May 18, 2009 – Groveport, Ohio
American Steam Railroad Preservation Association Inc, in cooperation with the California Zephyr Railcar Charters announces a golden opportunity to ride historic first-class luxury railcars between Portland, OR and Minneapolis, MN on a train pulled by the sole remaining Southern Pacific Daylight steam locomotive, #4449.

California Zephyr Railcar Charters is providing its Silver Fleet, comprised of the railcars Silver Lariat, Silver Rapids, and Silver Solarium, all of which were built for the legendary California Zephyr passenger train. Also available will be the vintage Pennsylvania Railroad Sleeper / Lounge Car Colonial Crafts. All four railcars will travel with locomotive #4449 across the Pacific Northwest on the famed Empire Builder route, allowing guests to marvel at the incredible sights and breathtaking views in daylight from their comfortable perch aboard a classic dome car.

Daytime-only segments aboard the Silver Fleet from Portland, OR to Minneapolis, MN (EAST) and return (WEST) will be sold exclusively online at http://www.americansteamrailroad.org – only 20 seats are available per segment and they will be sold on a first come / first serve basis.

Proceeds from the trips will benefit the restoration of ASR’s Frisco 2-8-2 steam locomotive #1352.

Each day’s segment coincides with the train’s overnight servicing stops along the route. The EAST trip, taking place in early July 2009, is as follows:
July 3: Portland, OR – Spokane, WA
July 4: Spokane, WA – Whitefish, MT
July 5: Whitefish, MT – Havre, MT
July 6: Off Day – Havre, MT
July 7: Havre, MT – Minot, ND
July 8: Minot, ND – Fargo, ND
July 9: Fargo, ND – Minneapolis, MN

Each segment is $499 per person.

As a guest aboard the train you will be treated to first-class service, with gourmet meals prepared fresh by the on-board chefs and served in one of the vista-dome cars. Onboard bar service is complimentary.

Riders are responsible for their own transportation to the train. Riders may purchase more than one segment, but will be responsible for their own lodging during the layovers.

The EAST trip tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at http://www.americansteamrailroad.org

**Due to the unique circumstances of this trip, tickets are non-refundable for the EAST trip unless we are forced to cancel, in which case the entire amount of payments to date will be refunded. The American Steam Railroad Preservation Association, Inc and California Zephyr Railcar Charters, reserve the right to cancel or substitute cars if conditions warrant.

The tickets for the WEST trip, to take place in the fall of 2009, are also on sale at http://www.americansteamrailroad.org. Remember, this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity will also help American Steam Railroad as we continue “Preserving America’s Railway Heritage!”