Shasta Sunset Dinner Train Let Down
REDDING RECREATION
December 22nd, 2009
I heard for years from friends and family what a great time could be had boarding the Shasta Sunset Dinner Trainfor an evening excursion. Fine food and drink, dancing in a specially outfitted boxcar or taking in the scenery while standing on an uncovered flat car as the train made its way from McCloud to Mt. Shasta and back were all explained to me prior to our trip this past weekend. Unfortunately, the fact the dinner train is calling it quits after New Year’s Eve explained why many of these elements of trips past were not to be had this time around.
The record freezing temperatures in early December apparently took its tollon the soon-to-be-idled dinner train. The open flat car used as a viewing platform at the caboose end of the train was instead used to site a huge generator to run the train’s electrical equipment. It was placed in front of the engine and was inaccessible to passengers. The boxcar used as the dance venue was damaged by the freeze and was not part of the train assemblage. The freeze also damaged sections of the train tracks beyond the summit where the ski park road crosses the track. Therefore the train ride was a series of short forward and backward jaunts east and west of McCloud. In fact, the train never made it over the ridge west of McCloud.
We boarded the train Saturday December 19th at 6PM sharp along with many familiar Redding faces. The food
was excellent though the service was slow. My Beef Wellington was tender and moist and my wife’s salmon entree was fresh and perfectly cooked. However, some of the bathrooms were out of service causing some distress for those with small bladders. Two or three people were always waiting for their turn to use the facilities which, according to my wife, were not operating properly. Thankfully, I hold my water like a camel!
The impending closure of the business was obvious by the long faceson much of the wait staff. However, the conductor was in good spirits as he made his round to punch each passenger’s boarding pass. He was also busy switching the tracks as the train made numerous stops in its back and forth route around McCloud. Two passengers including a woman seated at the table behind us became ill from motion sickness and were disambarked at the ski park highway crossing.
I was looking forward to a little dancing after dinneror at least sitting outside in the brisk winter night to admire the starlit skies but that was not in the cards. I don’t blame the owners of the dinner train for not fixing these equipment problems considering the days are numbered before this business ceases operation. I feel for the employees and lodge owners in McCloud and Mt. Shasta that accommodate manyof the patrons of these excursions. I don’t mean to discourage those riding the dinner train in its final days but be forewarned the route and on-board amenities may not be what was offered in years past.
530-224-6767 or 530-941-7492
BRAD GARBUTT
REALTOR /BROKER ASSOCIATE
REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS REAL LIVING
CORNER OF COURT AND PLACER IN REDDING
QUARTER CENTURY LOCAL REAL ESTATE EXPERIENCE
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