Rail Explorers: Rhode Island Division — Attraction in Portsmouth

Do not expect staff to enforce mask policy.

We went on Sunday, July 5. First, let me say that the ride itself was fine, nice views, and a novel outdoor experience. Normally, I would have rated it 4 stars. However, I have to dock a couple of stars for the fact that the mask policy was not observed.

The social distancing protocols on the web site say, ". . . all attendees are required to abide by each State's Health Safety Mandates which includes wearing facial masks and remaining at least six feet apart. . . . Guests who do not follow these guidelines will receive one (1) warning before being asked to leave the premises." Sadly, it seems the staff has not been properly trained to deal with guests in these circumstances.

Before we started, a staff member explained that masks are to be worn in the "mask zones", including the start and end of the ride, but could be removed once we were on our way. Our group included a few guests who, while still sitting in their cart in the first mask zone, had their masks off, hanging around their necks. We were a couple of carts back and noticed. There were employees closer to them, and in front, so it must have been obvious to them, but none said a word.

I discreetly asked a staff member to ask them to put their masks on while waiting. (I will call this employee "S", as I don't wish to get anyone in particular in trouble.) S responded that most of the guests had masks on. I agreed that this was true, but they all were supposed to. S walked down the line of carts, by their general vicinity, and said to no one in particular that masks should be worn, in a conversational tone rather than a clear announcement. They were chatting amongst themselves, and I don't think they even heard S. This was disappointing, but I hoped someone else might speak up. We continued to pass by other employees on the way to the starting line, and none of them did. It was clear that the staff simply didn't feel comfortable about making a direct, polite request that guests should comply with the policies they had agreed to. I didn't feel at any personal risk, being far enough back, but what about other guests, and the people they come into contact with?

The same thing held when we arrived at the turnaround point (this was the Southern Circuit -- the Northern Ramble is closed because they can't safely run a bus right now). Despite the "Mask Zone" sign at the platform, these people's masks remained off, and no one even tried to "remind" them to follow the policy. We just kept our distance, found a cluster of Adirondack chairs, and enjoyed the view with a snack.

For the way back, each party was called separately to board the carts, so that was good, though they passed close to the staff on the way. The rest of the ride was uneventful.

It's unfortunate that the experience had to be marred by these concerns (any more than necessary, at least), and it leaves me with questions. Is the sensible policy there just to pacify potential guests? Did the people who wrote it not communicate it properly to staff? Does the staff feel awkward about making a polite request? Or do they fear that they will be called on to ask the guests to leave if they don't comply? This is not so much their fault as it is a management issue. Staff should be prepared with the wording and attitude they should use. I'm sure almost all guests will comply if asked directly in a non-confrontational, matter-of-fact way. On the flip side, when other guests see that there's no enforcement, they may get more careless.

All in all, I can't recommend this experience unless the social distancing policy is upheld as written. Rail Explorers is not taking enough care to live up to their social...

One of a kind experience! My party of two did the Lantern tour on 9/2/23. Easy to find, plenty of parking, friendly staff, and very well organized! Some key points: No food or drink sold on site - I would definitely recommend bringing some snacks and drinks! Multi-stall restroom available Small gift shop The 3 mile ride one way took about 30 minutes of pedaling. This required moderate exertion. There is a cart in front of and behind you, so it is not exactly self paced. On our cart of two people, one strong-legged person pedaling could keep the cart moving. The seats on the carts are hard and slippery. A small blanket would've been nice to have as a cushion. The cart has a shallow basket to hold your belongings. Don't keep stuff in your pockets! We got about 40 minutes to sit by the fire (of which there were about 15!). Porta-potties and water were available. A staff member made her way to each fire to take a photo if the party was interested, and let us know how much time before departure. Because it was dark, we didn't get to see much of the landscape during our journey. It could be a little spooky for small kids. It was windy and 67° when we started to pedal away. I had a long sleeve shirt under a hoodie with some leggings and sneakers, and was perfectly comfortable.

So yeah, all-in-all it was a great adventure! Would love to go back for a...

We booked our journey for 11:30 am. You meet in Portsmouth at a picnic type area where they have you check in. They had a firepit going surrounded by Adirondack chairs, picnic tables and cornhole games. They have a small store area where you can purchase souvenir items. It is quite nice. The staff is very friendly and and they kept it all well organized. We waited a shirt time after check in for an earlier group to return. We we bussed to the starting point. At the starting point they gave some basic instruction before getting off the bus. Each "bike" was labeled with your name so you knew where to go. The bikes are configured for 2 or 4 passengers and can be linked together for larger groups. We had one group of six but I am not sure if there is a limit. They space the bikes out at the start approximately 150ft so that each guest can move at their own pace. The bikes are quite easy to pedal. The course is mostly flat. There are some gradual grades but nothing too strenuous. The trip covered 6 miles and took a less than two hours. The weather was mild with the threat of rain. I imagine if the weather was warmer guests may have stopped to take more photos making the trip take ip to two hours. There were some nice views along the way but not as many as I...