View source for Excursion train

{{Short description|Chartered train run for a special event or purpose}}
{{Cleanup bare URLs|date=September 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{for|the romantic comedy film|Excursion Train}}
[[File:SteamAtRockIslandDepot.JPG|thumb|A steam-powered excursion train stops at the [[Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Depot (Iowa City, Iowa)|Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Passenger Station]] in [[Iowa City, Iowa]] in 2006]]

An '''excursion train''' is a chartered [[train]] run for a special event or purpose. Examples are trains to major sporting event, trains run for [[railfan]]s or tourists, and special trains operated by the railway company for employees and prominent customers.

==United Kingdom==
[[File:GWR 7029 Clun Castle and 5051 Drysllwyn Castle on The Great Western Limited 150 (5).jpg|thumb|[[GWR 4073 Class 5051 Earl Bathurst|5051 ''Drysllwyn Castle'']] and [[GWR 4073 Class 7029 Clun Castle|7029 ''Clun Castle'']] at [[Plymouth railway station|Plymouth]] while working "The Great Western Limited" railtour from [[Bristol Temple Meads railway station|Bristol]] to Plymouth in July 1985.]]

A number of excursion trains are run in the United Kingdom and in some cases there are regular steam worked passenger services over some routes, one such train being ''[[The Jacobite (steam train)|The Jacobite]]'' which runs Monday to Friday from [[Fort William railway station|Fort William]] to [[Mallaig railway station|Mallaig]] from April to October. A second afternoon train also runs from May to mid September but on weekdays only, weekend services running from June to October. A number of Christmas Jacobite's have even started running on select days in December. There are also a number of routes across the UK which are famed for running excursion trains, examples include: [[Settle & Carlisle line]], [[Cumbrian Coast line]], [[North Warwickshire Line|Shakespeare line]], [[York–Scarborough line|Scarborough line]], [[West Coast Main Line]] and [[East Coast Main Line]].

As well as using steam locomotives that saw use for [[British Rail]]ways and other mainline operating companies, new build steam engines are shown to be as popular as vintage steam engines. The youngest steam engine to run railtours being [[LNER Peppercorn Class A1 60163 Tornado|60163 ''Tornado'']] built in 2008.

The [[Train operating company|train operating companies]] that operate steam locomotives on the national network include: [[West Coast Railways]], [[DB Cargo UK]], [[Locomotive Services Limited]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.steamrailway.co.uk/steamnews/2017/8/5/locomotive-services-ltd-becomes-toc/ |title=Locomotive Services Ltd becomes TOC|website=[[Steam Railway]]|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808034655/http://www.steamrailway.co.uk/steamnews/2017/8/5/locomotive-services-ltd-becomes-toc/ |archive-date=2017-08-08}}</ref> and [[Vintage Trains]].<ref>http://www.vintagetrains.co.uk/uploads/documents/VT%20Share%20Document.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201192938/http://www.vintagetrains.co.uk/uploads/documents/VT%20Share%20Document.pdf |date=1 February 2018 }} Vintage Trains CBS Shares document</ref>

Tour operators in the UK include: The Railway Touring Company,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.railwaytouring.net/ |title = UK Steam Rail Day Trips and Worldwide Rail Holidays}}</ref> Steam Dreams,<ref>http://www.steamdreams.co.uk/</ref> Statesman Rail,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://statesmanrail.com/index.html/ |title=STATESMAN RAIL - Steam hauled Fellsman Train, Settle Carlisle Statesman, Edinburgh, Salisbury, Bath, Christmas, Dartmouth Regatta, West Highland Steam Railway Trains |access-date=25 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927072939/http://www.statesmanrail.com/index.html |archive-date=27 September 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Torbay Express,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.torbayexpress.co.uk |title=Torbay Express Home Page – Torbay Express Limited|publisher=Torbayexpress.co.uk |access-date=2012-12-23}}</ref> Vintage Trains,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vintagetrains.co.uk/ |title = Vintage Trains}}</ref> Orient-Express,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.orient-express.com/ |title=An iconic travel collection – luxury hotels, resorts, trains, restaurants, riverboats – experience a journey like no other |publisher=Orient-Express |access-date=2012-12-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120919113721/http://www.orient-express.com/ |archive-date=19 September 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> UK Railtours <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukrailtours.com/ |title=Welcome to UK Railtours |publisher=UKRailtours.com |access-date=2012-12-23}}</ref> and Saphos Trains.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://saphostrains.com/ |title = Saphos Trains {{!}} Classic steam experience}}</ref> Further details can be found on the Main Line Steam Tours index page.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uksteam.info/tours/ |title=Mainline steam tours index |publisher=UKsteam.info |access-date=2012-12-23}}</ref>

==United States==
[[File:Triple headed mainline steam in Illinois.jpg|thumb|Preserved [[China Railways QJ]] class locomotives 6988 and 7081 operating a triple-headed excursion train with [[Milwaukee Road 261]] on the [[Iowa Interstate Railroad]] in 2006]]

The [[Pennsylvania Railroad]] ran special excursion trains from New York City and Washington, D.C. to the [[Army–Navy Game]] in years when the game was held in Philadelphia at [[Philadelphia Municipal Stadium|Municipal Stadium]] (1936–1941, 1945–1975).<ref name="brattli">{{cite web|url=http://www.steamlocomotive.com/GG1/army-navy.shtml|title=The Pennsylvania Railroad GG1: Army-Navy Day Specials|last=Brattli|first=Thomas|date=13 March 2007|access-date=3 November 2011|archive-date=5 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120105053925/http://steamlocomotive.com/GG1/army-navy.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref>  The special Pennsylvania trains were discontinued as the railroad, then known as [[Penn Central]] was on the brink of declaring bankruptcy, with the last trains running for the 1975 game. The tradition of running excursion trains to the Army-Navy college football game was resurrected in 2005 when philanthropists Bennett and Vivian Levin chartered a special train composed of their own locomotives and some donated 
passenger cars<ref name="highiron">{{cite web|url=http://highirontravel.com/|title=High Iron Travel|access-date=3 November 2011}}</ref> to take recuperating wounded veterans from the [[Walter Reed Army Medical Center]] in Washington and the [[Bethesda Naval Hospital]] in Bethesda, Maryland to the game in Philadelphia.<ref name="mayes">{{cite news|last=Mayes|first=Alex|title=Army-Navy game train 'Liberty Limited' returns to the rails|url=http://trn.trains.com/en/Railroad%20News/News%20Wire/2010/12/Army-Navy%20game%20train%20Liberty%20Express%20returns%20to%20the%20rails.aspx|date=13 December 2010|work=[[Trains (magazine)|Trains]]|access-date=3 November 2011}}</ref><ref name="buccolo">{{cite web|url=http://www.altamontpress.com/discussion/read.php?1,52038,52078|title=Re: Army – Navy game ... The rest of the story!|first=Dave|last=Buccolo|date=17 December 2010 |access-date=3 November 2011}}</ref><ref name="polaneczky">{{cite news|first=Ronnie|last=Polaneczky|title=Here's a Yule story that ought to be a movie|work=[[Philadelphia Daily News]]|date=22 December 2005}}</ref><ref name="mikkelson">{{cite web|last=Mikkelson|first=Barbara and David P.|url=http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/train.asp|title=Army-Navy Train|date=4 January 2006|publisher=snopes.com|access-date=3 November 2011}}</ref> The Army-Navy Game trains ran in 2005–2008, were suspended in 2009 due to a death in the sponsors' family, and again in 2010.<ref name="mayes"/>  The Army-Navy football game is a big enough event in Philadelphia that the local rail transit company [[SEPTA]] also runs extra trains on game day.<ref name="gloucester">{{cite news|url=http://www.nj.com/gloucester-county/index.ssf/2010/12/septa_beefs_up_schedule_for_ar.html|title=SEPTA beefs up schedule for Army-Navy game in Philadelphia|work=[[Gloucester County Times]]|date=10 December 2010|access-date=3 November 2011}}</ref>

Since 1908, an excursion train has carried travelers between [[Union Station (Denver, Colorado)|Denver, Colorado's Union Station]] and the [[Wyoming Transportation Museum|Cheyenne Depot Museum]] to attend the [[Cheyenne Frontier Days]] rodeo event.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cfdtrain.com/CFDTrain/Welcome.html|title=Denver Post Cheyenne Frontier Days Train|access-date=3 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111028200854/http://www.cfdtrain.com/CFDTrain/Welcome.html|archive-date=28 October 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> The train was sponsored by ''[[The Denver Post]]'' and the [[Union Pacific Railroad]], the latter which provided the rolling stock. However, it was announced in 2019 that the excursion would no longer operate, with the Union Pacific Railroad's vintage fleet being a contributing factor.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kgwn.tv/content/news/Denver-Post-Cheyenne-Frontier-Days-Train-to-stop-running-504705541.html |title = Denver Post Cheyenne Frontier Days Train to stop running| date=22 January 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2019/01/21-end-of-the-line-for-cheyenne-frontier-days-train |title=End of the line for Cheyenne Frontier Days train {{!}} Trains Magazine |access-date=20 February 2019 |archive-date=20 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220182849/http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2019/01/21-end-of-the-line-for-cheyenne-frontier-days-train |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://kingfm.com/cheyenne-frontier-days-train-runs-out-of-steam/ |title = Cheyenne Frontier Days Train Runs Out of Steam| date=22 January 2019 }}</ref>

[[Southern Pacific Railroad]] operated a ''[[Suntan Special]]'' from [[San Francisco Bay]] area cities to the [[Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk]] every summer Sunday and holiday from 1927 through 1959.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sccrtc.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Rail-Event-Timeline-Posters-final.pdf |title=SP and the Suntan Special |website=History of in Santa Cruz County |access-date=18 August 2019 }}</ref>

Since 2013, Amtrak has operated the Autumn Express every year during late October or early November. It is an excursion train that runs on lines normally used only for freight. The train originates and ends at the same station. Past trips have included Philadelphia–Harrisburg via the NEC, the port road branch, and the keystone corridor; Philadelphia–Harrisburg via Reading, and Albany/Schenectady to East Deerfield, Massachusetts via the [[Hoosac Tunnel]].

The Union Pacific Railroad has hosted an excursion program since 1960. The fleet includes two historic steam locomotives and three historic diesel locomotives, accompanied by a fleet of historic passenger cars. Included in the fleet of steam locomotives are [[Union Pacific 4014]], the largest operating steam locomotive in the world, and [[Union Pacific 844]], the only steam locomotive never retired by a [[North America]]n [[Class I railroad]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.up.com/aboutup/special_trains/steam/locomotives/844.shtml| title=Living Legend No. 844| website=UP.com| author=Union Pacific Railroad| year=2012| access-date=February 16, 2014}}</ref> Also included are Union Pacific 949, 951, and 963B, a trio of historic streamlined locomotives. There was also a third steam locomotive: [[Union Pacific 3985]], which operated in excursion service from 1981 to 2010. It was retired from excursion service in January 2020 as a result of its poor condition.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Keefe|first=Kevin|title=The Challenger at high tide|url=http://cs.trains.com/ctr/b/mileposts/archive/2020/01/17/the-challenger-at-high-tide.aspx|work=Classic Trains}}</ref> [[Union Pacific 6936]], the only operating example of the longest single-unit diesel locomotive ever built, was also used in excursion service until 2016. In April 2022, Union Pacific donated Nos. 3985 and 6936 to the Railroading Heritage of Midwest America, where they will be restored to operating condition.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://railfan.com/up-donates-two-steam-locomotives-to-non-profit-challenger-to-run-again/ |title=UP Donates Two Steam Locomotives to Non-Profit; 'Challenger' to Run Again |last=Franz |first=Justin |date=April 28, 2022 |website=railfan.com |publisher=White River Productions |access-date=April 28, 2022 }}</ref> 

Seasonal excursion trains in the U.S. include [[ski train]]s which operate in winter, with emphasis on weekend service, and the [[Train to the Game]] in the New York City area, which goes to [[Yankee Stadium]] in the summer and the [[New Jersey Meadowlands]] in the fall.

==Other countries==
Pictures of excursion trains in various countries.
<gallery>
File:Skoda 498104 02.jpg|Austria
File:Royal Hudson 2860 in Squamish BC.jpg|Canada
File:Zeletice train stop.JPG|Czech Republic
File:Schienenbus in Gladbach.jpg|Germany
File:JR East E001 series Train Suite Shiki-shima 20170619.jpg|Japan
File:Ol49 59 Gorzow Wlkp.JPG|Poland
File:A-Train (Korail), Jeongseon Arirang Train, 2015.jpg|South Korea
File:SRT-kiha183 Tourism train 20230903.jpg|Thailand
</gallery>

==See also==
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Dinner train]]s usually operate on a schedule instead of for special events
* [[List of heritage railways]]
* [[Heritage railway]]
* [[Joyful Train]] - Japanese catch-all term for special event and charter trains
* [[Private railroad car]] that may be hauled by special arrangements
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{commons category|Charter trains}}
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Rail tourism]]