Great Advice! Thank You!

I know this is an ambitious itinerary, but it's what I have to work with. I'll be by myself (unless some crazy fool wants to tag along) so I won't be distracted by non-railroad attractions and necessities. I'm not a photographer, nor even a big fan of a long train ride. I like to see equipment, experience the history of location, and take in its sights.

Right now, the longest driving segment without stopping for an attraction or lodging is 5hrs (Virginia City - Ely). That will be a daytime trip (I am booked on the 10:30 V&T train, then will head to Ely right after.) It is disappointing that they are not running the longer canyon train anytime during my stay. Oh well, it will give me a reason to come back, someday.

I had no idea about the Yosemite National Park entrance rules. And, of course, there are no reservations (currently) available the date I will be traversing the park. I investigated the routings (which will add about 2 hours of driving time), and think I'll aim for hitting the park entrance before 6AM. I will have some dead time after visiting Laws, so I can get reasonably close to the park entrance the day before, and hit the road by 5am. This will also give me the side benefit of more time to "smell the roses steam" at Sugar Pine.

Since I have some friends at Western Railway Museum, I do want to visit there. Jamestown will not be operating the day of my visit, but will be the next day, so I'm hoping I will catch a little bit of the steam up before I head out of town that morning.

Thanks for the advice on the Porter at Coulterville; these are the little things that I'm hoping to see too. What else is there?

Ed Lecuyer
Trainmaster, WW&F Railway Museum
Help the WW&F Build Locomotive #11: [build11.wwfry.org]