Arrive To: Arrival on Sunday afternoon, dinner at 5:30, opening program at 7 p.m.

Dinner: Dinner, 5:30 - 6:30 in the Assembly Inn dining room

Evening: 7:00 Opening program, orientation, getting to know one another refreshments

Lodging: Montreat Conference Center

Meals Included: Dinner

Breakfast: 7:30 - 8:30 breakfast

Morning: Our early morning class focuses on "The Building of the Railroads" (lecture and slides). Following this presentation, we'll have a refreshment break in the lobby and then return to the classroom for slides and discussion on the Railroads and the Logging Industry. We'll also see some Railroad Artifacts and hear Stories of the development of the railroads in this area.

Lunch: 12:30 - 1:30 lunch

Afternoon: In the afternoon, we'll board the bus or van for a 10 minute ride into Black Mountain. A guided tour of the depot and caboose will be followed by additional time for walking around the town of Black Mountain. This quaint, fun town offers lots of "artsy" type shops, a museum of local history, as well as an art museum. Those who do not wish to walk around Black Mountain may return to Montreat for free time. 5:15 return to Montreat (may return earlier if desired)

Dinner: dinner, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. in the Galax Dining Room

Evening: 7:00 Our evening program, "Fun in the Mountains," will give you the opportunity to participate in some of the recreational activities that are common for this particular area. games/cards, etc. available in the lobby

Lodging: Montreat Conference Center

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: 7:00 - 8:00 breakfast

Morning: 8:15 depart for train ride (Bryson City or Dillsboro, depending upon train schedule With 53 miles of track, 2 tunnels and 25 bridges, the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad offers a variety of excursions that explore the amazing landscape of Western North Carolina. With the romance and mystique of an era gone by, guests on-board the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad will enjoy scenic train journeys across fertile valleys and through river gorges in a spectacular region near The Great Smoky Mountains. This section of Western North Carolina offers a wide array of ever changing vegetation and fantastic landscapes. Dating back to the 1800's and located on the southside of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Murphy Branch allowed access to one of the most remote and beautiful places in the world.

Lunch: box lunches on the train

Afternoon: arrival at train destination, free time to tour area (and model train museum), and return trip to train depot. 4:00 board the bus for return trip to Montreat

Dinner: return to Montreat for dinner 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.

Evening: 7:30 Movies and Trains games/cards, etc. in the lobby

Lodging: Montreat Conference Center

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: 7:30 - 8:30 breakfast

Morning: During our morning course, "I've Been Working on the Railroad," we'll explore songs and lore of the railroad. Relax and enjoy learning and remembering these songs and stories that were inspired by the building of the railroad, working on the railroad, riding the rails, and all other aspects of railroading. From "John Henry" to "Casey Jones" to "The Little Red Caboose," we'll hear and sing songs and recall the important part that the railroads played in our lives. (mid morning, we'll take a refreshment break).

Lunch: 12:30 - 1:30 lunch in the dining room

Afternoon: 1:30 - 5:30 free afternoon (we'll provide lots of options for your free-time adventures)

Dinner: 5:30 - 6:30 p.m., dinner in the dining room

Evening: 7:00 Trains in the Movies Feature: Terror by Night (1946) and The Narrow Margin (1952)

Lodging: Montreat Conference Center

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Visits to Mountain Gateway Museum, Old Fort Depot and Hendersonville Depot (which now houses the Apple Valley Railroad Club and a model railroad display)

Breakfast: 7:30 - 8:30 breakfast

Morning: After breakfast, we'll board the van or bus for a 20 minute trip to visit the Mountain Gateway Museum in Old Fort. From there, we'll stop for a look at the Old Fort Train Depot and see all their railroad artifacts. (If you're interested, there is a model railroad shop just across the street).

Lunch: From 12:00 - 1:00 we'll have a picnic lunch at Andrew's Geyser (weather permitting of course). If we are lucky, there will be a train that will pass on both sides of us as it winds its way up Old Fort Mountain. From our picnic area, we'll see the train pass on one side of us and then again on the other. A trestle is located just past our picnic area. Andrew's Geyser along the line of Southern Railroad at Round Knob, N.C. In the Land of the Sky Near Round Knob, on Eastern Slope of Blue Ridge Mountains, within a few miles of the Great Eastern Divide, on line of Southern Railway, 26 1/2 miles East of Asheville. The Geyser throws continuously a great column of water 250 feet into the air and constitutes a spectacle unique in its grandeur. In the tortuous ascent of the mountain this wonderful geyser may be seen from first one side of the train and then another. Erected by Mr. George F. Baker, New York, in honor of his friend, Col. Alex. D. Andrews of Raleigh, first V. P., Southern Railway.

Afternoon: Our afternoon trip takes us to visit the Hendersonville, NC depot, which now houses the Apple Valley Model Railroad Club (AVMRC). Located in the over 100 year-old historic Hendersonville Depot at the corner of 7th Ave. and Maple Street, this 50 member club has constructed a fully scenicked HO model railroad representing Hendersonville and Western North Carolina. It occupies an area of 22?x100? and has a Western North Carolina setting. Our main yard is Asheville, N.C. where mainline trains run south to Spartanburg, S.C. and east to Spencer, N.C. At Hickory, N.C. the Carolina and Northwestern railroad departs to an upper level thru Lenoir and Mortimer and joins up with the W.M. Ritter logging railroad at Edgemont. We use a DCC radio system to control the railroad however we have the ability to run a portion of it under analog control for our members who prefer this type of operation. The tall mountainous scenery provides view blocks and makes it necessary for operators to actually walk around and follow their trains as they progress thru the layout. Track signals are installed to help members safely operate their trains. The scenery is basically complete but the railroad still requires lots of added details to enhance the overall effect. Visitors can expect to see a wide variety of locomotives and rolling stock as the club has a large collection of equipment. Members also bring their own equipment to run as well. There are some aspects of model railroading that involve operation of the railroad and the model trains in a manner that very nearly replicates prototype operations. Many model railroaders today, including some of our members, are particularly interested in this aspect of the hobby. Once a month we conduct prototypical operation sessions. Visit www.avmrc.com for more information.

Dinner: 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. dinner in the dining room

Evening: 7:00 p.m Movies and the Railroad Feature: Silver Streak (1976) and scenes from The Fugitive (1993)

Lodging: Montreat Conference Center

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: breakfast at the Assembly Inn

Morning: Our early morning slides and lecture finish up our discussion on railroads of this area. We'll have a break mid-morning for refreshments and to facilitate check out of the Assembly Inn (checkout required by 11 a.m.). Then, we'll return to our classroom for our final presentation on Railroads Then and Now... what is the future of railroads? 12:15 closing program

Lunch: closing program and lunch at the Assembly Inn

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch