Green Mountain Flyer Fall excursions right on track

Yesterday, Tuesday, Sept. 23 was the premier run for the Green Mountain Flyer’s Fall Foliage excursions running out of Chester Depot. About 75 passengers boarded the morning train, most coming from outside the area. Cars in the newly refurbished Vermont Railway’s parking area in front of Erskine’s sported license plates from as far away as North Carolina, Virginia and Pennsylvania. Passengers also came from New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Canada.

The excursions will run on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays through October. There will be three round trips each day — two from Chester to Ludlow and one from Chester to Rockingham. Each leg takes about 45 minutes and after any round trip there is an opportunity for visitors to spend the afternoon shopping and dining in Chester.  Passengers on the first run of the day to Ludlow may  take a later return train and spend a few hours there. The loan of a wheelchair lift by Amtrak makes these trains handicapped accessible. Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for children. To buy tickets or for more information, click here.

©The Chester Telegraph — 2014

Passengers buy tickets for the first run of the Green Mountain Flyer Fall Excursion at the Chester Depot. Photos by Shawn Cunningham

The depot has been spruced up to accommodate more passengers.

Passengers move to the rear boarding station just before departure.

Railroad workers ready the wheelchair lift for handicapped access.

The woosh of air brakes, a puff of smoke and the train is on its way.

And yes, the engine is pushing the passenger cars to Ludlow. On the return trip, it will pull them.