ELDCPS Events & Excursions Information

Saturday, August 16, 2008 - TRIP CANCELLED

In early July, we began selling ticket for the August 16 excursion over NJ Transit's former-Erie Lackawanna commuter lines. We decided to run this trip based on the demand displayed from an earlier, informal email sent out by us. We had planned to sell 55 tickets for the trip, and priced out the trip based on the price quote we received at the time. While ticket sales have been brisk and successful, we received late word that our cost for the trip had more than doubled overnight. This was an unanticipated move, and caused us to make a tough decision.

Although we could have increased capacity on the trip to 80 passengers, even that would result in an overall loss for ELDCPS. While we wanted to run this trip as a fun experience over the former Erie Lackawanna railroad, we also had the desire to raise funds towards the restoration of our cars. Because of the new economics sprung on, ELDCPS has decided to cancel the August 16 trip.

All members and friends who have already made payment will be contacted individually, and a refund will be arranged. Additionally, those who have purchased tickets for the August 16 trip will receive a discount and first notice on additional excursions that we will be operating in the Fall.

We deeply regret any inconvenience this has caused to our members and friends, and we are also saddened that it came to this. We hope to see you on one of our excursions in the future, and thank all of you for supporting ELDCPS and The Lake Cities Project.

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Sunday, August 31, 2008 - Scranton, Penn.
Book Signing aboard City of Lima at Steamtown's Lackawanna Railfest

Judith Miller, Tracie Peterson, Kim Vogel Sawyer and Cathy Marie Hake are good friends, writers and bestselling authors in the inspirational historical-fiction market today. These four authors will bring to Scranton their books, their friendship and their common desire to encourage and aide others in living wholesome lives.

With more than 40 years of writing experience between them, these authors are skilled researchers whose combined 100+ works have explored a range of time periods and regions.

ELDCPS is pleased to bring these authors to a unique venue—ELDCPS’ City of Lima Pullman sleeping car— from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Aug. 31, 2008, in conjunction with Steamtown National Historic Site’s Lackawanna Railfest.

Judith Miller: Born and raised in Pittsburgh, this award-winning author and certified legal assistant is an avid researcher whose love of history is reflected in her novels, two of which have placed on the CBA Top-Ten lists. Her most recent book, An Uncertain Dream, is the third in her “Postcards from Pullman” series that looks at the Pullman Company and the tensions in the Pullman company town outside of Chicago.

Tracie Peterson: Recipient of the Romantic Times 2007 Career Achievement Award, she is the best-selling author of more than 70 novels. One of the founders of American Christian Fiction Writers, she teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences.

Cathy Marie Hake: The author of more than 20 novels, her humorous, historical romances resonate well with her growing fanbase. She is also a licensed nurse who worked for many years in an oncology unit before shifting her focus to prenatal care.

Kim Vogel Sawyer: Author of 11 novels, including the best-selling Waiting for Summer’s Return, she is well-versed in Mennonite history. She is a former educator (pre-K through high-school), a singer, drama troupe leader, quilter and calligrapher.

Steamtown National Historic Site is located in the historic Lackawanna Railroad yards in downtown Scranton, Penn. For directions, click here.

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Saturday, September 20, 2008 - Scranton, Penn.
Delaware-Lackawanna Excursion Featuring City of Lima

The Penn Central Historical Society is sponsoring a ride behind an ex-Penn Central C636 aboard City of Lima. This trip will run round-trip between Scranton and Mount Pocono as part of the Penn Central Historical Society's 2008 Convention. To register for the convention and trip, please fill out this form or visit the Penn Central Historical Society.

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Saturday, September 18 - Monday, September 20, 2008
Fall Foliage Excursion Getaway to Pittsburgh on PRR 120 and Warrior Ridge

ELDCPS, in association with the Juniata Terminal Company, is pleased to announce a special fund raising trip from Philadelphia (with connecting service from New York and Newark) to Pittsburgh.  Our transportation will be Pennsylvania Railroad business car number 120 and Juniata Terminal lounge Warrior Ridge.  These cars will be placed on the rear of Amtrak's Pennsylvanian for the exclusive use of our group.

The history of PRR 120 makes this trip a unique experience in its own right.  Built for Pennsylvania Railroad officials in 1928, every U.S. president from Herbert Hoover to Lyndon Johnson was welcomed aboard.  PRR 120 carried John Kennedy to Army-Navy football games,  and brother Robert's coffin from New York to burial in Washington, D.C.  Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Peter Lawford once chartered the car for a New York to Chicago jaunt.  More recently, the car hosted Prince Charles on a Philadelphia to New York trip.

Our trip will depart Philadelphia on Saturday, Oct. 18 at 12:42 p.m. (passengers can arrange to ride the regular section of the Pennsylvanian from New York departing at 10:50 a.m. or Newark at 11:07 a.m.).  Lunch and dinner will be served enroute along with continuous snack and beverage service.  Arrival in Pittsburgh is scheduled for 8:05 p.m.

Once in Pittsburgh, accommodations will be provided at the Courtyard by Marriott Downtown, located at 945 Penn Avenue.

You will be on your own on Sunday, Oct. 19 for sightseeing and meals. Breakfast is available at the hotel for a nominal fee. We have also arranged for special tours and dining opportunities.

On Monday, Oct. 20, we will be transported back to the train station for a 7:20 a.m. departure. We will travel over Horseshoe Curve during the mid-morning hours. A light breakfast and full lunch will be served before our arrival in Philadelphia at 2:50 p.m. (passengers can continue on Amtrak to arrive in Newark at 4:32 pm and New York at 4:54 pm).

In order to allow our passengers maximum comfort and "platform time" on PRR 120, space for this trip will be extremely limited. The price for this trip is $785 per person, double occupancy, and includes rail transportation between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, all meals, snacks and beverages on board, transportation to/from the train station and the hotel in Pittsburgh, and two nights hotel occupancy. Single supplement is also available, contact us for more information.

Please contact us as soon as possible to reserve your space for this trip.  As always all proceeds go towards our restoration efforts.  If you have any questions please contact our Executive Director, Barb Colangelo, at (570) 575-9202, email at bcolangelo@eldcps.org.

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