The wines sampled at the station are typically from Napa's boutique wineries. "Passengers have the unique opportunity to learn first-hand from Wine Train experts about wine pairing and wine production, the history of the Napa Valley and the Wine Train itself," says Brent Trojan, the Wine Train's wine buyer and educator.
Trojan says that "Passengers can purchase the wines they sample in the Wine Emporium or order them onboard the train." Additionally, a variety of gifts, including HO and even G-scale versions of the FPA-4 and several of the passenger cars are available for sale in the station's gift stores. Prior to boarding the train, a photographer takes each passenger's photo, which is available for purchase after the ride returns back to the station, usually about three hours after departing.
The Napa Valley Wine Train is a chance to experience railroad dining like it was in the golden age of streamliners, or simply railfan beautiful forty-year-old Alcos in action. Definitely worth visiting when in Northern California!
Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
Wow Ed, that's really something - thanks!
2 - Ed Driscoll
Dear Reader:
Please buy lots and lots of books, CDs and DVDs from Amazon via this site, so that Eric can afford to take his crack staff of writers to dinner on this train for the annual Blogcritics' retreat. We're all poor desperate ink-stained wretches from broken homes, circus familes, and gypsies. Eric's doing everything he can to keep us going.
Please, give 'til it helps.
Ed
3 - Eric Olsen
Elegantly put Ed, thanks! That will be quite party.
4 - Tim Hall
Wonderful article. Nice to see I'm not the only rail enthusiast on Blogcritics!
Interesting that it's operated by diesels. In Britain we have a large number of preserved lines, almost all of them steam-operated. It seems the general public's enthusiasm for riding behind diesels is much less than the railfans enthusiasm for buying and restoring the things.
This might change now the last of the first-generation British diesels are being retired from the main-line network.
5 - Jer
Ed,
That is a super article. My compliments on a fascinating piece, beautifully written.
Regards,
Jer
6 - Justin Nelson
Just a quick bit about the ex-Milwaukee Dome. It is infact not a vista dome per say, but a full dome. It was built in 1952 (not 48' as the article states.) It was built as Super Dome 52 For the Chicago, Milwaukee St. Paul & Pacific Railroad (Milwaukee Road) By the Pullman company. Just a few bits about an extraordinary car. Visit My Milwaukee Passenger Car site for more info about the car and its 9 sisters.
7 - josh
The Napa valley wine train was a great way to see the vineyards of Napa and enjoy wine en route! The meal on the train was excellent, very high standards. We did the Grigich Hills tour, this included a stop at the vineyard, tour, wine tasting and meeting the owner. The only down side of the wine train was that you had to check in at 10.30am, but for those of us who don't mind drinking wine prior to 11am this isn't too much of a problem!