Vermont Winter Rail Trip: Green Mountain Flyer to Rutland
March 4, 2000
Vermont Winter Rail Trip was a success! Thanks to all who helped support the Vermont Railway Museum.
For one trip only — March 4, 2000 — Rail Travel Center and the Vermont Railroad Museum chartered the historic Green Mountain Flyer from the Green Mountain Railroad and operated one of the very few winter passenger trains to cross the crest of the Green Mountains on the former Rutland Railroad since regular passenger service ended in 1953.
Departing Bellows Falls at 9:10 am, we followed the Connecticut River to its confluence with the Williams River, then ascended the Williams River Gorge. The tracks pass two covered bridges and a waterfall en route to Chester — the destination of regular summer trips.
At Chester we were given the opportunity to photograph a runby. After the photo runby, we continued another 40 miles to Rutland, crossing the crest of the Green Mountains. The gorge narrows through the Proctorsville Gulf en route to Ludlow, then sharply climbs to the divide near Mount Holly. The broad Summit area offered sweeping views west toward the Taconic Mountains and Vermont Valley. We were scheduled to arrive in Rutland at 12:30 pm, and though we held in a siding for 20 minutes to let a 65-car GMRR freight pass heading east, we arrived almost on time — and were in time to see Amtrak's Vermonter in the station.
After scattering to enjoy downtown Rutland and find lunch, everyone boarded for departure back east at 2:00 pm. We had three more photo runby opportunities on the return trip and still made it back to Bellows Falls near the scheduled 5:30 pm arrival.
Travel was in restored 1920s heated coaches, and all passengers were treated to a detailed commentary on the history and scenery along the Rutland line during the trip. The Rail Travel Center also provided passengers with maps of the route, interesting historical articles, and a timetable from the heyday of passenger railroading over the line. What a treat!
The Vermont Railroad Museum would like to thank the great folks at Rail Travel Center for a wonderful trip and for donating $5 per ticket sold where the purchaser mentioned the Museum. We had over 30 tickets sold to Museum supporters!
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