everyone arriving. Thanks!
The Amtrak Southwest Chief from both the east (Chicago) and the west (Los Angeles, Flagstaff,
Albuquerque, Kansas City) provides directly dailey service right to La Plata, Missouri, in the
heart of Silver Rails Counry and 5 minutes from the
Depot Inn & Suites. Free hotel shuttle
service will be provided from the La Plata Amtrak Station. Flights are also available into
Silver Rails Country on Cape Air.
(Fly to St. Louis, MO, then take Cape Air to Kirksville, MO). Free hotel shuttle service will be
provided which is just 5 minutes away. Just call in advance to make arrangements
Free hotel shuttle service is also provided from the Amtrak Stations in Quincy, Illinois, and
Ottumwa, Iowa (Amtrak California Zephyr), but contact the hotel well in advance of your arrival
date as each of these stations is about an hour drive from the hotel.
EVERYONE will be given a FREE copy of he NEW Silver Rails Country Map upon arrival!
Planned Events (subject to change):
More information about the events are coming, but here is the preliminary list of events:
Sunday, July 17th:
10am: Passengers arrive right into La Plata from the west on the Eastbound Amtrak Southwest Chief
with free shuttle service meeting them at the Amtrak Station. Other guests arrive by auto or
will have made prior arrangements with the hotel to be picked up from the airport or other
Amtrak Stations mentioned above.
BBQ Lunch at the Chris Guenzler Million Mile Lookout Point. See:
RailLookout.com
Tour of La Plata local area in Silver Rails Country including a number of venues operated by the
American Passenger Rail Heritage Foundation.
These will probably include:
the Exhibition of Amtrak History,
the Silver Rails Gallery,
the Silver Rails Memorial Library, and
the Silver Rails Event Center.
Plus there will probably be a stop at the headquarters of
TrainWeb.com and
TrainParty.com. Visit
SilverRailsCountry.com for more
information about some of the sites that might be visited.
Dinner at Colton's Steakhouse in Kirksville
8pm: Passengers arrive from the east aboard the Amtrak Southwest Chief
(unless they arrived the prior evening to not miss the festivities of the first day!)
Monday, July 18th:
Railfanning west of La Plata to at least Marcelene, Missouri
Each of the trips out to the photography locations here and below will be led by Chris Guenzler.
Group Dinner at the Red Rooster
Slide Shows / Presentations in the hotel Meeting Room
Tuesday, July 19th:
Morning free until after eastbound Amtrak Southwest Chief arrives into La Plata
Railfanning east of La Plata to mostly Medill on the BNSF mainline
BBQ Dinner at Chris Guenzler Million Mile Lookout Point
Slide Shows / Presentations in hotel Meeting Room
Wednesday, July 20th:
Depart in early morning to caravan to
Train Festival 2011
in Rock Island, Illinois. If interested in being part of the caravan, please send an email to
ltt@LetsTalkTrains.com with the subject "SilverRails Railfest 2011"
Those not going to Train Festival 2011 head home or are welcome to stay and do more touring of
Silver Rails Country!
SilverRails Railfest 2011 Event Ends.
If you plan to arrive earlier than Sunday July 17 or stay beyond Wednesday July 20, then call the hotel toll free at 888-814-3669 to make your hotel reservations. Be sure to mention you are coming for RailFest 2011 in order to obtain the special 15% hotel discount rate.
