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NARP Region 5 Annual Meeting Text and Photos by Don Stewart The Radisson Prince Charles Hotel is sold out. The Sheraton 4 Points (910/323-8282) is the designated overflow hotel. Deadline for receipt of meeting registration and payment is noon of Tuesday, March 25. There will be no registration at the door. |
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| Aberdeen & Rockfish Railroad 400 passes in front of former Cape Fear & Yadkin Valley Railroad Depot (presently undergoing a multi-million dollar restoration as a future transportation museum and visitors center). Scene is two blocks from Radisson Prince Charles Hotel. |  |
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In addition to a planned panel discussion to follow the Saturday (29 March) luncheon and an invited keynote speaker at the reception/dinner that evening, meeting activities will include both NARP business sessions as well as a presentation by the NCDOT Rail Division. Activities are also being planned for those arriving on Friday to include a tour of the in-progress restoration of the c.1890 Cape Fear & Yadkin Valley Railroad Depot (two blocks from the Radisson). Friday night's options will be especially varied as our meeting weekend coincides (planned) with Fayetteville's monthly
"Fourth Friday"
arts and entertainment open house. Just walk out of the hotel and turn left.
NCDOT Rail, Yard & Station Tour Sunday, 30 March, will feature an optional tour of the North Carolina Railroad between Raleigh and Greensboro on Trains 73 and 80, a visit to NCDOT's Capitol Yard maintenance and storage facility and renovated historic stations in Rocky Mount, Wilson and perhaps Selma (time driven). Pat Simmons, NCDOT Rail Division Director, will be our guide over the NCRR. He will provide a running commentary on recent and ongoing improvements to include curve realignments, lengthened sidings, power switches, CTC, double tracking, 4-quadrant grade-crossings, bridge replacement, etc..., as North Carolina plans for higher speeds and more trains. The segment between Raleigh and Durham is also be fitted for two additional tracks for the Triangle Transit Authority's regional rail system (to begin operation in 2007). The cost for the charter bus segment is $22.50. You will need to make your own rail reservations for Train 73, the Piedmont, from Raleigh to Burlington and from Burlington to Raleigh on Train 80, the Carolinian (Burlington is necessary as the computer will not accept a turn at Greensboro). A new 25% off discount program is in effect until 14 March. It requires fare code H306 and is available only for internet purchases. If you have already submitted your registration and want to add this option, just complete the appropriate sections of the registration form. |
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North Carolina's Carolinian (Amtrak 80) boards passengers at the historic Rocky Mount Amtrak (ACL) station which recently underwent an $11.5 million restoration as part of the
NCDOT's statewide station upgrade program.
On the right is newly restored Wilson Amtrak station.
An optional tour planned for Sunday, March 30, will include visits to several of these properties.
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You will never be far from the action for your entire stay in downtown Fayetteville. The Amtrak Station sits on CSX Transportation's busy north-south mainline which generally handles about 40 trains per day, including the famous Tropicana "Orange Juice Train" and Amtrak's premier AutoTrain. If that is not enough, just two short blocks east lies the joint CSX/Norfolk Southern yard lead to the William's St. interchange yard. Norfolk Southern typically calls six days a week as does the historic
Aberdeen & Rockfish Railroad.
The A&R had been under continuous family ownership for its entire 110 years with family members actively involved in daily operations. The William's St. Yard is directly across from the CF&YV RR Depot, three blocks from the Radisson.
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Train 89 rests in the Fayetteville Amtrak station before proceeding to Florida. In the background is the U.S Army's Airborne & Special Operations Museum. The museum will be the location for the Saturday night reception and dinner featuring Governor Dukakis as keynote speaker. NCDOT Secretary Tippett will also attend. |
| NARP members returning on Train 19 Sunday night (actually early morning) will be treated to an evening excursion on the Charlotte Trolley. |
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Registration Registration fee will be $59 per member, substantially less than last year's $80. The registration fee will include both the Saturday luncheon and the reception/dinner that evening. To obtain a registration form please send a long SASE to Region 5 Director Jim Stevenson, meeting registrar/treasurer at 13 Westlake Point, Pinehurst, NC 28374. Forms will be mailed out immediately. You may also print out the on-line registration form, fill it out and mail that in. |
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The Palmetto departs Fayetteville Amtrak station for Florida.
The red barn is actually the station, done in the classic Dutch Revival style.
Housed in the south end of the station is a Subway restaurant.
The Radisson Prince Charles Hotel is in the background.
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Hotel Rates The Radisson is sold out. You may continue check for cancellations, ask to be placed on their waiting list, etc..., however, the designated overflow hotel is the Sheraton Four-Seasons. The Four-Seasons rates will be the same as for the Radisson and can be reached at 910/323-8282. It is located at Exit 49 on Interstate 95. There are already NARP guests registered there so you will not be alone. The Radisson's special room rate is $68 per night (single or double), $21 less than either of the last two meetings. A daily continental breakfast is included. For those wishing to stay a third day, a special rate of $46 has been secured. [These rates were reduced. Anyone who already holds reservations for the prior special rates will be checked in at the reduced rates.] To secure your hotel reservations please call toll-free 800/333-3333 or 910/433-4444 and ask for the special NARP rate. The Radisson has initially blocked 50 rooms for our meeting and will guarantee their availability and the special rate until March 1. Prior to then, additional rooms will be made available should inventory permit. To assure your attendance you should make reservations as soon as possible. Unless you are really hanging on the fence please consider locking in your reservations now. You can always make adjustments at a later date. Given the great lineup of speakers, it is anticipated that the meeting will quickly sell out. |
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Trains, Cars and Planes Fayetteville is easily accessible via Amtrak Trains 89/90 (Palmetto) and 97/98 (Silver Meteor) and Interstate 95, 20 and 40. The Fayetteville municipal airport is served by US Airways (from Charlotte) and Atlantic Southeast/Delta Connection (from Atlanta). If there is sufficient interest we will consider providing van service with Trains 19/20 (Crescent) at Greensboro and Train 91 (Silver Star) at Raleigh (Sunday evening). |
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Radisson Prince Charles Hotel The Prince Charles (named for Bonnie Prince Charlie of Scotland and not the present heir apparent to the English throne) is situated across a small park from Fayetteville's landmark Amtrak station (ACL, c. 1911). Both structures have recently undergone extensive renovations. This meeting is one of the few instances which can actually be located near an active (and staffed) Amtrak station. |
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| Table of Events (Proposed) | ||
| Friday, March 28 | ||
| 8:27 | AM | Arrival, Train 90 (Palmetto) |
| 1:30 | PM | Ft. Bragg & Pope AFB Tour (Tentative) |
| US Army Airborne & Special Operations Museum | ||
| 4:00 | PM | Cape Fear & Yadkin Valley RR Depot Tour |
| 6:00 | PM | Fayetteville 4th Friday Arts & Entertainment |
| 10:00 | PM | Hospitality Room Opens |
| 11:36 | PM | Arrival, Train 98 (Silver Meteor) |
| Saturday, March 29 | ||
| 8:27 | AM | Arrival, Train 90 |
| 9:00 | AM | First Business session or NCDOT Presentation |
| 11:00 | AM | Second Business Session |
| 12:00 | Noon | Luncheon and HSR Panel Discussion |
| 2:00 | PM | Third & Fourth Business Sessions |
| 5:30 | PM | Reception |
| 6:30 | PM | Dinner and Keynote speaker (Michael Dukakis) |
| 9:30 | PM | (approx) Auto Train (53) "Runby" |
| Sunday, March 30 | ||
| 5:30 | AM | Board Bus(es) for trip to Raleigh |
| 7:05 | AM | Depart to Greensboro, Train 73 |
| 9:00 | AM | Tour of the Greensboro Multimodal Transportation Center (work in progress) |
| 11:48 | AM | Arrive Raleigh, Train 80 |
| 12:00 | Noon | Tour NCDOT Capitol, Yard |
| 1:00 | PM | Board Bus for StationTour (RMT, SSM, etc.) |
| 6:00 | PM | Return to FAY, Meet Train 89 |
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