9th Annual Amtrack Road Trip
January 28-30, 2005

Ride to the top of the Arch, and sample the beverage that made St. Louis famous. Join members of the Club in viewing a recreation of the Spirit of St Louis. This was the plane that first crossed the Atlantic with the solo flyer, Charles Lindbergh. Incidentally, when Mr. Lindbergh joined Ford Motor Corporation during WWII, he stayed at the very same hotel we Amtrakers stayed at last year in Dearborn, Michigan. This year, though, we are taking the Texas Eagle from Union Station in Chicago to St. Louis to stay in Hampton Inn-Gateway Arch. This is downtown in the nightlife area. Not that any of us stay up late, of course. The train costs about $30 roundtrip (prices go up close to the departure date) and the hotel is $99 per night (one, two, three or four occupants). A hot breakfast buffet is included in the price. The date is the last weekend in January, 2005.

The Details:
Get your train tickets at www.amtrak.com or 1-800-USA-RAIL.

On Friday, January 28: Leave CHI from Union Station at 3:20 P.M. on the Texas Eagle (Train 321) -- Arrive STL at 8:54 P.M.

On Sunday, January 30: Leave STL at 8:45 A.M. from the Amtrak Station on the Texas Eagle (Train 322) -- Arrive CHI at 2:29 P.M. with plenty of time left to get ready for work on Monday.

Stay at the Hampton Inn-Gateway Arch. Make your own reservation at 314-621-7000 (fax 314-421-6468) before January 7. Mention Chicagoland MG Club to get the 30% discounted rate for Friday and Saturday night (January 28 and 29, 2005).

Union Station has full facilities to begin the weekend as early as you can get there on Friday. The train routes are fewer each year. Don’t miss this opportunity.