American Orient Express

United States - Deluxe Rail Journeys On Americas Premier Train

By Carl Morrison, Carl@TrainWeb.com

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This page covers Richmond, and Williamsburg, Virginia, as well as Thomas Jefferson's home, Monticello, in that other. Skip to Williamsburg or Monticello by clicking their names. Otherwise, follow through this page to see all three locations in the order which we visited them.

Richmond, Virginia

"River City"

We arrived in Richmond during the night. I was surprised and pleased to see that we were stable on the tracks of the Richmond Science Museum of Virginia. Our tour buses actually met us in the parking lot directly adjacent to the train. We could walk into the grounds of the Museum which had a C & O 2732 steam engine as well as a functioning trolley car and other standard rail cars and a Chessie cabbose.

The Science Museum of Virginia has this giant globe next to the AOE parking place, giving one a chance to 'reflect' on the AOE and it's globe trotting history.	Science Museum of Virginia w/AOE

AOE and 2732 both from the same era.

Just couldn't keep my eyes off her, this photo was from the AOE dome car.
This was a pleasure seeing this cabbose since I lived along the B&O in southern Indiana and saw steam, passenger, and freight in my youth in the 40s and 50s on the line behind our farm.

Returning to the train from Monticello, we had a city tour of Richmond.

Railfans will notice the unique, historic rivers-edge tressel.	Note the tri-level RR bridges near downtown.
A relatively new flood wall has a pedestrian-bike trail on the top.	Porter Olga, from Russia, bids us farewell from Richmond, Virginia, and the Science Museum's electric trolley.

Williamsburg, Virginia

"The 'Burg"

AOE split the train into two groups/busses. The first of two days in Richmond, our group went to Williamsburg, our country's largest living history museum. The city is known not only for its Colonial reproductions and influences, but also its cool green spaces, tidy flower gardens, fenced pastures, trimmed boxwoods, and large shade trees.
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Life-sized bronze Thomas Jefferson, penning the Declaration of Independence, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.... Yet, Jefferson never freed his slaves.

Jefferson's portrait on the current $2

Reverse side of the current $2.

This bill was won by Sue for answering a quiz question by Frank of Tales of the South, about Williamsburg: "Who sat in the large chair in the House of Burgesses?" As long as they last, $2 are given as change in the giftshop each day. (See link below about the $2 bill's history.)

	Workers in period costume and beautifully restored buildings.

George Washington worshipped in Bruton Parish Church.	An active church today, a practice was taking place, which we were able to enjoy as the morning light filled the sanctuary.
Thomas Jefferson's teacher, George Wythe also attended Bruton Parish Church next door. His back yard, right and below.

George Wythe's initials in tacks on his shed's door.
A pigeon house on the property, a food source.	Knife cases, wine glasses, marble-topped table.

	Children's toys in one room.

The Palace, where English ruler of Williamburg lived, for a while.

Horse manure leads to the Palace reminding me of what the Colonists thought of English Taxation Without Representation.
Inside was a trememdous display of swords and muskets.

Keys, perhaps to the gallows. Our excellent guide (right), taught proper etiquette at the 'ball.'
The gardens as we had moved northward in our trip, were behind Charleston and Savannah in their spring blooms.	Lion and Unicorn gate to the Palace.

In the House of Burgesses here in WIlliamsburg, Patrick Henry said, "I car not what others do, but as for me, give me Liberty or give me death."

The Capitol, House of Burgesses	Speaker's chair in the House of Burgesses where Payton Randolph presided.

Monticello, Virginia

"Home of Thomas Jefferson, who described it as his 'essay in architecture.'"

On the second day, our half of the AOE visited Charlottesville, where Thomas Jefferson realized his architectural and inventive genius at Monticello. A guide revealed the many innovative aspects of this founding father's home. We were free to stroll the grounds and experimental gardens.

We were still stable this evening for our farwell cocktail reception and dinner, this last evening on the train. We enjoyed the moonlit scenery adjacent to the musuem (more rural than you might expect) from the dining car.

Because our itinerary had been changed from the time we signed up for this trip, we were not able to ride the train into Washington, DC, but were provided a coach trip to our Washington airport of departure. In our case it was Dulles, and we enjoyed the coversation of Jef Bennet, Tour Leader, on the bus. He was leaving the train for a week in his hometown and was taking the bus to the airport with us. He would return for the transcontinental trip (3,000 miles in one week) to Los Angeles.

1953 issue of the $2, reverse side was Monticello.

Tales of the South guide, E. L.
Front walk and entrance to Monticello	View from Jefferson's front walk, on April 4, 2006, with redbud's in bloom and white wild cherry blossoms.

One hand clock over entrance, wind gauge in porch ceiling.	Sun dial on corn pedistal. Charolettsville in distance.
Unusual sign on the property.	The west, or back, entrance was impressive with the long "U-shaped" drive lined with tulips.

My favorite view, with the pool for fish caught, but not yet ready to be cooked.	Experimental gardens.
The Levy Family is credited for saving Monticello for posterity after it was sold to pay Jefferson's debts after his death.	Jefferson's grave, inside the family cemetery. He did not list "President" on his gravestone with his other accomplishments.

Fencing around Jefferson Family cemetery.
Lunch spot near Monticello.	E. L. was more excited about the fried chicken lunch that most of the guests. It is hard to match up to the AOE standard!

After a Richmond city tour on our way back to the train, we had a spectacular farewell champagne reception followed by the last supper of "Surf and Turf"...lobster and filet mignon!

LINK about Monticello, Jefferson, and the $2 Bill:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._two_dollar_bill