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Other interesting telephone links

Need to find the city or region for a specific area code? Click here. Need to find the area code for a specific city, state or country, then click here. These are easy to use and helpful, but may not be totally up to date. The website for the North American Numbering Plan Administration has all the latest updates and complete and accurate detailed information on area codes. It is however a bit more detailed than the average user would want, but here it is: http://www.nanpa.com/

How many service areas (LATAs) are located in your state and what are their boundaries? Click here to find out.

The Discount Long Distance Digest provides straight forward, honest evaluations of the discount long distance industry, particularly their "Hall of Shame" telling about the worst of the worst.

The following links are to various consumer groups concerned with long distance and telecommunication pricing and practices. Since we are not one of the "big guys" you won't find us listed there but compare the rates you see here at our web site with the rates listed on these sites. There actually are cheaper companies out there, but I venture to say, they will not be as friendly, accommodating, available and helpful as we are.

Links of personal interest to the webmaster

One of the finest interurban railroads to ever exist was the Sacramento Northern which ultimately ran from San Francisco, across the Bay Bridge and all the way north for 185 miles to Chico, California. Because of its varied parentage, it used an assortment of voltages and power collection systems, including pantograph, third rail shoes and trolley poles. For the best website on this great railroad, check out Sacramento Northern On-Line:   http://www.people.virginia.edu/~ggg9y/

How about a vacation hideaway in the shadow of Mt. Shasta at McCloud, California? The cabin sleeps ten (4 bedrooms, 3 baths) and is called the McCloud Railroad House. It has two cabooses on rail on the property, a double semaphore, grade crossing gate, lanterns, keys and other railroad artifacts as well as historical photographs and railroad art throughout the house. The home is a block away from the McCloud Railway loading area and within easy walking distance of downtown McCloud. For pictures and rental information, see their web site at http://www.mccloudrentals.com/railroad-house/default.htm. Tell them you found them at the PROTEL website.

Californians: If you want to phone your friends/relatives in the state, you can do so for 3.9¢ a minute, and for those interstate calls only 5.4¢/minute, 24 hours a day. Check out our web site: http://www.protel-com.com. No monthly fees or minimums. We've been offering quality long distance service since 1991 - we treat you like we would like to be treated! Read our customer testimonials.

If you visit New Hampshire, be sure to visit the Hartmann Model Railroad located in Intervale, NH, four  miles north of North Conway, home of the Conway Scenic Railroad. Roger and his wife, Nelly, have opened one of the finest model railroad shops and model railroad museums in the United States. Thousands of cars, engines in both European and American (scale and tinplate), including the very rare1930's A.C. Gilbert Erector set Hudson locomotive. The models are all displayed in very attractive, clean, neat and dust free show cases. Sixteen operating, completely scenicked layouts in LGB, HO, N and Z scale are all operable by pushing a button or by infrared detection of the observer. The hobby shop is stocked with a huge array of model railroad equipment in both European and American prototypes, along with crafts and modelling supplies. His riding railroad (shown here) is about a half mile in length.

If you want to see a web site devoted to steam locomotives with lots of links to other railroad sites, see Wes Barris' Steam Locomotives of North America at: http://www.steamlocomotive.com/

One of the finest little theater groups in the Sacramento area which gets too little attention is the Sacramento City Actors Theater located on the campus of  Sacramento City College. We have attended their plays for years and all of them have been outstanding. Every summer they also hold "Shakespeare in the Park". The seats for these quality productions are at affordable prices. The Penny Whistle Players hold afternoon shows for children.

For almost 80 years, the Rio Linda Library has rented its building. When the Sacramento City/County Library Administration proposed closing the branch to save money, the citizens of Rio Linda rose up and protested. One of the principal supporters for maintaining the library was Lori Volz, president of Protel. Lori served for many years as the President of the Rio Linda Friends of the Library until our move to Idaho. Their goal is to raise sufficient funds to build a new library for the community. A lot more money is still required.

An excellent way to support the building program for the new Rio Linda-Elverta Library is by donating your automobile, boat, RV, etc., to the Donation Station. After the vehicle is restored to meet smog compliance, and safety checked, it is sold and the profits are donated to the Friends of the Rio Linda Library. You get the benefit of reducing your tax liability and get rid of a vehicle which might cost more to repair than you could sell it for. Check out the Donation Station at their web site.

The Northern California Model Railroad show is the premiere model railroading show in the west sponsored by International Railfair held in Roseville each year on the second weekend in November. .

If you want to phone your friends/relatives out of state, you can do so for 5.4¢ a minute, 24 hours a day. http://www.protel-com.com

Californians: Where do you make most of your toll calls? To your friend who lives thirty miles away. Now you can make all your calls anywhere in California for only 3.9¢ a minute, billed in economical 6 second increments with no monthly minimums or monthly charge. You pay only for the actual calls you make.http://www.protel-com.com

Do you use a travel card frequently? If you use it to call home, consider getting a toll free number which rings on your home phone. Or if you must use a travel card, ours is only 9.9¢ minute (+ 60¢ if you use a pay phone) with six second billing increments. You do not have to use our long distance service to subscribe to either of these services. We lowered our California rates and calling card rates in August 2003.

Do you live outside California in the continental U.S.? You may find that our rates will be lower than what you're currently paying. Check the rates in your state here.

Modular HO railroading gets no better than with Sacramento Modular Railroaders operating the Sacramento Central Railroad at http://saccentral.railfan.net/. We are one of the finest, most innovative model railroads in the country, operating local freight with waybills integrated with unit and passenger trains.

European model railroading allows the modeler to create scenes reminiscent of the Swiss Alps, with chalets and electric locomotives under catenary wire and frequent passenger train service. European Train Enthusiasts began in Sacramento and now has chapters throughout the U.S. and one chapter in Canada. Find them at http://www.ete.org

Want a different hobby? Try riding the rails in a motor car which you may know as a "speeder" or track car: Wayne Parsons or the Robinson's page. You will find links to other private sites there as well.

In order to operate your motor car on the rails of a railroad, you need to pay trackage fees and coordinate your presence with that of the trains that are the business of the railroad. This coordination is handled by Motorcar Operators West, among others, in the western states. The vice-president of Protel also served as editor of their bimonthly newsletter, the Lineup, for almost five years.

The national organization of motorcar operators is the North American Railcar Operators Association or NARCOA. At this site you will find many links to other web sites of interest to motorcar operators or individuals interested in owning and operating a motorcar.

Think you are stuck with local telephone service from your current local telephone company? Deregulation has allowed other companies to compete for your service in your home. Check out PowerNet Global's Call to Connect local telephone service now available in 19 states for your home.

Finding parts for motorcars that have not been manufactured for years could be difficult. But Les King has made the job easy and has remanufactured many parts needed for motorcar maintenance. Check out his web page at http://www.leskingmotorcars.com/

Whether you are driving a motorcar or an automobile, grade crossing safety is vital. Protel actively supports Operation Lifesaver. Look at their website, it could save your life. When it becomes a challenge between you and a train, you lose!

If you make frequent overseas calls with long distance billing over $200 monthly and would like low, low international rates, click here to see the rates for every country. Sample rates: Japan: 7.9¢/minute, United Kingdom 5.9¢/minute, Mexico 7.9-18¢/minute, Taiwan 6.9-7.9¢/minute, Australia 5.9¢/minute, Canada 5.9¢/minute, China 5.9¢/minute using the ITG rate schedule.

Need a toll-free number for your home or business? The fixed monthly fee for our toll free numbers is only $1.00 - you pay more than that for your daily latte! At 3.9 cents for calls within the state of California and 5.4 cents to receive calls from the remaining 47 continental U.S. states, it is as cheap for your clients to call you as for you to call them! If you live outside California, your in-state rate is the same as for out-bound calls. Check here for the in-state rate for your state.

In 1947 and once again in 1976, a Freedom Train toured the United States bring priceless artifacts and documents to the people of the country. Memorabilia from these famous trains are preserved in Boron, CA. Check out their web site here. Priceless Freedom Train artifacts in the baggage car were stolen when the car was broken into somewhere between Woodland, CA and the Fillmore and Western RR because UP moved the car incorrectly to Sparks, NV and allowed it to sit in various yards until it finally arrived at its destination. For the story and list of items taken by the meticulous thieves see http://www.freedomtrain.org/theft.htm.

Our son, going by the pseudonym "Kerman", operates a website honoring the Canadian Rock Group "Rush". He has a very extensive collection of Rush memorabilia and buys, sells and trades Rush and other music related items on his site and through E-Bay. If Rock music is your thing, check his site out at RushNRoulette.

Do you want a gourmet dinner aboard a romantic train in one of the most scenic places in the world? Ride the Shasta Sunset Dinner Train on the McCloud Railway with views of beautiful Mt. Shasta and pine forests. Stay overnight at the McCloud Railroad House and make your visit to McCloud truly memorable!

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Check out our Travel Card for a great bargain. Only 9.9¢/minute!

Page revised September 6, 2005.

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