San Francisco

Sep 1-4, 2018

The ERA returns to the San Francisco Bay Area for its four-day convention over the Labor Day weekend. It was 2004 when we last held our convention here and a lot has changed. The convention will feature streetcar charters, shop tours, a ride on the new Sonoma-Marin (SMART) and eBART diesel commuter rail lines, provision for a ferry ride, two museums, and just the right amount of time on your own with a pre-loaded Clipper Card.

Your ERA package will include a pre-loaded Clipper Card good for our scheduled trips on Sonoma-Marin Transit, BART, plus four single rides on Muni Metro and buses. The Clipper Card can be used on cable cars, but you’ll want to re-load it with enough for the $7 per ride fare.

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Convention Flyer

Transit in San Francisco and its surrounding counties, as well as Sacramento, needs no introduction to most of our long-time members. The area is rich with many different systems and modes. It doesn’t hurt that the setting for all of this is among the most beautiful in North America. The 105-year-old San Francisco Municipal Railway operates a five-line light rail system which includes the Muni Metro downtown subway shared in large part with the Bay Area Rapid Transit system (BART). There’s also a 10-line electric trolleybus system, the largest in the U.S. The historic three-line cable car network continues to provide a vital neighborhood transit function as well as bring joy to millions of tourists each year. And finally, there are the two historic streetcar lines, the jewel of the railfan and tourist experience. The E and F lines feature multicolored PCCs, Milan Italy Peter Witts and historic cars from several continents as well as Muni’s own heritage fleet.

What to Do in San Francisco. Video: The New York Times

Beyond Muni there is BART, a melding of rapid transit and regional rail, operating from Millbrae on the peninsula to Pittsburg on the north near the Sacramento River delta, and from Richmond in the east bay to the Diablo Valley at Dublin/Pleasanton and to Warm Springs. Hopefully by our visit, BART will be extended to Berryessa in the northern neighborhoods of San Jose. There is also Caltrain, a true commuter railroad operating from the San Francisco 4th and King Street Station (previously 4th & Townsend) to San Jose, 46 miles distant, and beyond during commute hours to Gilroy.

Diesel Light Rail is now part of the rail interest of the bay area. The long-planned Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit line (SMART) operates 43 miles from San Rafael in Marin County to Santa Rosa and the Sonoma County Airport. We are planning a roundtrip on this line. Another new line is eBART (East Contra Costa BART Extension), operating 10.1 miles from the end of the Pittsburg-Baypoint line to Antioch. We are anticipating that both will be open by the time of our visit. SMART uses 14 Nippon Sharyo diesel multiple unit (DMU) cars, similar to those operating between Toronto Union Station and the Pierson Airport, while eBART employs eight Stadler DMUs of the same type that are in service in Austin and Denton County, Texas.

Some of the delights beyond the Bay Area include Sacramento’s light rail system and the California State Railroad Museum. We will also travel to Rio Vista Junction in Solano County to visit the splendid Western Railway Museum with an eclectic collection ranging from recently retired San Diego Trolley Duewags to former Manhattan Second Avenue El cars.

Bring along your non-railfan spouse or companion! The Bay Area needs no introduction to them — it’s one of the world’s premier tourist destinations. Within minutes of our convention hotel, non-railfans have access on foot, Muni or BART to world class shopping in Union Square (Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, Barney’s, Saks and many international boutiques), Ferry Marketplace at the historic 1898 Ferry Terminal, touring the many Victorian-era neighborhoods, the iconic Golden Gate Bridge and Park, cruises around the Bay, dining at Fisherman’s Wharf or North Beach Italian, and many more attractions too numerous to mention. Our tour itinerary includes an evening drop-off at the picturesque waterfront town of Sausalito.

The region is served by three airports, each with nearby rail connections into downtown San Francisco. This will be an ERA convention you will long savor!

Convention Headquarters

Courtyard San Francisco Downtown

Courtyard San Francisco Downtown
299 2nd Street
San Francisco, California 94105
415-947-0700
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We are fortunate to have Marriott’s Courtyard San Francisco Downtown as our convention hotel as headquarters and the site of our 2018 Annual Banquet. This newly renovated, contemporary hotel is situated just three blocks from the Montgomery station on the BART/Muni Metro and one stop on Muni’s F streetcar line. This is more convenient to prime tourist attractions and the vibrant transit scene than alternatives in the East Bay area. We were also able to negotiate a rate that compares favorably with previous conventions for a hotel which provides the Marriott’s high level of service and amenities. The Courtyard is rated 4 out of 5 stars on Trip Advisor and Expedia.

The ERA has secured a block of rooms at the heavily discounted rate of only $149 plus 16.25% occupancy tax and 45¢ California tourism fee per room per night (either one king bed or two queen beds for up to two guests) available for the nights of August 31 and September 1, 2, 3 and 4, with checkout on September 5 (plus three days before and after these dates, at hotel’s discretion based on availability).

Hotel amenities in our ERA package include:

Please note that the rate does not include breakfast. A Starbucks is located inside the hotel. Several other choices are available in the area, including fast food.

You can also book online using the special link provided on the last page of this flyer that contains hotel reservation instructions. You can also book your reservation either by calling Courtyard reservations at 800-321-2211 or directly with the Courtyard San Francisco Downtown at 415-947-0700 (ask for “reservations”). Mention the “group reservation under the Electric Railroaders Association” room block when calling to get the $149 per night room rate. Also make sure you confirm that your reservation is at the “299 2nd Street” location (there is another Courtyard in downtown San Francisco).

The cut-off date for reservations is Friday, August 3, 2018 OR when our room block has been fully booked, whichever occurs earlier. Reservations booked after August 3 will be accepted by the Courtyard at the hotel’s discretion based on availability and rate. Book early and get this discount!

Day 1

Saturday, September 1

Western Railway Museum
A guided tour of Sausalito by a local realtor

We will leave the hotel at 8:00 AM via chartered motor coaches for the first of two stops:

Day 2

Sunday, September 2

San Francisco Historic Streetcars & Cable Cars. Video: Bradley O’Brien

Our convention starts promptly at 8:00 AM with a San Francisco Muni charter featuring two cars from their historic fleet (specific cars have yet to be determined). The fleet includes double-end PCC 1011 and a recently rehabbed “Torpedo” and “Iron Monster” 162, a 103-year-old car refurbished about 12 years ago and recently returned to service. Both are quintessential San Francisco. The four-hour excursion will cover much of the streetcar and light rail system. Please note that we will incorporate photo stops and restroom breaks into the excursion, but we will not be stopping for lunch. Have a hearty breakfast or take a snack to tide you over to about 2:00 PM. There is free time in the afternoon to ride the rest of the Muni routes or any other system in the nine-county area in which the Clipper Card is valid.

Day 3

Monday, September 3

Our chartered motor coaches will leave the hotel at 8:00 AM for the 80-mile trip to Sacramento. We’ll do some sightseeing along the way, including motoring alongside the famous 1930 Southern Pacific Carquinez Bridge across the Carquinez Strait, now used by Capitol Corridor trains, Amtrak’s California Zephyr and Union Pacific freight trains.

Day 4

Tuesday, September 4

This is the final day of the convention. It is also BART Day. For guests leaving today, please settle your charges with the hotel and be ready to leave by 8:45 AM.

Logistics

Reaching the Courtyard Downtown San Francisco

The hotel is located on 2nd Street at Folsom Street. It is an easy, flat three-block walk down 2nd from Market Street and the Montgomery BART/Muni Metro Station. Alternatively, Muni’s 10 and 12 lines alternate about every 10 minutes and run along 2nd from Market to a stop at Howard, one block north of the hotel.

Here are some of the ways to reach the hotel by public transit:

Please Note

Scheduled event times given in this flyer are subject to change in the final itinerary or during the trip without prior notice. Daily trip itineraries may be changed without prior notice to ensure on-time return at the end of each day. Announcements will be made each day to update guests on essential information during all ERA events. Providing your phone number (and email address) on your registration form is critical. If you have questions regarding the itinerary or accommodations, please e-mail Bob Newhouser or call/text him at 917-482-4235. E-mail is preferred.

Making Your Hotel Reservations

The Courtyard Downtown San Francisco Hotel Electric Railroaders Association special rate is $149 plus 16.25% tax plus 45¢ California occupancy tax per night. The Courtyard is a member of Marriott Rewards points program. There are two ways to book your reservation with this hotel:

  1. Use Courtyard’s special ERA link to book your room. Using this URL will automatically bring up the discounted rates of $149 per night (plus tax) for rooms with one king bed or two queen beds. To obtain these discounted rates, please book as soon as possible. You may pay with Marriott Reward points. The room rates are available for the nights of August 31, September 1, 2, 3 and 4, with checkout on September 5 (plus three days prior and after these dates, depending on availability). These discounted rates expire after August 3, 2018. Further offers of the discount rate after August 3 are at the hotel’s discretion on a space available basis.
  2. Call the Courtyard Downtown San Francisco direct at 415-947-0700 or Courtyard reservations at 800-321-2211. At either the hotel desk or the 800 reservations desk, ask for “Courtyard San Francisco Downtown” reservations and, most importantly, book under the “group reservation of Electric Railroaders Association” to get the lower room rate of $149 for one king bed or two queen beds. Please note there are two Courtyard hotels in San Francisco, so be sure to specify the Courtyard San Francisco Downtown hotel at 299 2nd Street. While availability lasts, you can request (not guaranteed) a room on a high floor with bay views and a room that has been renovated. Based on hotel’s information, their renovations should be completed by the time of our convention booking.

Cancellations

Cancellations must be received 72 hours prior to check-in (4 PM) for refund. Your cancellation number MUST be obtained to ensure refund. All succeeding reservations will be automatically cancelled by the system if guests fail to check-in on the first arrival date and first night will be charged on the credit card provided with no refund. In addition, if you can’t make the first night of your visit, but can make the other nights, call the hotel immediately to preserve the rest of your reservation.

Please Note

The Courtyard San Francisco Downtown does not accept reservations by U.S. mail. Please reserve online or by phone as shown above.

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