The United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey has released its 2023 schedule for its popular Hudson River Rail Excursions, with 48 departures between February and November. As part of this schedule, URHS announced the addition of two special trips. The Valentine’s Special, with five departures in February, will feature a special tasting menu with fine wine pairings. The 75th Anniversary Special will be a five-day roundtrip journey to Chicago in celebration of the anniversary of the 20th Century Limited.

Tickets for Valentine’s Special departures go on sale on January 20, 2023, at 10am. Tickets for standard Hudson River Rail Excursions departures go on sale on February 17, 2023, at 10am. Ticket sales are online-only at HudsonRiverRail.com Details regarding the 75th Anniversary Special are to-be-announced.

This schedule is double the previous year’s schedule, which itself was double the 2021 schedule. URHS has sold out every trip since the program’s inception. “The demand for these trips has been overwhelming,” said URHS Executive Director Kevin Phalon. “Our focus for this season has been to accommodate as many guests as we can, though we still expect an immediate sell out. We are thrilled to have this much interest in our program.”

URHS also announced today that Hudson River Rail Excursions will include its first special excursions this year:

The Valentine’s Special will operate on five dates between February 10 and 14. The trips will offer a more premium dining experience than the standard excursions, with a 6-course tasting menu designed by private railcar chef Laura Stantz. Unlike the standard excursions, passengers in both cars will receive the same level of first-class service and may choose to ride in either the Hickory Creek or Tavern-Lounge No. 43. Tickets for the Hickory Creek start at $399 and tickets for the Tavern-Lounge No. 43 start at $299. Tickets will go on sale for these five dates on January 20th at 10a.m. Sales are online only at HudsonRiverRail.com.

The 75th Anniversary Special will run on September 17, 2023, to commemorate the first run of the Hickory Creek and the 1948-version of the 20th Century Limited. URHS will host 30 guests on a round-trip, overnight excursion between New York and Chicago, which will be a faithful recreation of the original train.

“We take pride in offering the most authentic experience possible to our passengers on our day trips,” said Phalon. “From fine dining to the overnight shoeshine, we intend to incorporate every historic detail we can to provide an immersive overnight journey.” The trip will depart New York City on the tail of Amtrak’s Lake Shore Limited, which traverses the original route of the 20th Century Limited.

Tickets are all-inclusive and start at $2500 per passenger. More details and an on-sale date are to be announced.

Hudson River Rail Excursions is a program by URHS featuring the Hickory Creek of the world-famous 20th Century Limited and the Tavern-Lounge No. 43, operating scheduled public excursions from New York City on a regular basis. The excursion traverses the original New York Central main line between Manhattan and Albany, upon which the Hickory Creek and Tavern-Lounge No. 43 travelled in the 1940s and 50s.

The excursions feature two different classes of service. Passengers aboard the Hickory Creek are treated to a full-service meal, cooked by the chef in the car’s on-board kitchen. Beer and wine are included, and drinks and hor d'oeuvres are served to passengers at their seats throughout the trip. Passengers in the No. 43 are treated to catered sandwiches and sides in the car’s tavern, with drinks served at their seats. Passengers are welcome to BYOB beer and wine.

The train departs from New York Penn Station’s Moynihan Train Hall. Guests of Hudson River Rail Excursions have special access to Amtrak’s Metropolitan Lounge and all the first-class amenities within.

Tickets for the Hickory Creek start at $349 and tickets for the Tavern-Lounge No. 43 start at $149.

The excursion will depart New York City at 11:20 a.m. on train no. 233 and arrive in Albany-Rensselaer at 1:50 p.m. After a layover, the excursion will depart Albany at 4:30 p.m. on train no. 244 and return to New York City at 7:05 p.m.

More information is available at URHS’s excursions website: HudsonRiverRail.com.