There are three (I think?) old Zephyr cars on the back of the northbound Coast Starlight I just boarded. Are these private cars? I took a few pictures but don't know how to post them with my phone.
I saw the same cars in December, I think (two of them, anyway). So, here's what I know about them:
They are now private cars, but these are the vary same type that I rode in on the CZ in 1968, from CHI to SLC. Here's a photo of the "lucky owner" and you can see the name on his t-shirt, so let's just google it and see what it is they do:
Here's one of the cars I saw:
And here's the other:
Hey, let us know if you take one of their tours (post a trip report)! Wouldn't *that* be nice!
Love those stainless Zephyr cars. Was fortunate to ride the Silver Quail, NOL-CHI as part of the Pullman consist, apparently their Iowa pacific painted cars were needed elsewhere, and they leased the Silver Quail and a Milwaukee Road sleeper to augment their cars. Was fun riding that piece of Americana! Only thing better would have been if the Silver Lariat were on the end, though the Iowa Pacific round end Ponchatrain Club was very nice too! http://i1189.photobucket.com/albums/z428/paddlenpeddle/IMG_2006_zps10e5bce4.jpg
I have been wondering, how does Amtrak charge these private railcars when they attach to their trains? I see Tioga Pass attached to the Surfliners often. And in San Diego, they come in and then get detached and it on one of the spare tracks. Would Union Pacific and BNSF let these cars attach to the back of freight trains?