Check this out. Warning, price may send you to an early grave.
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Plus, they generally do NOT have a photo runby either.
I would swallow the price and fly from CA to do this if my 2nd child's due date wasn't ~1 week later 
"After taking the train to Plaquemine, passengers will be bussed back to New Orleans."
Might be worth it, depending on who's doing the kissing.
David
Can't understand why folks would pay THAT much money to ride in a fully sealed-up & air conditioned passenger car, dome or otherwise, and never actually see nor hear the steam locomotive. At least it is a worthwhile fund raiser.
I think one good thing they are doing is not allowing people under 18 on board. One, my guess is liability issues. But now, it seems it is becoming more rare to have adult only events. I do not mean the immoral kind. But every so often I would like to be at an uplifting event for adults only.
However, just because a person is legally an adult does not mean they are mentally an adult...
@Hot Water posted:Can't understand why folks would pay THAT much money to ride in a fully sealed-up & air conditioned passenger car, dome or otherwise, and never actually see nor hear the steam locomotive. At least it is a worthwhile fund raiser.
I would tend to agree with this assessment, but apparently, they hit upon an agreeable price point since it's nearly sold out. Considering the time and location, I would gladly pay more for that air conditioning...
I hope our 11 year old grandson doesn't read this. He loves the big UP steam. Is it just this excursion limiting the ages?
I never understood the allure of riding in a car pulled by a particular locomotive but that's just me. For those prices I'd have to be riding in the cab! Of course, if I could pay that price without thought I would be able to afford a donation large enough to get me in the cab and that's exactly what I would strive to do.
-Greg
Not unusual to see those kinds of prices. Last weekend the Commemorative Air Force brought a B29 and a B24 to Lewis airport outside Chicago. Price to sit in the belly of the planes started at $560+ and $1175+ to sit near the crew . All for a 20 minute air time ride. Tickets sold out before the event.
I guess they're making up for last year's lost revenues.
Seems cheaper than the couple of rocket rides this past week...but, it is your money. Hope that is not indicative of the insurance hassle cost to run steam excursions. A friend's dad flew on B-24's in WW-II, and traveled to air shows He might have sprung for "third rail"'s event
@Dominic Mazoch posted:I think one good thing they are doing is not allowing people under 18 on board. One, my guess is liability issues. But now, it seems it is becoming more rare to have adult only events. I do not mean the immoral kind. But every so often I would like to be at an uplifting event for adults only.
However, just because a person is legally an adult does not mean they are mentally an adult...
Conversely, I think it would be uplifting to see more excursions for families with kids which exclude the 55+ age group.
As alluded to by the above commenters, my best memories of steam excursions included a photo runby and a visit to the cab. For example, the S3 4-8-4 Northern stopped mid-tour to let everyone off the train in a field, backed up, forward at speed for photos, and backed up again to pick us all up. At the beginning of the trip, we were allowed in the cab where I got a first-hand education how coal goes from the tender to the engine! So I'm just suggesting that those contemplating steam excursions first investigate if the photo runby and cab visit is also included in the price of the ticket....and then decide.
This is the most fun I’ve had for a steam excursion. A great trip, but being outside mid trip was the most fun, the sights, sounds, smell were far better than the ride inside a enclosed passenger car. Rich Melvin was standing next to me, as he was not the engineer this day.
checked the prices for concert tickets lately where you are close to the stage?
@wb47 posted:checked the prices for concert tickets lately where you are close to the stage?
Except,,,,,,,,,,,,you can REALLY hear the music!!!! Not so much on a current UP steam excursion.
@third rail posted:Not unusual to see those kinds of prices. Last weekend the Commemorative Air Force brought a B29 and a B24 to Lewis airport outside Chicago. Price to sit in the belly of the planes started at $560+ and $1175+ to sit near the crew . All for a 20 minute air time ride. Tickets sold out before the event.
I guess they're making up for last year's lost revenues.
BTW $20 admission to just see the planes close up and the honor of waiting nearly 3 hours to take a 3-4 minute access walk through the planes.
In May, 2019 out in Ogden on the first run, tickets were much more expensive. $5,000 to ride in the dome car per ticket. I agree with Hot Water. It is a great fundraiser. I would much rather be at trackside taking photos.
When people who ride these things with expensive tickets really appreciate the history and what it takes to get the particular object operating? Or in case of the Warbirds, the personal sacrifices of the service personal who flew and maintained them?
For these items and facilities to survive, has love of history been turned into pure entertainment?
@Bruce Brown posted:As alluded to by the above commenters, my best memories of steam excursions included a photo runby and a visit to the cab. For example, the S3 4-8-4 Northern stopped mid-tour to let everyone off the train in a field, backed up, forward at speed for photos, and backed up again to pick us all up. At the beginning of the trip, we were allowed in the cab where I got a first-hand education how coal goes from the tender to the engine! So I'm just suggesting that those contemplating steam excursions first investigate if the photo runby and cab visit is also included in the price of the ticket....and then decide.
Are many of those that get off the train in the middle of nowhere to watch/record the runby really capable of exiting the car without a platform, walking back from the right of way, and then climbing back aboard the cars?
