Editor's note: Columnist Philip Potempa is reporting while traveling by train from Washington, D.C., and New York City, where he celebrated New Year's Eve in Times Square.

Thank you to the many readers who e-mailed with questions and comments about my travels by private train car during my excursion with the Cincinnati Railway Co.

I particularly liked one e-mail sent by Mary Ann Sanko of Crown Point:

"Dear Phil - I just read the 12/30 article about your trip to NY on New Year's Eve. I hope you have a ball. I have wanted to do this same kind of trip, a dream of mine. Another dream of mine is to sit in the bleachers at the Oscars. I am so glad you get to live your dream. A friend of mine has lived in New York City over 30 years and went once to Times Square for New Year's Eve and she said one time was enough, but it was well worth it. I hope you have the best time on your travels. I will be watching and reading you and hope you will have a safe and happy new year."

Thank you for your e-mail Mary Ann. For any readers interested in exploring the new 2009 schedule of upcoming private train car excursions offered by Cincinnati Railway Co. and owner Brian Collins, visit cincinnatirailway.com or call (513) 791-7245.

And here in the region, American Rail Excursions Inc., based in Sauk Village, Ill., and owner Roger Verbeeren Jr. are offering a special trip this month for guests to ride the rails to Washington, D.C., to attend the inauguration of 44th President Barack Obama.

The tradition of trains journeying to presidential inaugurations dates back to President Abraham Lincoln.

Even though Washington, D.C., hotels as well as flights and traditional Amtrak trains, are already booked and rather expensive, this trip offered by American Rail Excursions is billed as having "still some space available" for this history-making trip. The private Pullman cars depart Union Station in Chicago at 7:05 p.m. Jan. 17 and will return to Chicago at 8:40 a.m. Jan. 22. The private cars, of course, provide all the lodging enroute to and during the stay in Washington, as well as meals enroute and breakfast each morning while the train cars are parked at Washington, D.C.'s Union Station, overlooking the Capitol building. All passenger rooms include their own private bathroom. The train station in Washington, D.C., has beautiful and elegant boutiques for shopping, restaurants, a pharmacy and even its own movie theater, as well as being the beehive for all connecting local Metra trains. Premium beverage and snack service is already figured into the price of $2,599 per

person, based on double occupancy in a double bedroom. Single occupancy and two-bedroom suites also are available. Discounts for groups also available.

For more information, visit americanrail.com or call (708) 758-6680.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at ppotempa@nwitimes.com or 219.852.4327.

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