The Mount Shasta Dinner Train

February 14, 2000

Time permitting we like to take visitors to see the Mount Shasta Dinner Train in McCloud. The beautiful "Victorian" wood paneled interiors are something to behold. Still after nearly three years living here we had not taken the train ourselves. On Sunday, February 13 we guided Angela and Bob Kendall to McCloud and among other sights, showed them the dinner train. We were surprised to see that they were preparing it for a run. Normally it only operates Saturday evenings in the winter. We were informed that they were making a special Valentine's day run. I casually asked if there were any seats left and was informed that there were in fact just two. It was obviously meant for Jennie and I to take the Valentine's special and we signed up.

We drove from Mount Shasta to McCloud and boarded the Valentine's special at 5:30. We discovered that the last two couples to sign up were seated in a special, almost private room at the end of the last car -- a rare reward for bing late. In the rest of the train the tables were arranged as in a typical dinning car -- not nearly as "cool." Not long after leaving the McCloud station at 6 o'clock the service began, starting with complimentary Champaign and a red rose for each of the ladies. The tables were beautifully set with special Valentine's decorations. The food was elegantly presented and delicious -- our entree choice was beef Wellington. Not only did we have a semi private dining room but as it turned out they back most of the way to Mount Shasta so in fact we were at the head of the train with a lighted view down the snow covered tracks. The view to the front and sides was, as Jennie put it, dreamlike. Flood lights are mounted on both sides of each car, so the nearby trees and snow is brightly illuminated, but beyond that it was pitch black -- very surreal. The ride takes about 3 hours from McCloud to Mount Shasta and return. It was without a doubt our most unusual and romantic Valentine's evening. We highly recommend this pleasant adventure and would be happy to provide information on how you can have the experience.