After driving back to Napa around 5:30pm, I met up with my railfan friend Andy from here on the west coast who would be riding with me on the dinner train. After checking in, the same member of the Wine Train's staff who gave the speech before we boarded the lunch train, did so for this train, then boarding would commence. We were in Boarding Group F so we were some of the last to board. Once we got on the train, it was now about sunset so photography was rather limited due to the lack of daylight, though I would photograph all of the food on both this trip and previously on the day trip (you likely already saw those photos)!
We departed Napa at 6:30pm and dinner service in the dome car commenced right away. There were a couple wet clothes on the table that were available if you wanted to wipe down your face before dinner. Just like at lunch, there are multiple options on the menu for the different meal courses and what I'm describing here is what I had for my meal: My Hors d'Oeuvre for was a Pan Seared Scallop in a Champagne Butter with American Caviar and Chive Oil. The first course would be the Red and Green Apple Endive Salad with Gorgonzola Cheese, Hazelnuts and Mustard Vinaigrette. This meal also included what they called an "Intermezzo" which was Harlequin Sorbet and consisted of what the menu calls "A delicate trio of the Wine Train's own Sorbets". According to our server, this was to "cleanse the palate" before dinner! Next up was the main course! I would have the Roasted Beef Tenderloin on Zucchini White Truffle Grits with Sauteed Spinach in a Cabernet Reduction. I would have a glass of Domain Chandon Brut Classic Sparkling Wine during dinner (it was included in the meal) and otherwise had more Diet Coke (once again, I'm not a big wine drinker).
After dinner, my friend and I (being the railfans we are) went back to check out the Grappa Power Car that is new to the consist this year, then headed out to the platform on the end of the train in the Chardonnay Lounge Car where I tried with limited success to get some night photos at ISO 6400 with the small flash on the camera! After that, we headed back to the dome car for dessert which for me was Creme Brulee with Blueberries, something I've never had before but was very good. All of the food served for dinner was excellent as always and the service provided by our server was also top notch as well.
As soon as the train arrived back in Napa, I sprinted down to the crossing at First Street to try to get what would be the only Manual HDR night photo of the train I would take before it headed back into the yard and out of public view. I had brought my tripod onboard the train so I would have it with me when we got back, saving a trip to the car which would have ultimately prevented me from getting the photo. After I got the photo, I said goodbye to my friend, and drove back to Vacaville, having just made it to I-80 before California Route 12, the main route to Napa from I-80 was about to close for overnight construction, and so ends an excellent day of great gourmet, world class food and world class train riding!!!
And now, I've saved the best part of this experience for last, THE PHOTOS!!! I had thought long and hard about just how to exactly display these photos and in what order I would display them. I spent a total of 3 days riding and photographing this train, in what amounted to be identical weather conditions all 3 days. The weather was nothing short of absolutely perfect (someone needs to figure out a way to funnel that beautiful weather back to New York!) the whole time I was here. Looking back, I kinda like to think of the weather here like the country song "Sunny And 75" by Joe Nichols! So with all of this, I now present to you, a MULTI-ANGLED PHOTO TOUR of the Wine Train from Napa to Saint Helena and MORE!!! I think you're gonna really like what you see, so click the link below and let the pictures be seen... |
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