Comments on: The Pumpkin Train on the Riverside and Great Northern Railway http://dellsadvice.com/attractions/the-pumpkin-train-on-the-riverside-and-great-northern-railway Wisconsin Dells Blog and Message Boards Fri, 03 Sep 2010 09:31:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Apartment in Poland http://dellsadvice.com/attractions/the-pumpkin-train-on-the-riverside-and-great-northern-railway/comment-page-1#comment-466 Apartment in Poland Wed, 25 Aug 2010 11:45:00 +0000 http://dellsadvice.com/?p=232#comment-466 Really great article Really great article

]]> By: David Simerson http://dellsadvice.com/attractions/the-pumpkin-train-on-the-riverside-and-great-northern-railway/comment-page-1#comment-431 David Simerson Sun, 07 Feb 2010 21:57:26 +0000 http://dellsadvice.com/?p=232#comment-431 You were absolute right the Dells City Pass program was a wonderful boost to our ridership numbers. We have been very fortunate to have an increase in ridership, sales and membership over the past three years even though the economy has been dealt some serious blows, fuel prices have fluctuated greatly and if you remember Lake Delton emptied out three years ago. During the past three years our buildings have been painted, several new coaches have been built and there has been excellent support from our volunteer membership! We set several new records last year, but the most important part...the families had a wonderful time visiting here. We continue to be humbled by the love and well wishes of so many kind folks who just love trains. It is a wonderful feeling to be part of their vacations and such a big part of their memories. David Simerson Director Riverside & Great Northern Railway You were absolute right the Dells City Pass program was a wonderful boost to our ridership numbers. We have been very fortunate to have an increase in ridership, sales and membership over the past three years even though the economy has been dealt some serious blows, fuel prices have fluctuated greatly and if you remember Lake Delton emptied out three years ago. During the past three years our buildings have been painted, several new coaches have been built and there has been excellent support from our volunteer membership! We set several new records last year, but the most important part…the families had a wonderful time visiting here. We continue to be humbled by the love and well wishes of so many kind folks who just love trains. It is a wonderful feeling to be part of their vacations and such a big part of their memories.

David Simerson
Director
Riverside & Great Northern Railway

]]> By: Dells Advice http://dellsadvice.com/attractions/the-pumpkin-train-on-the-riverside-and-great-northern-railway/comment-page-1#comment-205 Dells Advice Fri, 13 Mar 2009 01:18:28 +0000 http://dellsadvice.com/?p=232#comment-205 Thanks for your post David! I agree that the Riverside & Great Northern is one of the best kept secrets in the Dells. That will change this year as I am sure your participation in the Dells City Pass program will boost attendance significantly. Thanks for checking in! Thanks for your post David! I agree that the Riverside & Great Northern is one of the best kept secrets in the Dells. That will change this year as I am sure your participation in the Dells City Pass program will boost attendance significantly. Thanks for checking in!

]]> By: David Simerson http://dellsadvice.com/attractions/the-pumpkin-train-on-the-riverside-and-great-northern-railway/comment-page-1#comment-200 David Simerson Wed, 11 Mar 2009 20:11:57 +0000 http://dellsadvice.com/?p=232#comment-200 On behalf of the 80+ volunteers of the R&GN thanks for writing such kind words about the best kept secret in the Dells. Just to set the record straight your memory was pretty close, the washout was in June of 2004 the bridge wasn't finished until May 2006. The track from the bridge to the end-of-track (Western Spings) was removed along with the turntable to accomodate the heavy equipment required to build the bridge. While the tracks were in use in May of 2006 the turntable was not completed until April of 2007. During 2008 we ran primarily with steam trains during and after the seasson to the delight of thousands of guests young and older-young! Technically we are called a point-to-point railway which utilizes turntables and shoe-fly tracks to reverse our locomotives. From an engineer's point of view it is a whole bunch easier to look out the front window of a steam engine than over the coal pile of the tender. The R&GN has over 250 members celebrating our 20th year as a non-profit preservation society. Our season will open on Saturday April 4th beginning with weekends only. With this being April in Wisconsin, check the weather for blizzards, storms and yes even nice weather...see ya soon. PS There will be two steam locomotives this year operating!!! David Simerson General Manager Riverside & Great Northern www.DellsTrain.com On behalf of the 80+ volunteers of the R&GN thanks for writing such kind words about the best kept secret in the Dells. Just to set the record straight your memory was pretty close, the washout was in June of 2004 the bridge wasn’t finished until May 2006. The track from the bridge to the end-of-track (Western Spings) was removed along with the turntable to accomodate the heavy equipment required to build the bridge. While the tracks were in use in May of 2006 the turntable was not completed until April of 2007. During 2008 we ran primarily with steam trains during and after the seasson to the delight of thousands of guests young and older-young! Technically we are called a point-to-point railway which utilizes turntables and shoe-fly tracks to reverse our locomotives. From an engineer’s point of view it is a whole bunch easier to look out the front window of a steam engine than over the coal pile of the tender. The R&GN has over 250 members celebrating our 20th year as a non-profit preservation society. Our season will open on Saturday April 4th beginning with weekends only. With this being April in Wisconsin, check the weather for blizzards, storms and yes even nice weather…see ya soon. PS There will be two steam locomotives this year operating!!!

David Simerson
General Manager
Riverside & Great Northern
http://www.DellsTrain.com

]]> By: Dells Advice http://dellsadvice.com/attractions/the-pumpkin-train-on-the-riverside-and-great-northern-railway/comment-page-1#comment-31 Dells Advice Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:10:19 +0000 http://dellsadvice.com/?p=232#comment-31 I thought we had gone over the newly constructed bridge when we were there. Maybe we didn't though. I do remember the return ride was backwards. I'll have to inquire the next time we visit. Thanks for the use of your picture and for posting! I thought we had gone over the newly constructed bridge when we were there. Maybe we didn’t though. I do remember the return ride was backwards. I’ll have to inquire the next time we visit. Thanks for the use of your picture and for posting!

]]> By: Jennifer Lamb http://dellsadvice.com/attractions/the-pumpkin-train-on-the-riverside-and-great-northern-railway/comment-page-1#comment-30 Jennifer Lamb Thu, 09 Oct 2008 18:42:59 +0000 http://dellsadvice.com/?p=232#comment-30 By the way, there has been a turntable at each end of the ride for as long as I can remember, but in Spring 2005, they had a washout just short of the far end of the line. The train you rode had to back up because they hadn't installed the new bridge yet! By the way, there has been a turntable at each end of the ride for as long as I can remember, but in Spring 2005, they had a washout just short of the far end of the line. The train you rode had to back up because they hadn’t installed the new bridge yet!

]]> By: Jennifer Lamb http://dellsadvice.com/attractions/the-pumpkin-train-on-the-riverside-and-great-northern-railway/comment-page-1#comment-29 Jennifer Lamb Thu, 09 Oct 2008 18:36:51 +0000 http://dellsadvice.com/?p=232#comment-29 Hey, thanks! Great work! We love riding the R&GN. Hey, thanks! Great work! We love riding the R&GN.

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